How do I go about trading long and short at the same time, in the same security.
I might be long in ES but want to scalp it short without closing my long.
What are my options for enabling this capability.

On a side note, can anybody explain to me why I can't use the question mark while writing this without the cursor teleporting to the search bar and not even printing the question mark. Thank you, JM

You can make a calendar spread. For example go long the front month and then short the following months open contracts. It’s called a futures spread.

You can make a calendar spread. For example go long the front month and then short the following months open contracts. It’s called a futures spread.

It is possible to create a subaccount.

I would think you can use your regular NT with your regular data feed but with the possibility to switch between the main account (where you can go long) and subaccount (where you can go short).

You should verify that with NT to be sure (also about any additional costs). At the bottom of the web page linked above is an e-mail address you can contact for further information.

Please let me know when it is resolved. Thanks, M.

Isn't hedging against CFTC rules?

Problem is back months in ES are very thin. You might incur additional slippage. Plus, depending on the market, having a calendar spread has its own risks (as opposed to zero directional risk if you are long and short in same contract, which is a fancy way of saying you are flat).


@johnnymustard

Depending on the broker, the 2nd position may require margin too. So you are long in one, short in the other actually, but you need margin for each! Even though you are net flat overall, your broker might say you need margin for both - if margins are calculated only on subaccount level. VERY inefficient use of capital. You'd have to check with your broker on this. I know at least 2 brokers who do NOT co-margin sub accounts.

Also, if you do this a lot with multiple accounts, expect a call from Compliance, as they will claim you are trading against yourself (that happened to me, with Tradestation. Had to convince Tradestation CFO that what I was doing was perfectly legal. Eventually I was proven right.).

Realize though that depending on your setup, you could combine positions in the account, and bookkeep positions outside of account.

Being long and short is same as being flat.

I do this all the time with one account, with multiple strategies. I'm long one strategy, then if second strategy goes short, then I am flat in actual account. The strategies don't know about each other, they think they are long/short, and do all the proper bookkeeping math and sending signals for their respective positions. The account reflects the actual net position at all times. This works really well.

Edit: forgot to mention, due to FIFO accounting rules, if you combine into one account, prices and buy/sell matches will seem wrong/off at times. Trades you thought were winners will be on your statement as losers, and vice versa. But when you do the overall math, everything adds up correctly in the end. It just might get a little confusing...

The feature you're looking for is called "Display Selected ATM Strategy Only" mode, read the details here: https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/NT%20HelpGuide%20English.html?atm_strategy_selection_mode.htm

Display Selected ATM Strategy Only
This mode is an advanced mode and should only be used once you have become very familiar with the NinjaTrader application.

Who is this mode designed for?
This mode is designed for traders who want to run concurrent ATM Strategies (trades) in the same market. This mode will visually separate all concurrent running ATM Strategies thereby allowing you to have multiple SuperDOMs open, tracking the same market but displaying different trade strategies. A practical example might be that you have taken a day long intra day swing trade against a fifteen minute chart for five contracts. Throughout the day, you scalp the same market on a one minute time frame. This mode allows you to have two SuperDOMs open, one allocated to manage and only display your day long intra day swing trade, the other used to manage and only display your scalp trades.