How to fix the "Cannot create ... file" error during TWS installation on MacOS
Background:
The filesystem permissions are controlled by your machines operating system. One of their functions is to secure your files, preventing unauthorized access or undesired modifications to the system and to your personal data.
Some software on your computer may modify or override the permissions assigned by the operating system. Under certain circumstances, this prevents the TWS installer from accessing the folder where the application core files have to be created (/users/youruser/home/Applications). In such cases, the TWS installation usually displays the error "Cannot create ... file. Shall I try again?"
In this article we explain how to reset the filesystem permission of the "Applications" folder located under your user home folder in order to allow a smooth run of the TWS installation.
Procedure:
1. On your keyboard, press ⌘CMD + ⇧Shift +H to open your home folder
Figure 1
2. Select the folder "Applications" within your home folder and press ⌘CMD + I to open the Info panel
Figure 2
2. At the bottom right of the panel, click on the padlock
Figure 3
3. To unlock the permissions panel, enter your MacOS credentials and click OK
Figure 4
4. In the line correspondent to "everyone", click on "No Access" (Figure 5) and then select "Read & Write" (Figure 6)
Figure 5 Figure 6
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5. Click on the icon bellow the permissions panel and select “Apply to enclosed items..."
Figure 7
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6. Now run the TWS installer and click on Next> until you complete the installation
Figure 8
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7. Once the installation has completed successfully, repeat the previous steps from 1. to 5. setting back the permissions of “everyone” to “Read Only” to revert your changes to the initial status
How to log in to IBKR Mobile when the IB Key is enabled on another phone
Background:
This article is intended for clients who have activated the IBKR Mobile authentication on their smartphone and possess as well an additional mobile device, on which they desire to trade.
Clients with this setup will be able to log in to the IBKR Mobile trading platform on their secondary device, using their smartphone to complete the Two-Factor Authentication step.
For the purposes of this article, we will use the following naming convention:
Authentication device: this is the smartphone on which you activated the IBKR Mobile Authentication (IB Key)
Trading device: this is where you want to use IBKR Mobile app for trading.
Procedure
Please click on one of the link below according to your phone operating system:
Apple iOS
1. On your Trading device, launch the IBKR Mobile app. Enter your your credentials in the login screen and tap Log In
Figure 1
2. Tap Two-Factor Authentication (Figure 2). A Challenge code will be displayed (Figure 3)
Figure 2 Figure 3
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3. On the Authentication device, launch the IBKR Mobile app
Figure 4
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4a. If you are not automatically logged in, tap Services (Figure 5) on the top left, then tap Authenticate (Figure 6).
Figure 5 Figure 6
4b. If you are already logged in, tap on the More button on the bottom right. Then, scroll down and tap on Authenticate
Figure 7
5. Enter the Challenge code you obtained at point 2. Then tap Generate Response (Figure 8). Once you have provided your security element (Figure 9), you will receive a Response String (Figure 10).
Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10
6. On your Trading device, enter the Response String into the "Enter response code" field and tap Send to finalize the authentication process.
Figure 11
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Android
1. On your Trading device, launch the IBKR Mobile app. Enter your your credentials in the login screen and tap Log In
Figure 1
2. Tap on the option Two-Factor Authentication (Figure 2). You will see a Challenge code (Figure 3)
Figure 2 Figure 3
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3. On the Authentication device, launch the IBKR Mobile app
Figure 4
4a. If you are not automatically logged in, tap Services (Figure 5) and then tap Authenticate (Figure 6).
Figure 5 Figure 6
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4b. If you are already logged in, tap the Menu button (Figure 7), scroll down and tap Authenticate (Figure 8).
Figure 7 Figure 8
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Figure 7 Figure 8
5. Enter your IBKR Mobile PIN and the Challenge code you obtained at point 2. Then tap Generate Response (Figure 9). A Response String will be displayed (Figure 10)
Figure 9 Figure 10
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Figure 9 Figure 10
6. On your Trading device, enter the Response String in to the "Enter response code" field and then tap Log In to finalize the authentication process.
