Content
# IB Async MCP Server
[](https://github.com/Hellek1/ib-mcp/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
Lightweight Model Context Protocol (MCP) server exposing read-only Interactive Brokers data (contracts, historical data, fundamentals, news, portfolio, account) via the asynchronous [`ib_async`](https://ib-api-reloaded.github.io/ib_async/) library and [`FastMCP`](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/fastmcp). Ideal for feeding financial data into LLM workflows and autonomous agents while keeping trading disabled.
## Overview
This directory contains an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that wraps the ib_async library to allow LLMs to interact with Interactive Brokers data.
## Features
The MCP server provides the following tools for LLM interaction:
### 1. Contract Lookup and Conversion
- **lookup_contract**: Look up contract details by ticker symbol and optional exchange/currency
- **ticker_to_conid**: Convert ticker symbol to contract ID (conid)
### 2. Market Data
- **get_historical_data**: Retrieve historical market data with configurable duration, bar size, and data type
### 3. Options
- **get_option_chain**: List option-chain parameters (expirations and strikes) for an underlying, with strike-range filtering and pagination
- **get_option_quotes**: Batch bid/ask/last/close and model IV/delta for a list of option strikes; defaults to delayed-frozen data (no OPRA subscription required)
- **get_index_quote**: Spot quote (last/close/bid/ask) for an index, useful for strike-from-spot calculations
### 4. News
- **get_news**: Retrieve current news articles for a contract
- **get_historical_news**: Retrieve historical news articles within a date range
### 5. Fundamental Data
- **get_fundamental_data**: Retrieve fundamental data including financial summaries, ownership, financial statements, and more
### 6. Portfolio and Account Information
- **get_portfolio**: Retrieve portfolio positions and details
- **get_account_summary**: Retrieve account summary information
- **get_positions**: Retrieve current positions with contract metadata, including option expiry/strike/right/multiplier fields
## Prerequisites
1. **Interactive Brokers Account**: You need an active IB account
2. **IB Gateway or TWS**: Download and install either:
- [IB Gateway (Stable)](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/trading/ibgateway-stable.php) - Recommended for API-only use
- [IB Gateway (Latest)](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/trading/ibgateway-latest.php) - Latest features
- [Trader Workstation (TWS)](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/trading/tws.php) - Full trading platform
3. **API Configuration**:
- Enable API access in TWS/Gateway: `Configure → API → Settings` and check "Enable ActiveX and Socket Clients"
- Set appropriate port (default: 7497 for TWS, 4001 for Gateway)
- Add `127.0.0.1` to trusted IPs if connecting locally
## Installation
### From source (development)
```bash
git clone https://github.com/Hellek1/ib-mcp.git
cd ib-mcp
pip install poetry
poetry install
```
## Usage
### Running the MCP Server
#### STDIO Mode (Default)
The default mode runs as a spawnable MCP server communicating via standard input/output. This is ideal for integration with MCP clients like Claude Desktop.
```bash
# Using default settings (TWS on localhost:7497)
poetry run ib-mcp-server
# Custom IB Gateway connection
poetry run ib-mcp-server --host 127.0.0.1 --port 4001 --client-id 1
# Help with all options
poetry run ib-mcp-server --help
```
#### HTTP Mode
HTTP mode runs a persistent server that listens on a host and port, enabling multi-client access and network connectivity.
```bash
# Local HTTP server
poetry run ib-mcp-server --transport http --http-host 127.0.0.1 --http-port 8000
# Listen on all interfaces (for Docker/remote access)
poetry run ib-mcp-server --transport http --http-host 0.0.0.0 --http-port 8000
# Using environment variables
IB_MCP_TRANSPORT=http IB_MCP_HTTP_HOST=127.0.0.1 IB_MCP_HTTP_PORT=8000 poetry run ib-mcp-server
```
**Security Note**: HTTP mode binds to localhost (127.0.0.1) by default. For remote access, place behind a reverse proxy with proper authentication and use a protected network.
### Command Line Options
#### IB Connection
- `--host`: IB Gateway/TWS host (default: 127.0.0.1)
- `--port`: IB Gateway/TWS port (default: 7497 for TWS, use 4001 for Gateway)
- `--client-id`: Unique client ID for the connection (default: 1)
#### Transport Configuration
- `--transport`: Transport protocol - `stdio` (default) or `http`
- `--http-host`: HTTP server host (default: 127.0.0.1)
- `--http-port`: HTTP server port (default: 8000)
### Environment Variables
You can also use environment variables instead of flags:
#### IB Connection
- `IB_HOST`
- `IB_PORT`
- `IB_CLIENT_ID`
#### Transport
- `IB_MCP_TRANSPORT`
- `IB_MCP_HTTP_HOST`
- `IB_MCP_HTTP_PORT`
Flags override environment variables if both are provided.
