How to add synthetic indices to MT5

You will need:

• Administrator access to your MT5 trade server through MT5 Administrator
• A synthetic indices price feed, delivered either as an MT5 datafeed or as a FIX session into your bridge
• A demo server to test on before you switch on live client groups

If you route liquidity through a bridge such as PrimeXM, oneZero or Centroid, the feed arrives over FIX instead, and steps 1 and 2 happen in your bridge. See integration options.

In MT5 Administrator, open the datafeed section and add the synthetic indices datafeed using the server address and credentials from your provider. Point it at your demo server first.

Once it connects, the feed starts streaming quotes for each index. Nothing is visible to clients yet, because the symbols do not exist on the server.

Create one custom symbol per index, in its own symbol group (for example Synthetics\) so they are easy to manage and permission.

• Name. Use the provider's symbol name or your own branding, for example BOOM1000 or YourBrand Boom 1000. Map it to the matching feed symbol.
• Digits. Match the feed's precision, usually 2.
• Contract size and volumes. Set contract size, minimum lot, lot step and maximum lot to suit your client base.
• Calculation mode. CFD is the usual choice.

Synthetic indices trade every day of the year. Set both quote and trade sessions to 00:00 to 24:00 for all seven days, including Saturday and Sunday. If you leave the default weekday sessions, clients will see prices at the weekend but will not be able to trade.

Set swaps to zero or to your chosen financing rate. Many brokers apply no swap on synthetic indices.

• Spreads. Apply spread through the symbol settings or per group. Base it on the published volatility of each index, not on a real-market comparison.
• Margin. Set initial and maintenance margin per symbol. Spike indices usually need more margin than volatility indices of a similar level.
• Groups. Enable the Synthetics\ symbol group only for the client groups that should see it.

Our risk management guide covers spreads, margin and exposure limits in more depth.

1. Open test accounts on demo and trade each symbol, including at the weekend.
2. Check that prices on the client terminal match the feed, and that history builds correctly on every timeframe.
3. Pull stored tick history from your provider and compare it against a few test trades. This is how you will answer client disputes later.
4. Connect the feed to your live server, enable the symbol group for live client groups, and announce the launch to your IBs.

With Aleatra, most brokers go from first connection to live symbols within a week. Request a demo to see the setup on a call.