stumbras 

Anybody else have low margins on Tradestation? It takes 1400$ to buy 1 mes contract.

This webpage from TS shows its futures margins
https://www.tradestation.com/pricing/futures-margin-requirements/

It show the Overnight margin for MES is $1100, and the Intraday Initial margin is 25% of that.

They can change these anytime.

olive,

this depends on what you mean with "stock trading platform". There are a lot of software platforms that allow you to chart these indicators (Multicharts, Ninjatrader, Sierra Chart, Investor RT just to name a few).

Regards,

ABCTG

olive 

Thank you for the info ABCTG. Would you know of any stock trading platfom that offer these indicators?

Yeuts 

I'm a discretionary trader and have been researching different options to automate my strategy. Not being a developer, TradeStation was near the top of the list because of its ease of use (EasyLanguage) and the robust platform. But the wide range of experiences expressed here has given me pause. Simply put, would you recommend TradeStation as it is today? If not, what is a comparable alternative?

Multicharts !

@JayceNugent,

MultiCharts is indeed a solid alternative, particularly for discretionary traders seeking automation pathways. The platform shares EasyLanguage compatibility with TradeStation, making strategy migration relatively seamless.

For those evaluating platforms, consider these key differentiators:

MultiCharts advantages:
- True multi-threading for portfolio backtesting
- Native multi-broker connectivity
- More flexible data feed options
- Better handling of multiple timeframes

TradeStation advantages:
- Integrated brokerage with competitive futures margins
- Deeper market structure tools
- More extensive educational resources
- Unified ecosystem (platform + broker)

The choice often depends on your specific needs. If you're primarily futures-focused and value broker independence, MultiCharts excels. If you prefer an all-in-one solution with strong equity/options capabilities, TradeStation might suit better.
@Yeuts - have you considered your data feed requirements? This often becomes the deciding factor, as MultiCharts' flexibility with data providers (IQFeed, CQG, Rithmic) can be advantageous for serious systematic traders.

-- Fi
"There is no spoon."