The Ultimate Guide to
The NinjaTrader Trading Platform
NinjaTrader is a retail trading platform which is owned by NinjaTrader LLC, an American based company. NinjaTrader LLC is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA #0339976), providing brokerage services to traders of futures and forex products. The NinjaTrader platform is presently in its 8th version.
The NinjaTrader platform can be used to trade CFDs, stocks, forex as well as futures contracts. The NinjaTrader platform is used by several popular brokers. These are:
NinajTrader Brokerage services
Forex.com (GAIN Capital)
FXCM
Interactive Brokers
TD Ameritrade
MB Trading (offers NinjaTrader 7 only).
Unlike other trading platforms of its kind, the NinjaTrader is not entirely free. There is a free version which offers basic functionality, but the advanced versions of the NinjaTrader platform comes with a price.
Obtaining the NinjaTrader Platform
The NinjaTrader platform can be obtained in the following ways:
Through an outright purchase of a lifetime license for $999 or 4 monthly payments of $299.
Through a lease arrangement. It costs $600 per annum, $330 every 6 months or $180 per quarter.
Free, by opening an account with the NinjaTrader brokerage.
There are ways of securing the lifetime license as well as the lease for reduced prices. For instance, opening and funding a NinjaTrader brokerage account with the sum of $1000, it is possible to get the lifetime license for $799 (a savings of $200). For those who use the same deposit funding option, they get to pay $180 less, which in effect is three months free usage on the quarterly lease.
NinjaTrader Available Formats
There are several versions of the NinjaTrader retail forex platform. These are as follows:
NinjaTrader webtrader
NinjaTrader desktop
The desktop version of its platform can be downloaded and setup to work on a Windows PC or laptop. The NinjaTrader downloadable platform is presently in its 8th version. Traders can check out Mac friendly platforms here: Top Mac Trading Platforms.
NinjaTrader Installation Guide
Here is how to download and install the NinjaTrader platform. In order to do this, you need to have the following minimum computer requirements:
Windows Software: Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10
Minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768
Minimum P4 Processor or higher
2GB RAM
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 (pre-installed on most PC’s). If not available the setup file will automatically prompt you to download it, after which the download of NinjaTrader can be continued.
Download and install the NinjaTrader setup file. You have to grant NinjaTrader permission to access the internet so as to bypass the firewall settings on your computer.
Live Trading Activation
You can proceed to Platform Activation for Live Trading. However, if you registered for free simulation version only, you do not need to do this. Obtain your license key to activate live trading from your email to complete your purchase.
Start NinjaTrader, select the menu Help > License Key within the Control Center and enter your license key into the space provided. Once the installation of the NinjaTrader platform files is complete, read the Connection Guide to setup the connection to your broker or market data feed service provider.
Trading With The NinjaTrader Platform
In this section, some of the basic functions of the NinjaTrader platform will be explored. The basic functions, especially those used for the core aspects of trading will be looked at, as well as some new features of the NinjaTrader8 platform.
Order Entry
There are several windows for Order Entry which can be opened by left-clicking your computer mouse button on the “New” menu tab, located within the NinjaTrader Control Center. Once this is clicked, the name of the Order Entry window can be clicked.
The basic entry order windows are:
Basic Entry
Chart Trader
FX Pro
FX Board
Order Ticket
SuperDOM
The interfaces for the Basic Entry, Chart Trader, Order Ticket, and SuperDOM can be used to trade any of the asset classes listed on NinjaTrader. However, the configuration of the order entry windows aims to assign each one to specific asset classes. For instance, the order entry windows which are built specifically to trade forex assets are FX Pro and FX Board windows. Let us now focus on the order entry windows built for forex and CFDs; the FX Pro and FX Board windows.
FX Pro Overview
To open the FX Pro window, click on “New” menu within the NinjaTrader Control Center, then select the “FX Pro” menu item.
The image below shows each of the 5 sections in the FX Pro window:
1. Order Grid
2. Optional Level II panel
3. Position and Level 1 (current inside market) display
4. Action Buttons
5. Order entry and ATM Strategy management
The FX Pro order entry window is comprised of several components: the Order Grid, the Level II panel (optional), position and level 1 display, as well as order entry and ATM Strategy management.
Quick Orders
It is also possible to execute trade orders using Quick Buttons. The Quick Order buttons are displayed in the snapshot below:
The “Buy Bid” button submits a Buy Limit order at the best bid price.
The “Sell” button submits a Sell order based on the current Order conditions.
The “Buy” button submits a Buy order based on the current Order conditions.
The “Sell Ask” button submits a Sell Limit order at the best Ask price.
Custom Orders
It is also possible to place customized orders by using the order parameters provided below:
Choose the order Type
Set the Limit price (if applicable)
Set the Stop price (if applicable)
Left mouse click either the BUY or SELL button
FX Board Overview
The FX Board provides a real-time dealing rates interface. This interface is used to execute custom orders for currencies and CFD assets. The FX Board has two sections:
1. There is the Market Data Display section.
2. Order Grid Display
To open the FX Board window, click the “New” menu within the NinjaTrader Control Center, then select the “FX Board” menu item.
Quick Orders
It is possible to execute orders directly from the instrument tile.
Set the order Quantity field
Set the ATM Strategy option
Press the Sell button to execute a Sell Market order
Press the Buy button to execute a Buy Market order
Hold down the Ctrl key to switch the quick entry button to submit an order at the bid or ask.
You can place a custom order by setting order parameters as shown below.
1. Set the order Quantity field.
2. Choose the order Type.
3. Set the Limit price or the Stop price, depending on which is applicable.
5. Set the ATM Strategy option.
6. Click on the Sell button to submit a SELL order OR the Buy button to submit a BUY order (6 and 7 in the snapshot below).
Conclusion
The NinjaTrader is a more complicated retail trading platform than the MT4. Therefore, this platform requires a lot of study and practice for the trader to get familiar with it. There are many more functions which need to be explored apart from the order functions.
