Notes on Combination Orders

Instructions

This page contains notes and tips on creating and transmitting combination orders.

  • Use SmartRouting to execute legs separately to ensure you get the best price on all legs of your order.

  • Some exchanges that currently support native combination orders (which means they execute the legs together as one transaction) include:

    • ISE

    • ONE

    • DTB (Euro)

  • Note on pricing: If you buy a spread and you owe cash (debit spread), enter a positive limit price. If you buy a spread and you receive cash (a credit spread), you must enter a negative limit price. Conversely, if you sell a spread and receive cash, enter a positive limit price. If you sell a spread and owe cash, you must enter a negative limit price.

    • For example, an April 20.0 xyz call shows a BID price of 6.60 and an ASK price of 6.70. An April 30 xyz call shows a BID price of 0.15 and an ASK price of 0.20.

      • If you buy a "debit" call vertical spread with the following legs:

        Buy 1 OPT APR02 20.0 CALL (6.70),

        Sell 1 OPT APR02 30.0 CALL (0.15)

        For this transaction you pay: 6.55 (a debit transaction)

      • If you invert the legs and buy a "credit" call vertical spread with the following legs:

        Sell 1 OPT APR02 20.0 CALL (6.60)

        Buy 1 OPT APR02 30.0 CALL (0.20)

        For this transaction you receive 6.40 (a credit transaction, enter a negative price)

  • Before you transmit a combination order, carefully review the order parameters from the Order Management line.

 

Additional Resources

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