ATM Strategy Parameters

All of our order entry screens house the same control for defining an ATM Strategy.

The Strategy Control List

Icon(1) in the image above references the ATM Strategy control drop down list. This drop down list is very important to understand as it defines how your orders will be handled once submitted. There are three main categories of options that will be displayed in this drop down list; <None>, <Custom> and strategy template names, and active ATM Strategies.

<None>

When this option is selected, any orders placed in the entry window will not be applied to an active ATM Strategy nor will it initiate a new ATM strategy.

<Custom> or ATM Strategy Template Names

When an ATM Strategy template name is selected, all of the parameters will update to reflect your pre-defined ATM Strategy or, when <Custom> is selected, you have the ability to define a new ATM Strategy on the fly. Once an order is submitted, the ATM Strategy parameters specified will be initiated when the order is partially or completely filled.

* Active ATM Strategy Names

All active (live and working) ATM Strategies will be displayed. If one is selected, any order submitted will be applied to the selected active ATM Strategy. For example, if you have an active ATM Strategy with a stop and target bracket for 1 contract, if you are filled on another contract, the fill is applied to this ATM Strategy and the stop and target bracket is automatically updated from 1 contract to 2 contracts.

When it comes to the automatic submission of stop loss and profit targets and how subsequent order fills are handled, there are two approaches.

1. Scaling into a position or out of a position should automatically update the order sizes of existing stop and target brackets

2. Scaling into a position should create a new set of stop and target brackets based on the new order fill price

If you always want to operate with approach number 1, then you will always want to have the ATM Strategy control list set to your active ATM Strategy when one exists. This is accomplished by setting the ATM Strategy Selection Mode to "SelectActiveATMStrategyOnOrderSubmission". If you would rather have new stop and target brackets submitted on a new fill, then set the ATM Strategy Selection Mode to "KeepSelectedATMStrategyTemplateOnOrderSubmission" and the strategy control list will not automatically set to an active strategy when one is created.

The behavior of the strategy control list can be controlled automatically by selecting a ATM Strategy Selection Mode.

Stop and Target Parameters

Icon (2) in the image above are parameters that define how many stop loss and target orders are automatically submitted, what prices they will be submitted at and any stop loss automation strategies that will be applied such as Auto Trail, Auto Breakeven etc...

Qty	Sets the quanity for the stop loss and profit target orders
Stop Loss	Sets the value that determines the stop loss price. If the value is set to 4 (ticks) and your average entry for the initiating order is 1000 and you are long, your stop loss would be submitted at AvgEntry - Stop Loss = 1000 - 4 ticks = stop price of 999. This assumes each tick is valued at 0.25.
Profit Target	Sets the value that determines the profit target price. If the value is set to 4 (ticks) and your average entry for initiating the order is 1000 and you are long, your profit target would be submitted at AvgEntry + Profit Target = 1000 + 4 ticks = 1001 profit target. This assumes that each tick is valued at 0.25.
Stop Strategy	Sets the stop strategy

Parameters can be entered as ticks, percent or absolute price. To change what parameter type is used, access the entry window's properties via the right mouse click context menu and change the "Parameter type" property.

For further reference, please look at the Strategy Examples located within the "ATM Strategy" section of this help guide.

Advanced Options

Via the right mouse click context menu you can enable the advanced options section of the ATM Strategy parameters to become visible.

From the advanced section, you can enable a shadow strategy, reverse at target or stop and enable auto chase features.