Remove CFDs from Z12 for USA account

Hi,

Because I can't trade CFD's in the US, can I still run the Z12 strategies without CFDs using only forex?

Is there a way to remove CFDS from the strategies (maybe from the assetlist or something?) ?

Is this recommended?

Thanks!

https://zorro-trader.com/manual/en/zsystems.htm
z.ini
Exclude = "UK100"

You can then run backtest and see how it is doing.

"Exclude" is not for Z12, but excluding assets is described under "Exclude assets". Before trading anything, make sure that you have read that page from top to bottom.

Hi jcl.

(This question is migrated (and added to) from the other thread as it fits better here, regarding procedure for trading in US account)

Can you please confirm: For trading Z Systems in a US account, one must:

0) FXOnly is deprecated and its value doesn't matter
1) (One way or another,) Set the NFA flag (to be safest, always set even if the broker supposedly handles it)
2) Manually adjust assets - Exclude in z<n>.ini for Z3 & Z7, or the .fac list (setting all invalid Assets to <=0) for Z1, Z2, & Z12
3) Set StopFactor=0 (for Oanda - and other brokers?)
4) Test, Test, Test - and evaluate if you really still want to Trade the System under these restrictions

Is this list of steps correct and complete?

Thanks.

Yes, that's correct, except that you should only set the NFA flag when you know that your broker needs it. It must be set for IB, but must not be set for Oanda. StopFactor can normally be left at default.

Thanks jcl.

Re. NFA, how does one know if the (US) broker needs it? Are there particular keywords or things to look for? Or, alternatively, are there particular errors that occur with or without it?

Re. StopFactor, there's another thread about needing it to be 0 for Oanda - is that no longer the case?

Thanks.

You would know this by reading the manual pages for the broker plugins.

Oanda:

IB:


This is because issuing Trades (NFA=off) to the broker vs. issuing Orders (NFA=on) to the broker are completely different endeavors.
https://zorro-project.com/manual/en/brokerplugin.htm

Thanks AndrewAMD. RTFM links always appreciated. I have seen those pages, but

- the Oanda statement is rather weak - what does "most" mean? - are there situations where a strategy will need NFA to be set?

- I was also asking the general question which appears to be answered in your last comment. However, brokers do not seem to be always transparent about Trades vs. Orders, so one must ultimately ask their Support staff? Or experience errors and adjust?

And the StopFactor question is still outstanding...

Thanks!

No, never. It's just saying that Oanda is always NFA compliant when you place trades, so you should never set the flag.
No, it's always obvious, especially to the broker plugin author, who knows how to read the broker's API documentation and then implemented a client for it in one flavor or the other. Each broker plugin manual page tells you whether to set the NFA flag for this very reason.
Do you make this adjustment before or after you blow your account? That's the question.

Thanks AndrewAMD. But since Zorro is so flexible, there's the rest of the general question where broker plugins aren't used and instead it's MT4 or window control...

Thanks.

MT4 uses a broker plugin, and its manual page explicitly says whether to use the NFA flag.

You would know if you were the one programming the window controls. The only one that I am aware of is for a fake website:
https://financial-hacker.com/binary-options-scam-or-opportunity/

Do you have any real examples?

Any time!

Thanks AndrewAMD. Yes, the MT4 page has info, but it also talks about (at least 1) error message one will get if the setup is wrong for a particular broker. I'd prefer to trade error-free!

No real world examples (yet) - trying to wrap my head around this world of US restrictions... Without losing everything in the process...

Thanks.