Q. How does IBpnl match a trade if there're multiple positions?
A. IBpnl uses "First In, First Out" rule, that is, the trade is matched against the position with the earliest open date.
Q. Can I trust IBpnl with my account information?
A. Yes, you can. Unlike other compiled software, Java programs can be decompiled - a process of reversing it from 1s and 0s to meaningful logic. Therefore, there is no way for Java programs to hide dirty tricks. IBpnl downloads your statements using a secure protocol, the same one used by your browser.
Q. P/L numbers from IBpnl are slightly different than from IB, why?
A. This could happen. However, IBpnl is probably more accurate. IB allocates P/L for each execution. Even a small trade of 100 shares could result in as many as 10 executions. This easily results in discrepancies due to rounding.
Q. Does IBpnl handle stock trades in multiple currencies?
A. IBpnl reads and processes stock trades in multiple currencies. However, no attempt is made to separate them. This means you need to manually separate the trades in the P/L report. In addition, if you trade identical symbol in two different markets, the result will not be correct.
Q. How does IBpnl handle short trades?
A. IBpnl handles short trades the same way as long trades, with the only difference being the signs of the numbers. In the P/L report, proceeds and costs for short trades show up as negative numbers.