Figure 11
How do I enable the Notifications for the IBKR Mobile app
Overview:
What is a notification?
A push notification is a brief message which is sent ("pushed") from a back-end server to your device over the Internet. Apps developers use those attention-grabbing messages to quickly and effectively reach the recipients, even if they are not currently engaging with their application. Notifications can deliver information to users or advise them of a specific action they are invited or required to perform.
Background:
Why does the IBKR Mobile app use notifications?
The IBKR Mobile application uses notifications for informational purposes, as well as two-factor authentication. In the latter case, the user is invited to tap on the notification, which will automatically open the IBKR Mobile app and begin the authentication process.
This procedure explains how to manually enable notifications for the IBKR Mobile app. Please click the link below that matches your smartphone's operating system.
1. On your home screen, tap Settings (Figure 1), then Notifications (Figure 2) and finally IBKR (Figure 3)
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
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2. In the IBKR app settings, you will see a number of different options. We recommend to set them in the following way (Figure 4):
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Allow Notifications: enabled
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Lock Screen, Notification Center, Banners: selected
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Banner style: Persistent
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Badges: enabled
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Show Previews: Always
Figure 4
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1. Go the Settings of your phone, then tap Apps & notifications1 (Figure 1) then IBKR Mobile (Figure 2) and finally App notifications (Figure 3)
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
2. Ensure that notifications for this app are globally On and the switches Allow notification dots, Allow interruptions, On the lock screen are all enabled (Figure 4). According to your personal preference, you may want to enable as well the switch Override Do Not Disturb
Figure 4
Figure 4
Please note that menu items labels and positions may vary according to your device vendor and software version.
1. The Apps & notifications item may be called Sound & notification on certain devices
References:
- See KB2260 for instruction on how to activate and operate IBKR Mobile Authentication
- See KB3234 for troubleshooting missing IBKR Mobile notifications
- See KB2748 for information about IBKR Mobile Authentication recovery
Why is my chart delayed, showing question marks or only partially populated?
Background:
What are SMART Charts and how are they generated?
The SMART charting mechanism analyzes and compares the market data coming from all venues a given contract is traded on and graphically displays the most favorable quotes.
When all the data streams are live, the data points are available for all sources and for each time point, thus they can be fully compared. The resulting SMART chart will be up to date and fully populated, moreover it will constantly and automatically update1.
The comparison between non synchronized market data streams (some live and some delayed) is just partially possible, since the delayed feeds are lacking data points for the last 15 or 20 minutes. Therefore, within that time frame, the SMART chart will usually display a series of yellow question marks to indicate unavailability of source data. In this case the SMART Chart will not update automatically.
When the lack of data points is more extensive or when the Exchange does not distribute delayed data for a given contract, the correspondent SMART Chart may be completely blank.
What should I do to obtain a fully populated, up-to-date chart?
If your trading method is based on SMART charts, you would need to activate the live market data subscriptions for all the marketplaces your financial instruments are traded on. For additional details, please see KB1201
If your trading method does not require SMART charts, you can decide to use Direct chart routing as a workaround.
A Directed Chart will allow you to graphically represent the market data coming from a single, specific Exchange. When possible, we suggest to select the primary marketplace for the product for this purpose, since this is usually the one offering the highest liquidity and trade volume, hence normally providing the most favorable quotes. If you have subscribed the market data for that venue, the resulting Directed Chart will be fully populated, up to date and it will update automatically1.
How do I set up a Directed Chart?
1. Within a watchlist, type the contract symbol and press Enter on your keyboard.
2. When then contract selection menu appears, select the item Stock (Directed). If you do not see this item, click on the small down arrow at the bottom of the menu to reveal the hidden menu items.
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3. The Exchange selection screen will appear. You can now select the main Exchange for the product or the Exchange for which you have an active live market data subscription. Once done, click OK.
