Apparantly there's some rule for the US futures markets that says every trade has to be done in order to potentially make a profit (or something like that). Hence, I think the following may be illegal. Have 2 accounts with 2 seperate brokers Use Broker A to get into a position (say long) and Broker B to take profit or loss on that long position So although you're technically flat, you actually have 2 postions open (a long with Broker A and a short with Broker B) Now you want to go short so all you do is sell out the current long with Broker A so Broker A is now flat and the short is now held with Broker B Is the above legal in the eyes of the CME/CBOT/NYMEX etc. From what I understand the above it is not allowed. Thank you, and good trading to everyone.
I asked AI and it said yes. There are logical answers why: 1. This doesn't automatically make you profit, you still have to TIME the exits. 2. Your commission will be double than with 1 position. 3. Even if it was illegal, there would be ways around it like long SPX short NDX. All in all, the proposal doesn't make sense, unless you are hedging something. A perfect hedge has no profit.
Thanks a lot for your answers everyone but I still think it's illegal because the second trade with Broker B (to cover the long to go flat), is not a trade with Broker B that's designed to make money. Therefore in the Regulators eyes, something fishy might be up. The reason why I'm asking is that I want to disguise my trades so no broker knows what my position is (apart from my clearer). I would use the give up route (2 or more brokers do the actual trade, then give up to my clearer, but I'm not big enough for that, yet...)
Timing and understanding is everything I know that sounds rather cliche and corny, but that's rather incredibly profound in a trader's approach, wisdom, process, art, dissection, digestion, framework, expectations, hypothesis, time, seizure capture, open close, angle perspective
If you are talking about doing this on a CME Exchange, it can be considered a wash trade which is prohibited. You can read about the rule here: CME Group RA2008-5 Wash Trades Prohibited "No person shall place or accept buy and sell orders in the same product and expiration month, and, for a put or call option, the same strike price, where the person knows or reasonably should know that the purpose of the orders is to avoid taking a bona fide market position exposed to market risk (transactions commonly known or referred to as wash trades or wash sales). Buy and sell orders for different accounts with common beneficial ownership that are entered with the intent to negate market risk or price competition shall also be deemed to violate the prohibition on wash trades. Additionally, no person shall knowingly execute or accommodate the execution of such orders by direct or indirect means."
Who said this is illegal???? You can go long apple in a robinhood account holding it long term and trade it short in a schwab account. ...
This is a futile goal for multiple reasons. You are most likely way too small in size and returns for the broker to care. If you are worried that the broker is copying your trades, 2 accounts is not going to solve that. The 2 accounts together at the end of the year still have to be profitable otherwise what's the point? And if both accounts are profitable, they still can copy you, so you didn't achieve anything, except you made them more commissions. So illegal or not, just forget it...
Yes, it's legal and why would the major exchanges be against it? Think about it. You're paying them exchange fees for 2 trades while your net position is essentially flat. They would love if everyone else trades like you.