programming for automated stock trading

[Collaborate]

I am interested in writing a custom code that would draw real-time
ticker data, say from Yahoo Finance, and perform mathematical
calculations to make daytrading decisions. For example, the code would
execute the following: "if the stock drops by 5% from the day's open
price, buy x number of shares, then sell if goes up by 3%". I'd like
to use this app. with a discount broker account (Zecco Trading or
SogoTrade).

More sophistication can be added later by gathering market data from
various online sources to make the trading decisions (such as taking
into account the change in the DJIA, VIX that day, the resistance
levels, etc.)

Since discount brokers do not offer APIs for this purpose, the custom
apllication will need to imitate the manual actions of buy and sell
(enter the price, number of shares, click on the buy button, etc.).
This is one way I can think of for placing the trades automatically
although there may be other ways I am not aware of.

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on what programming language
(s) would be most suitable for writing the application that I
described. I'd appreciate your comments.

Thanks.

[nick]

I done that but found out yahoo realtime is not realtime
you can see a delay to the 15 to 20 min.
if you want realtime use and register quotetracker api
nick

[Collaborate]

A paid real-time ticker service may be more reliable. I would be
willing to pay the monthly fee.

Would you share some details of your trading program such as some of
the features? What programming language did you use? Would it be
possible to post a picture of the interface?

[vroman]

I am very interested in the answer to this question. I have a day
trading algorithm of my own I want to try, and need a program broadly
similar to what you are describing. I have some programming
experience, but never web-related. An associate of mine suggested
google web toolkit. http://code.google.com/webtoolkit/gettingstarted.html
I am starting to research this, but it seems over my head.