Hi folks,

I've heard rumors that slippage is a factor as you increase contracts on the S&P 500 Eminis, is there a level where that starts to affect my trades? 50 contracts? 75 contracts? And is there a level where I should start to look into other options to make my increase in contracts smoother?

Also, does anyone have experience with slippage? If so, care to share your stories?

I don't think your gonna have an issue as a retail trader in the most liquid market in the world and if you were trading the kind of size where you would, well, you wouldn't be posting this on here

Inletcap 

I don't think your gonna have an issue as a retail trader in the most liquid market in the world and if you were trading the kind of size where you would, well, you wouldn't be posting this on here

Thanks for the quick response, what size would that be where the issues start?

superbdude 

Hi folks, I've heard rumors that slippage is a factor as you increase contracts on the S&P 500 Eminis, is there a level where that starts to affect my trades? 50 contracts? 75 contracts? And is there a level where I should start to look into other options to make my increase in contracts smoother? Also, does anyone have experience with slippage? If so, care to share your stories?

For the vast majority of ES retail traders slippage isn't relevant because of their position size but because of news,
obvious order levels, and trading during low volume times.

Around news, slippage can be much higher because of the empty slots in the order book since many professionals don't
trade into news. Obvious order levels and order types means that retail customers often place their orders in the noise
area around obvious support and/or resistance levels, often combined with "naive" order types like stop buy/sell.
Higher slippage during low volume times is rather self-explantory.

choke35 

For the vast majority of ES retail traders slippage isn't relevant because of their position size but because of news, obvious order levels, and trading during low volume times. Around news, slippage can be much higher because of the empty slots in the order book since many professionals don't trade into news. Obvious order levels and order types means that retail customers often place their orders in the noise area around obvious support and/or resistance levels, often combined with "naive" order types like stop buy/sell. Higher slippage during low volume times is rather self-explantory.

Good to know, thank you for your information. My most recent trade exit at 30 contracts had a 2-tick slip when I tried to close. I'm just starting to increase my contracts after finishing my beginner's course, I didn't get much information before about the transition from low contracts to high contracts. Didn't seem like a low-volume moment when the 2-tick slip happened, and I was trading at a resistance level, not related to news. Fluke slip? Or is there another explanation?

Greatly appreciate the responses.

superbdude 

Good to know, thank you for your information. My most recent trade exit at 30 contracts had a 2-tick slip when I tried to close. I'm just starting to increase my contracts after finishing my beginner's course, I didn't get much information before about the transition from low contracts to high contracts. Didn't seem like a low-volume moment when the 2-tick slip happened, and I was trading at a resistance level, not related to news. Fluke slip? Or is there another explanation? Greatly appreciate the responses.

30 contracts, shortly after finishing a beginner's course? Wow.

That's impressive, crazy or maybe both? Many never get close to that many contracts.

That must have been a good course...

... or frankly speaking:
If $750 bucks of slippage are a problem for one who trades ~$2.9 mio of notional value that sounds like
completely cluelessly dabbling sim - or worse: dabbling sim scalping.

kevinkdog 

30 contracts, shortly after finishing a beginner's course? Wow. That's impressive, crazy or maybe both? Many never get close to that many contracts. That must have been a good course...

Haha, probably both. Technically it's my 3rd completed course. Anyway, is anyone reading this trading the same number or higher? I just want to know if there is anything I don't know about or should be concerned about as I increase contracts. Or is there somewhere I can learn more about the hidden perils of trading higher amounts?

superbdude 

Good to know, thank you for your information. My most recent trade exit at 30 contracts had a 2-tick slip when I tried to close. I'm just starting to increase my contracts after finishing my beginner's course, I didn't get much information before about the transition from low contracts to high contracts. Didn't seem like a low-volume moment when the 2-tick slip happened, and I was trading at a resistance level, not related to news. Fluke slip? Or is there another explanation? Greatly appreciate the responses.

Just starting to increase your size eh. What's next, 100 contracts? Or is that for after the advanced course?