4. Within your watchlist you will see a newly created Directed Ticker line. It will contain the contract symbol and, preceded by the @ sign, the Exchange you selected at the previous step. Right click on that directed ticker line and select Chart > New Chart
5. The chart will be shown. On the left side of the toolbar, after the contract symbol, you will see the Exchange you selected preceeded by a @ sign, indicating that this is a Directed Chart.
1. In order for the chart to update automatically, the checkbox "Keep chart up to date" has to be activated in the Chart Parameters panel. The panel is reachable directly within the chart window, from the top menu Edit.
Rapports - Calcul des fais d'exposition
INTRODUCTION
Votre système de Gestion de compte vous permet de configurer et de gérer votre compte, ainsi que votre rapport de Calcul des frais d'exposition, depuis une seule fenêtre. Le calcul des Frais d'exposition est généré quotidiennement et rendu disponible dans la Gestion de compte avant l'ouverture du marché des titres aux États-Unis. Ce rapport permet aux utilisateurs de voir l'impact dans les Pertes et Profits (P&L) de vos positions si le prix de chacune de vos positions baisse ou augmente d'un pourcentage donné.
ACCÈS AU RAPPORT
Pour accéder/générer des rapport de calcul des frais d'exposition
1) Dans la page d'accueil de la Gestion de compte, cliquez surRapports puis Autres rapports. 
2) L'écran suivant apparaîtra.
3) Sélectionnez le calcul des frais d'exposition dans la section Type de rapport du menu déroulant Les paramètres de calcul d'exposition aux frais apparaissent
4) Dans le champ Date, sélectionnez la date du rapport
5) Cliquez sur Exécuter rapport
APERÇU DU RAPPORT
Les récapitulatifs des frais d'exposition incluent l'exposition moyenne et les frais d'exposition correspondants pour chaque secteur1 ainsi qu'un lien hypertexte vous permettant de voir notre rapport de sensibilité pour les frais d'exposition corrélés
Récapitulatif détaillé par secteur
Cliquer sur le lien hypertexte associé à chaque secteur1 générera un récapitulatif détaillé permettant aux utilisateurs de voir les modifications dans le P&L des positions si le prix de l'indice/ETF correspondant augmente ou baisse d'un montant donné. Afin d'illustrer les actions et indices sur actions, nous partirons de l'hypothèse que SPX baisse de 30%, 20% et 10% et augmente indépendamment de 10% et 20%. Les résultats sont basés sur des modèles de prix et tiennent compte des modifications fortuites de la volatilité et autres variables pouvant affecter les prix des dérivés.
La rapport indique:
- La valeur nette de liquidation (NLV) de votre compte basée sur les positions du jour précédent
- L'exposition moyenne pour le secteur
- Les frais d'exposition correspondants
- La valeur de toutes les positions dans le compte avec P&L dans la devise de base
Pour utiliser le rapport, cliquez sur la case correspondant à la variation de prix à la baisse ou à la hausse qui vous intéresse (+/- 10%, 20% ou +30%). Le P&L pour chaque position est actualisé pour le pourcentage sélectionné
Le tableau ci-dessous est un exemple de récapitulatif détaillé pour le secteur lié à ce titre lorsqu'un pourcentage de -30% est sélectionné
1 Les comptes peuvent représenter une exposition moyenne et des frais d'exposition correspondants pour plus d'un secteur
La rapport de sensibilité pour les frais d'exposition corrélés
Pour tous les contrats du portefeuille, nous réalisons une estimation des frais d'exposition si la position d'un contrat est modifié. Nous partons de l'hypothèse que les contrats sont achetés ou vendus plutôt que transférés. La variation de position n'est pas modifiable et dans certains cas peut effectivement nécessiter une inversion de la position, par exemple d'une position short à une position longue.
Pour en savoir plus concernant les frais d'exposition, veuillez consulter l'articleKB3114
Exposure Fee Calculation Reports
INTRODUCTION
Our Account Management system lets you configure and manage your account from a single window, including our Exposure Fee Calculations report. The Exposure Fee Calculations is generated daily and made available within Account Management prior to the U.S. equity market open. This report allows users to view the change in Profit and Loss (PnL) of your positions if the price of each of your positions declines and increases by predetermined percentages.
