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Track 'n Trade Autopilot Plug-in
Setting a Quantity
Video Transcript
In this Track 'n Trade Autopilot video, we're going to be discussing Trade Quantity. Trade Quantity within the Autopilot can be calculated in two ways. The user can either specify a single number, or quantity for which they want to trade, or they can choose to have the computer calculate a quantity for them. Based on Margin and a percentage of their overall trading account, and their available Margin.
By pressing the first radio button, labeled: Trading Quantity, the user is presented with a field asking for the quantity that each trade should use, upon execution.
By pressing the second radio button, labeled: Trade Percentage, the user is presented with two fields. Asking the percentage of the overall account, the trader wants to risk on any individual trade. Also, the maximum number of contracts that any one trade should ever use.
Let's say you enter 25% with a 10 Max. The Autopilot will calculate how many contracts or lots you can trade based on a 25% risk factor of your account. Once your quantity calculation exceeds 10 contracts or lots, Track 'n Trade will limit the number to 10.
Let me give you an example: Let's say you have a $25,000 trading account. If you choose to limit your risk to 25% of your account, and 1 contract has a margin of, let's say, $500. Then 25% of $25,000 is $6,250. Therefore, Track 'n Trade will execute your trades using a quantity of 12. A quantity of 12 is used, because $6,250 divided by $500 is quantity 12.5.
As your profits increase or decrease, Track 'n Trade will scale up or down the trade quantity automatically.
Remember this number is calculated for each individual chart. If you are trading multiple markets simultaneously from within the same account, you'll want to also make that a consideration in your percentage decision.