Interactive Brokers Adds ChartTrading Buttons and Futures Layout to IBKR Desktop

Interactive Brokers has released version 3.5 (beta) of its IBKR Desktop platform, adding ChartTrading buttons and a Futures Trading Layout, the electronic trading major said.

The update integrates Chart Trading (Instant Trading) into IBKR Desktop, enabling users to place, modify, and manage orders directly from the embedded TradingView chart. Buy and Sell buttons can be enabled for quick order entry, and One Tap Trading can be activated to submit orders without confirmation. Order placement and modification on the chart no longer block the user interface, according to the company.

To use the new feature, users can navigate to the Quote menu icon and select the hexagon icon in the top right corner of the chart. They can then click the Trading button (two arrows) and select Buy/Sell buttons to display buy and sell buttons directly on the chart. Optionally, clicking the One Tap Trading button allows instant order placement via the chart without confirmation. Once selected, the Buy and Sell buttons populate in the top right corner of the chart. Clicking these buttons populates the order ticket on the right-hand side, where users can enter additional order parameters and select Submit Buy Order or Submit Sell Order to place the trade.

The broker also added a new Futures Trading Layout, providing a dedicated workspace for futures traders. This layout consolidates key trading tools into a single view, including a compact futures watchlist, charting, order entry, orders management, and news. By centralizing these components, traders can monitor markets, analyze opportunities, and manage positions from one location.

To access the layout, users can navigate to the Layouts menu icon and select the plus icon in the top right corner. The Futures Trading Layout will then populate on the screen.

Additionally, the Financial Instrument column in the Watchlist is now pinned by default, ensuring it remains visible when scrolling horizontally through watchlist data. This enhancement helps users maintain context and quickly identify the contract they are viewing, improving navigation and usability in larger watchlists.