Futures trading bot: automate ES, NQ, gold and oil
The short answer
Yes. AlgoBars bots trade real CME futures through MT5 futures brokers such as AMP Futures: index futures like ES and NQ, plus metals, energy and US Treasury futures. Build the bot in plain English, backtest it free, and let it trade 24/7. With other MT4, MT5 or cTrader brokers you can trade the same markets as CFDs.
Last updated
Futures you can automate
Common CME contracts. Exactly which contracts and months you can trade depends on your futures broker.
| Symbol | Market | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ES | S&P 500 | Equity index |
| NQ | Nasdaq-100 | Equity index |
| YM | Dow Jones | Equity index |
| RTY | Russell 2000 | Equity index |
| GC | Gold | Metal |
| SI | Silver | Metal |
| HG | Copper | Metal |
| PL | Platinum | Metal |
| CL | Crude oil | Energy |
| NG | Natural gas | Energy |
| RB | Gasoline | Energy |
| HO | Heating oil | Energy |
| ZB | 30-year US Treasury bond | Interest rate |
| ZN | 10-year US Treasury note | Interest rate |
| ZF | 5-year US Treasury note | Interest rate |
How to automate futures, step by step
- Connect your MT5 futures broker, such as AMP Futures. Your account needs futures access and market data.
- Describe your strategy in plain English, or build it with no-code blocks or AlgoBarsX.
- Backtest it free on past prices before you risk real money.
- Pick the contract your broker lists and switch the bot on. It trades in whole contracts.
- Protect each trade with a stop loss and take profit, kept hidden as Ghost Orders or placed with your broker.
Useful tools
Good to know
Futures are leveraged and can lose more than you expect. Contracts expire, so check expiry dates and roll positions the way your broker requires. Available contracts, micro contracts and fees depend on your broker. Nothing here is financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can AlgoBars trade ES and NQ futures automatically?
Yes. Through an MT5 futures broker such as AMP Futures, AlgoBars bots place live orders on index futures like ES and NQ, plus metal, energy and Treasury futures your broker offers.
Which broker do I need for real futures?
An MT5 broker that offers exchange futures, such as AMP Futures. With other MT4, MT5 or cTrader brokers you can trade the same markets as CFDs, such as US500, NAS100, gold and oil.
Are micro futures like MES and MNQ supported?
Yes, if your futures broker offers them on MT5. Micro contracts are smaller, so they suit smaller accounts.
What happens when a futures contract expires?
Each contract month has an expiry date. Check it, and close or roll your position before expiry the way your broker requires.
Is futures trading free on AlgoBars?
The platform, backtesting and bot building are free. Your broker charges its own commissions and market data fees, and futures are leveraged.
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