Adaptive Algo

The Adaptive algo order type combines IB's smart routing capabilities with user-defined priority settings in an effort to achieve a fast fill at the best all-in price. It can be used as either a market or limit order.

The Adaptive Algo is designed to ensure that both market and aggressive limit orders trade between the bid and ask prices. On average, using the Adaptive algo leads to better fill prices than using regular market or limit orders. This algo order type is most useful to an investor when the spread is wide, but can also be helpful when the spread is only one tick.

Adaptive Market Orders

While a basic market buy order would go straight to the ask price, an Adaptive market order starts within the bid/ask spread and incrementally checks prices to the ask to fill the specified quantity. The time taken to scan for better prices is determined by the priority setting you select. The 'urgent' setting scans briefly, while the 'patient' scan works more slowly and has a higher chance of achieving a better overall fill price for your order. There is a risk, especially with the 'patient' priority, that during the scanning time the price of the security may move away from the original price.

Adaptive Limit Orders

For Adaptive limit orders that are set to fill between the bid and ask prices, the algo will attempt to execute at the most favorable price in the same way as described above, and will only fill at the limit price or better.