REPORT ACCESS
To access/generate an Exposure Fee Calculations Report
1) From the Account Management Home Page, click on the Reports and then Other Reports menu options.
2) The following screen will appear.
3) Select Exposure Fee Calculations from the Report Type drop-down. Exposure Fee Calculations settings appear
4) In the Date field,select the date for the report
5) Click Run Report
REPORT OVERVIEW
The Exposure Fee Summary Reports reflects the Average Exposure and the corresponding Exposure Fee for each Sector1 and a hyper-link to view our Sensitivity Report for the Correlated Exposure Fee
Detailed Sector Summary
Clicking on the hyper-link associated with each sector1 will populate a detailed summary, which allows users to see the change in the PNL of your positions if the price of the corresponding ETF/Index increases / declines by a pre-determined amount. For the example of Equity Stocks and Indices we are assuming SPX declines by 30%, 20% and 10% and independent increases by 10% and 20% The results are based on theoretical pricing models and take into account coincidental changes in volatility and other variables that affect derivative prices
The report shows:
- The Net Liquidation Value (NLV) of your account based on positions from the previous day’s close
- Average Exposure for the sector
- Corresponding Exposure Fee
- Equity of all positions in the account with PNL in base currency
To use the report, click the radio button that corresponds to the up or down price change you want to see (+/- 10%, 20% or +30%). The PNL for each position is updated by the selected percentage
The following are figure shows an example of a Detailed Summary of the Equity Sector, with -30% selected
1 Accounts may have Average Exposure and a corresponded Exposure Fee for more than 1 Sector
Sensitivity Report for the Correlated Exposure Fee
For every contract in the portfolio we compute an estimate of the exposure fee if the position of a single contract is modified. We assume that contracts are bought or sold, as opposed to transferred in/out. The position change is not editable and in some cases may actually require the account to reverse the direction of their position, for example from a short position to long position.
For additional information regarding the Exposure Fee, please see KB3114
IB TWS and IB Key Merger into IBKR Mobile
OVERVIEW
The migration for your user depends upon your current use of the apps as follows:
1. Your Smartphone is solely used for trading (IB TWS installed) - Click Here
2. Your Smartphone is solely used for authentication (IB Key installed) - Click Here
3. Your Smartphone is used for both trading and authentication (IB TWS and IB Key installed) - Click Here
4. Your Smartphone is used for Debit Card transactions (IB Key installed) - Click Here
You are a user of IB TWS
You have been trading on your smartphone with IB TWS and you have not used IB Key.
1. Upon first launch of the application you will see the following new Home Screen.
Figure 1 is the Home Screen of IBKR Mobile for iOS devices. Figure 2 is the Android device version.
Figure 1 Figure 2
2. Tap on the Trade button.
3. The rest of the application experience is identical to what you have already used in the past.
Access to the other functions from the Trading Screen
If you wish to access the other functions of the IBKR Mobile, such as the Authentication module or the
Debit Card functions:
For iOS (Figure 3)
1. Open the menu ‘More’ (lower right-hand corner of your screen).
2. Scroll to the very bottom of this page
For Android (Figure 4)
1. Open the Application menu
2. Scroll to the bottom section - App Settings
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Figure 3
Figure 4
You are an IB Key user
Activation
1. Launch the IBKR Mobile and tap on Authentication.
2. The app will detect the installation of the IB Key and will suggest a course of action - either an
automated migration (Figure 5) on an update and then automated migration.
You can as well choose to manually migrate at a later point.
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Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7
After the migration is completed, should you run the IB Key standalone application - the one you have
authenticated with in the past - you will see the following screen (Figure 8).
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Figure 8
Daily Operation
A. Nothing changes in the daily login experience if you have an Internet connection - the Seamless
Authentication process will be used:
1. Enter your credentials in the corresponding fields (in the TWS, Account Management, WebTrader or
IBKR Mobile). Click on Login.
