does IB support paid locates ??????? all the paper trading slime on Twitter seem to have accounts at bucket shops that do .
You can pre-borrow with portfolio margin at IB, better get up early though since the borrows don't last long anywhere but especially IB. If you can't afford the 100k min for portfolio margin, you probably don't have to worry about losing $$ at any SIPC member broker you consider a "bucketshop" since they cover 250k cash.
No go with a regular account at IB, but what's wrong with the US brokers out there that do offer paid locates and are insured by SIPC and are with FINRA?
Not sure why IB doesnt offer paid locates to anyone, since they make a killing on the fees I want the last minute locate reserve when the opportunity presents, not to have to get up at 6am to reserve.
This is a scan from IB of the largest % losers with shares for shorting, not exactly a lack of opportunities.
They do offer as Exactly, I short with IB, if something is not available, I move on to the next one, and I see people say they paid for locates on names available at IB, and many times some that are not available turn out to be blessing as they squeeze shorts like crazy.