I dont get this (in Simulating stock marketing websites)?

Question

I submit a trade and it takes 15 to 20 minutes for it to get executed!!

"This market order has been placed successfully. It will appear in your portfolio in around 20 minutes. " and then the order gets executed with a different price (the price after 20 mins)

I hope it is not like that in real web brokerage programs.

Anyone has any experiences about this? Kevin?

Answer 1

Lol, 15 minutes is a REALLY long time. I'm guessing your site is just bad. Try thinkorswim's papertrading; I'm in love with it. Sleek platform, great trading, excellent tools, and awesome to learn from. It even has CNBC live! for free! Amazing stuff.

Depending on what online broker you use, some will be faster or slower than others. I have never heard of any that takes 15-20 minutes.

Hope that helps, good luck!

Answer 2

On a simulation account with some brokers you are trading with a lag.  Remember that is a simulation account.  It is to give you an indication of how you are trading.

It takes a back seat to live trading.  Always expect delays.

Real time trading will be very quick and seemless.  I have used scott trade and etrade with practically no delays and an easy order platform.

Answer 3

If you have plenty of PC power, and the right online brokerage, this should never be an issue.  I use Fidelity APO and it's immediate.   A practice site may be less so, but check out Yahoo or Options Express and I'll bet you don't have a problem.  Congratulations to you on learning to trade before risking your funds.  It will pay off large in the long run.

Answer 4

No... real trading is almost instantaneous. The reason for the delay in simulations is that in order to receive live quotes, the exchange requires a fee... a game doesn't want that expense...but your broker pays for that service so that you can get the right figures and trade AT those prices. That...and research tools, are the reason you pay a commission on trades... it's a business.

Answer 5

Real trading is just a few seconds..  Simulation portfolios nearly always have a delay (especially if there is an on-site competition) because otherwise you would be buying stocks 20 minutes in the past.

Think of it this way.  A stock is $20.05, and you see that in real time a news announcement made it jump to $30.00, so you can buy the delayed quote at $20.05 and sell it for a 50% gain 20 minutes later.  It's also done because the simulation sites are not for daytrading, and more for a longer term practice test.

Investopedia has 20 minute delayed fills.  I am not sure about virtualstockexchange, but I do know thinkDesktop has immediate fills.  That's where I've been paper trading options, and it has worked out well.

Good luck.