Prime Trade File Upload Instructions

Instructions

Prime clients who trade away with an executing broker must submit a file reporting those trades to us on Trade Date. US options trades must be reported no later than 5:00 pm ET. All activity must be submitted no later than 6:00 pm local market time, including all US trades. The exceptions are futures and futures option trades, which we will book to your account based on the external clearance we receive. Instead of a file, clients need to monitor their account and alert us to any potential errors.

If you trade US options on expiration day or US microcap stocks, please see important information in the Notes section below.

The file must be submitted in CSV format with a consistent and unique file name. For example: “[COMPANY]_[YYYYMMDD].csv”.

For each executing broker that IBKR approves you will be provided with a Broker Name and Broker Code to use in the upload file. The correct symbol format is required to avoid rejects and breaks. Please see below for the correct format by product and region.

To check for product eligibility here, search using TWS to ensure it is tradable and reflects the correct symbol. If the Financial Instrument column displays the Not Tradable “NT” icon, hover your mouse to see the applicable restrictions, such as Closing Only or QIB Only. Closing Only means only closing away trades will be accepted. QIB Only requires that the QIB certification process has been completed by the account. If the product does not appear in TWS or you have any questions about the restrictions, please contact Prime Services for further assistance.

Not Tradable:

Closing Only:

QIB Only:

Sample Trade File

Download a sample .csv trade file here.

Stocks

Enter the symbol which can be found on TWS. CUSIP is optional.  Example, MSFT = MSFT, IBM = IBM.

Bonds

The #Shares (quantity) column for BONDS should contain the actual number of bonds you traded, with no multiplier.

As an example, using the Sample Trades above, the actual quantity of the Bond trades shown on lines 12 and 13 is 50 bonds. The multiplier used to calculate the correct face amount is implemented on the back end.

Note:Baby or fractional bonds are not supported.

Options

IBKR uses the 21-character “Option Symbology Initiative” (OSI) format.  The easiest way to find this is to load the option in TWS and use the Symbol column:

OSI Details

The OSI identifier comprises six data elements arranged in logical order, each with a minimum field size.  Option Root Symbols must have 6 characters (if the symbol has less than 6 characters, spaces must be added to equal the six character minimum)

ICE US Futures and Futures Options

ICE US futures and future options do not follow a standard symbol convention like OSI for Options. Please confirm the symbol in TWS before loading the file. Load the product on TWS and refer to the Symbol column to see the correct format. Column N for the Exchange must be populated with "ICE."

Example: SB OCT24 FUT >> SBV4 and SB OCT .09 PUT FOP >> SOV4 P0.09

HK Stocks

Enter the numeric underlying, which can be confirmed in TWS, in the symbol column. Enter currency HKD, exchange HKEX, and the appropriate Settlement amount and ISIN.

NOTES:

• Remember not to trade with your executing broker (with intent to clear atRemember not to trade with your executing broker (with intent to clear here) until we notify you that all agreements and booking instructions are in place.) until we notify you that all agreements and booking instructions are in place.
• FTP files are processed every 15 minutes from Monday - Friday. Executing away is not a means to resolve real time deficits as away trades will not be taken into consideration for beneficial margin purposes until 9 pm ET on Trade Date or when the trades have been reported and matched with external confirms, whichever is later. Trading away for expiring options, on expiration day, is also discouraged due to the potential for late or inaccurate reporting which can lead to erroneous margin calculations or incorrect exercise and assignment activity. Clients who wish to trade expiring options, on expiration day away from us, must load their FTP file no later than 2:50 pm ET, and do so at their own risk.
• If an incorrect file is loaded, do not delete or overwrite it. Instead, contact the Prime Services group at 203-618-4060 to be advised on the best way to resolve. Depending on the situation,If an incorrect file is loaded, do not delete or overwrite it. Instead, contact the Prime Services group at 203-618-4060 to be advised on the best way to resolve. Depending on the situation, we may be able to stop processing, correct certain details, or require a new file be loaded. Certain details can be amended by us, such as Trade Date, Commission, Price, and Quantity. The rest will require a new file to be submitted. If a new file is required please ensure the filename is unique and does not overwrite the previous file, i.e. add a suffix to the file like “2” or “B”. For Hong Kong stocks, please call +852-2156-7999 between 0800 - 1700 HKT.may be able to stop processing, correct certain details, or require a new file be loaded.  Certain details can be amended by IBKR, such as Trade Date, Commission, Price, and Quantity.  The rest will require a new file to be submitted.  If a new file is required please ensure the filename is unique and does not overwrite the previous file, i.e. add a suffix to the file like “2” or “B”. For Hong Kong stocks, please call +852-2156-7999 between 0800 - 1700 HKT.
• US Microcap Stock Restrictions: Sell Long trades will be accepted if the long position is no longer restricted. Sell Short trades will be accepted. Buy Long trades will be accepted and the position will be restricted until Compliance is provided with sufficient information to remove the restriction. Buy Cover trades and intraday round trip trades will not be accepted.US Microcap Stock Restrictions: Sell Long trades will be accepted if the long position is no longer restricted. Sell Short trades will be accepted. Buy Long trades will be accepted and the position will be restricted until Compliance is provided with sufficient information to remove the restriction. Buy Cover trades and intraday round trip trades will not be accepted. Find full policy details and a downloadable list of microcap symbols in our knowledge base article U.S. Microcap Stock Restrictions.
• If you do not know how to use FTP or need an FTP program you can use WinSCP – a free FTP management program – to post files to our servers.  To download go tohttp://winscp.net/eng/download.php and select the “Installation Package” (not sponsored).
• Canadian stocks are only supported for settlement in Canadian dollars.

WinSCP – Store Session

WinSCP allows you to “store a session” allowing future logins without the need to provide the username/password. To do so enter the following at the WinsSCP login window and select Save instead of Login.  Create a session name, check “save password”, click OK.  In the future you will have the option to log into this session each time you launch WinSCP.

FTP Host name:ftp2.interactivebrokers.com(as provided by Prime Services)
FTP username/password: Provided by Prime Services
File Protocol: FTP

 

Additional Resources

Learn About Trader Workstation for Advisors at IBKR Campus

Visit the Trader Workstation Website