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Horizon Suite of Products FAQs

What does Horizon do ?
Horizon is a very powerful trading strategy analysis tool which enables users to model simple or complex ideas.  The user friendly interface used by Horizon enables users to analyse strategies efficiently and quickly achieve an edge over their competitors.
  • The Horizon graphical interface is easy to use and the user does not need to manipulate data in spreadsheets or understand computer programming languages. The data can be accessed and manipulated quickly.
  • Horizon allows rapid and accurate in-depth analysis of financial market trends in a wide range of asset class. It is used by traders, analysts, quants and sales staff to identify trading and arbitrage opportunities.
  • Horizon uses an extensive historical database of end day rates extending back over 30 years, and contains a broad range of asset classes including Derivatives, Fixed Income, F/X, Money Market, and Equities commodities. The data is sourced from multiple contributors and is always up-to-date and accurate.
  • Horizon has a sophisticated array of built in functions that allow users to model almost any trading strategy that they can envisage.

In summary Horizon has been designed to be easy to use and provide accurate complex strategy analysis. Horizon gives our customers the edge to react to market changes quickly and reliably.

What is the difference between the various Horizon products ?

The Horizon suite consists of four products. All are designed to produce historical data in varying formats. The means of analysing the data varies depending on the application.

  • Horizon Premium is our original graphical product that produces graphs via the use of our Graph Definition Dialogue (GDD). The nature of these charts varies from very simple time series through to much more complicated studies that can be produced through the sophistication of the GDD.
  • Open Horizon allows the user to export the Horizon data and analytics into an excel spreadsheet using the same GDD as Horizon Premium.
  • Horizon COM is our programmable product (API) that allows users to export the Horizon data into any medium of their choice.
  • Horizon Direct is a web based delivery service whereby the Horizon data is delivered via the internet from our data servers each time a chart is produced. The Horizon Direct interface is very similar to Horizon Premium.

More Details

Who are Horizon's main user's ?

Horizon is designed for anyone requiring a competitive edge in the process of analysing trading strategies.

  • It is used by traders, quants, researchers and sales staff to identify varying trading and arbitrage opportunities.
  • We have customers in investment banks, commercial banks, hedge funds, AIM’s, corporate institutions and individual traders.
  • It is also used by middle office and risk management staff to help with a range of different duties in that workspace.

Horizon can be used at work or taken out on the road and used as a sales tool or a means to explain your trading strategies to investors.

Horizon is aimed at anyone requiring an edge in the market. Its used by traders, quants and sales staff to identify varying trading and arbitrage opportunities.

How is the data provided for Horizon Premium, Open Horizon, Horizon COM ?

The data is downloaded on a daily basis at a time convenient to the customer on a server or PC at the customer's end.

The server does not need to be very powerful and each evening just collects the data required to top up the data needed after the last download. This allows the customer to always have the data available even if the internet fails for any unforeseeable reason. The users are then connected to the server via their own personal log-in names whenever they require information.

Multiple downloads each day are accommodated as required. A further download is available later in the day to allow for the later closure and collection of the US markets.

How is the data provided for Horizon Direct ?

The data for Horizon Direct is downloaded from the internet each time a trading strategy analysis is produced. Each user is allocated an individual password. This allows the user access to Horizon from remote sites where they do not have the data stored. This is particularly useful when users are away from the office and the data can be loaded onto personal lap tops.

This product also allows users to make presentations away from the office or even check the markets first thing in the morning before leaving home.

What sets Horizon apart from other financial charting applications ?

There are many aspects of Horizon that set it apart from its competitors.  Here are a few:

  • Horizon’s unique interface and data set - Horizon has a unique database that allows users to analyse almost any trading strategy that a user can envisage.
  • Accuracy, reliability and speed - For some it is the speed with which simple or complex expressions can be created and graphed using our unique proprietary technology. This allows our customers to be ahead of the crowd in times of high volatility.
  • Flexibility and Extra Functionality - Added to the speed at which expressions can be created is the complexity that can be achieved by using Horizons specially developed edit facility in which very complicated mathematical expressions or even standard analytics can be easily calculated and graphed. This edit line also allows the user to create functions not available in other applications for example our Decreasing Maturity section and the ability to combine historical data and term structures on the same graph.
  • Customer Service - Our customers reinforce the idea that we have the best data in the market but as testimonies elsewhere on the web site show they are also impressed by the individual service provided by the company. A call to either the Sales department or our Support team creates an individual service to our customers. This allows us to help with any needs whether it be extra data, support help or training needs. DTS staff  are always available to assist until your concerns have been answered.
Why do I need Horizon when I already have Reuters and/or Bloomberg terminals ?