2. The system will send you a notification on your smartphone’s screen - tap on it.
3. Depending on your device, present your face to the camera or fingerprint on the sensor (iOS) or
enter your PIN code (Android). The system will the automatically proceed with the login.
B. If you have no Internet connection, you will use the IBKR Mobile in Challenge-Response mode:
1. Enter your credentials in the corresponding fields (in the TWS, Account Management, WebTrader or
IBKR Mobile). Click on ‘Login'.
2. Click on the link saying “I did not receive a notification”.
3. Launch the IBKR Mobile and tap on ‘Authentication’.
4. In the field Challenge of your smartphone application enter the values displayed on the Login
Screen. Tap the ‘Generate’ button.
5. Enter the values displayed by your smartphone app into the field Response string on the Login
Screen. Click ‘Login’.
You are a user of both IB TWS and IB Key
1. Please complete first the procedure for the activation of the Authentication module of the IBKR
Mobile app (Click Here).
2. Login to the trading screen by taping on the Trade button of the Home Screen in your new IBKR
Mobile app (Click Here).
You use an IB Debit Card
1. Please complete first the procedure for the activation of the Authentication module of the IBKR
Mobile app (Click Here).
2. On the Home Screen of the IBKR Mobile app tap on the Debit Card button. The rest of the experience
is identical to what you have already used in the past.
Cryptocurrency Products Offered by IBKR
Stocks/ETFs
US
- GBTC (PINK)- Bitcoin Investment Trust
Non-US
- BITCOINXB (SFB)- Bitcoin Tracker One
- COINETH (SFB)- XBT Provider Ethereum
- COINETHE (SFB)- XBT Provider Ethereum
Indices
- NYXBT (NYSE)- NYSE Bitcoin Index
- GXBT (Cboe)- The Gemini Bitcoin Trace Price Index (No new contracts offered for trading as of June 2019)
- BRR (CME)- CME Bitcoin Reference Rate Index
- BRTI (CME)- CME Bitcoin Real Time Index
Futures
- GXBT (Cboe/CFE)- The Gemini Bitcoin Trace Price Futures (No new contracts offered for trading as of June 2019)
- BRR (CMECrypto)- CME Bitcoin Reference Rate Futures
Back to Table of Contents: Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrency Products @ IBKR
Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrency Products @ IBKR
Cryptocurrency Products Offered by IBKR
Cryptocurrency Products Market Data
Trading Bitcoin Futures with IBKR
Bitcoin Futures Product Page
https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=25379
IBKR Margin Requirements
https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=24176
How to update the US Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) on your account
Background:
If you have been informed or believe that your account profile contains an incorrect US SSN/ITIN, you may simply log into your Account Management to update this information. Depending on your taxpayer status, you can update your US SSN/ITIN by modifying one of the following documents:
1) IRS Form W9 (if you are a US tax resident and/or US citizen holding a US SSN/ITIN)
2) IRS Form W-8BEN (if you are a Non-US tax resident holding a US SSN/ITIN)
Please note, if your SSN/ITIN has already been verified with the IRS you will be unable to update the information. If however the IRS has not yet verified the ID, you will have the ability to update through Account Management.
How to Modify Your W9/W8
1) To submit this information change request, first login to Account Management
2) Click on the Settings section followed by Account Settings
3) Find the Profile(s) section. Locate the User you wish to update and click on the Info button (the "i" icon) to the left of the User's name
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4) Scroll down to the bottom where you will see the words Tax Forms. Next to it will be a link with the current tax form we have for the account. Click on this tax form to open it
5) Review the form. If your US SSN/ITIN is incorrect, click on the UPDATE button at the bottom of the page
6) Make the requisite changes and click the CONTINUE button to submit your request.
7) If supporting documentation is required to approve your information change request, you will receive a message. Otherwise, your information change request should be approved within 24-48 hours.
