Python for Algorithmic Trading

Chapter 9. FX Trading with FXCM

Financial institutions like to call what they do trading. Let’s be honest. It’s not trading; it’s betting.

Graydon Carter

This chapter introduces the trading platform from FXCM Group, LLC (“FXCM” afterwards), with its RESTful and streaming application programming interface (API) as well as the Python wrapper package fcxmpy. Similar to Oanda, it is a platform well suited for the deployment of automated, algorithmic trading strategies, even for retail traders with smaller capital positions. FXCM offers to retail and institutional traders a number of financial products that can be traded both via traditional trading applications and programmatically via their API. The focus of the products lies on currency pairs as well as contracts for difference (CFDs) on, among other things, major stock indices and commodities. In this context, also refer to “Contracts for Difference (CFDs)” and “Disclaimer”.

Disclaimer

Trading forex/CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors as you could sustain losses in excess of deposits. Leverage can work against you. The products are intended for retail and professional clients. Due to the certain restrictions imposed by the local law and regulation, German resident retail client(s) could sustain a total loss of deposited funds but are not subject to subsequent payment obligations beyond the deposited funds. Be aware of and fully understand all risks associated with the market ...