Very few of our many worldwide customers DO NOT have one or both of these large financial data solutions, but they choose to use Horizon as it is complementary to their other solutions.

But more importantly:

  1. Horizon does a lot of things that that you can do with Reuters or Bloomberg terminal BUT you can do it in a fraction of the time with Horizon (time is money!),
  2. Horizon is more powerful, more flexible and easier to use,
  3. The Horizon data is better quality than the others, and
  4. DTS as a company is much easier to deal with and more responsive than the bigger competitors.

See previous question for what aspects of Horizon set it apart from its competitors. 

How do you license Horizon programs ?

Horizon can be obtained at very affordable costs. From as little as US$40 a month.

For single users a Fixed License is available whereby unlimited use can be made of our products using the user’s unique log-in name to access the data. Because Horizon can be networked a number of Fixed Licenses can be obtained to be used simultaneously.

However if a number of infrequent users would like to access Horizon each month a Shared Licence is available that will help save you money. After a number of free hours this License is charged by usage and users can be added or removed from this License at the customer’s discretion.

Payment for any of our Horizon products is via a one off installation charge which also covers training, all paperwork in the future and all administration costs. There is also a one off charge per Currency for any of the sixty currencies we supply, which is then rolled out to every user now or in the future at no extra cost. Finally there is a monthly License fee per user.

How can I add new licenses if someone new in our organisation requires Horizon ?

New licenses can be easily added at any time by having us edit your individual keyfile, a copy of which is stored in our offices. Once a new license is installed, free training is available either in person by one of our sales staff or via video conferencing.

With the Shared Licenses, users can be added or removed whenever needed by your technical staff without reference to DTS.

Can you support an installation outside of the areas where you have offices ?

We have many customers all over the globe and believe that all our customers are satisfied with the service we provide.

The initial installation can be downloaded direct from our web site with a special unique password. If additional licences are required in the future this can also be easily achieved by us editing your own keyfile a copy of which is stored in our offices.

The data provided on a daily basis is sent via the internet and any training required can be achieved using web services for a two way conversation.

Our help and advice service is the same as for local customers and we are always happy to talk over any problems over the phone. Particularly useful for any Asian customers is our branch in Sydney who can talk to you regarding any issues in your own time frame.

How can I arrange a demonstration of Horizon before we decide whether we want to subscribe ?

Derivative Trading Systems have various ways of demonstrating our products and are dedicated to a full training programme after purchase. We have just updated our web site with a series of demo sessions showing some of the functionality of our products. We have a public section of demonstrations but more are available upon request. We also provide a two way web service where a member of our training team can give a short interactive presentation at your convenience.

However if you are local to our offices in either London or Sydney a member of our Sales team would be happy to come round and show off our products. This demonstration last about forty minutes and is presented via a lap top so can be shown to a number of people at any one time. If you do not wish for a personal visit or are located further away we can provide a CD containing a selection of functions and this can be used together with a two week free trial of Horizon Premium to test them out. Finally once installed any users, if required, will receive free training until confident in all aspects of the product.

How many users of Horizon do you have globally and in how many financial centres?

Horizon is used globally in over fourteen financial centres. We have hundreds of satisfied individual users worldwide.

At what time is your data recorded ?

Data is provided on a daily basis and consists of closing market prices taken at the end of trading of the futures markets in three main financial centres:

  • Asian Currency data is supplied at the close of the Futures market in Hong Kong,
  • European Currency data is taken at the close of the Futures market in London, 
  • American Currency data is taken at the close of Futures markets in New York. 

However for some of the larger currencies we can supply out of time zone prices, for example in US Dollars we provide closing prices in Hong Kong and London as well as in New York.

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