### When to Use STDIO vs HTTP
| Use Case | STDIO | HTTP |
|----------|-------|------|
| Claude Desktop integration | ✅ Recommended | ❌ Not supported |
| Local single-client usage | ✅ Simple setup | ⚠️ Overkill |
| Multi-client access | ❌ Not possible | ✅ Supported |
| Remote/network access | ❌ Not possible | ✅ Supported |
| Docker deployment | ✅ Simple | ✅ More flexible |
| Production usage | ✅ Secure by default | ⚠️ Needs auth/proxy |
## Docker
### Build
```bash
docker build -t ib-mcp .
```
### Run (connect to TWS running on host)
#### STDIO Mode (Default)
On macOS/Windows Docker Desktop you can reach host via `host.docker.internal` (already the default):
```bash
docker run --rm -it \
-e IB_HOST=host.docker.internal \
-e IB_PORT=7497 \
-e IB_CLIENT_ID=1 \
ghcr.io/hellek1/ib-mcp
```
On Linux you may need to add `--add-host host.docker.internal:host-gateway` and ensure the TWS/Gateway port is accessible:
```bash
docker run --rm -it \
--add-host host.docker.internal:host-gateway \
-e IB_HOST=host.docker.internal \
-e IB_PORT=7497 \
ghcr.io/hellek1/ib-mcp
```
Override arguments directly if preferred:
```bash
docker run --rm -it ghcr.io/hellek1/ib-mcp --host host.docker.internal --port 4001 --client-id 2
```
#### HTTP Mode
Run as an HTTP server for multi-client or remote access:
```bash
# Local access
docker run --rm -it -p 8000:8000 \
-e IB_HOST=host.docker.internal \
-e IB_PORT=7497 \
-e IB_MCP_TRANSPORT=http \
-e IB_MCP_HTTP_HOST=0.0.0.0 \
-e IB_MCP_HTTP_PORT=8000 \
ghcr.io/hellek1/ib-mcp
# Or using command line arguments
docker run --rm -it -p 8000:8000 \
ghcr.io/hellek1/ib-mcp \
--host host.docker.internal --port 7497 \
--transport http --http-host 0.0.0.0 --http-port 8000
```
The HTTP server will be available at `http://localhost:8000/mcp/`.
### MCP Client Integration
#### STDIO Mode
The server communicates via stdio using the MCP protocol. It can be integrated with MCP-compatible tools and LLM applications.
Example MCP client configuration (e.g. Claude Desktop) using Docker:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ib-async": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"--rm",
"--add-host","host.docker.internal:host-gateway",
"-e","IB_HOST=host.docker.internal",
"-e","IB_PORT=7497",
"-e","IB_CLIENT_ID=1",
"ghcr.io/hellek1/ib-mcp:latest"
]
}
}
}
```
Notes:
1. Remove the `--add-host` line on macOS/Windows Docker Desktop (it's only needed on Linux).
#### HTTP Mode
For HTTP mode, connect to the server at `http://localhost:8000/mcp/` using any MCP-compatible HTTP client.
## Available Tools
### Contract Lookup
```
lookup_contract(symbol, sec_type="STK", exchange="SMART", currency="USD")
ticker_to_conid(symbol, sec_type="STK", exchange="SMART", currency="USD")
```
### Market Data
```
get_historical_data(symbol, duration="1 M", bar_size="1 day", data_type="TRADES", exchange="SMART", currency="USD")
```
### Options
```
get_option_chain(symbol, sec_type="IND", exchange="CBOE", currency="USD", trading_class="", min_strike=0.0, max_strike=0.0, max_strikes=20, strike_offset=0)
get_option_quotes(symbol, expiry, right, strikes, exchange="SMART", currency="USD", trading_class="", use_delayed=True)
get_index_quote(symbol, exchange="CBOE", currency="USD", use_delayed=True)
```
`get_option_chain` returns the available expirations plus a strike window filtered
to `[min_strike, max_strike]` (0 = unbounded) and paginated with `max_strikes`
(default 20) and `strike_offset`; the output states how to page to the next window.
When an underlying lists several trading classes (e.g. SPX and SPXW), pass
`trading_class` to page one chain. `get_option_quotes` fetches up to 20 unique
strikes per call (duplicates are ignored, to respect IB pacing) and defaults to
delayed-frozen data, so it works without an OPRA subscription — pass
`use_delayed=false` for live data. Both tools are read-only.
### News
```
get_news(symbol, provider_codes="", exchange="SMART", currency="USD")
get_historical_news(symbol, start_date, end_date, provider_codes="", max_count=10, exchange="SMART", currency="USD")
```
### Fundamentals
```
get_fundamental_data(symbol, report_type="ReportsFinSummary", exchange="SMART", currency="USD")
```
Available report types:
- `ReportsFinSummary`: Financial summary
- `ReportsOwnership`: Ownership information
- `ReportsFinStatements`: Financial statements
- `RESC`: Research reports
- `CalendarReport`: Calendar events
### Portfolio & Account
```
get_portfolio(account="")
get_account_summary(account="")
get_positions(account="")
```
`get_positions` returns a markdown table with account, symbol, security type,
position, average cost, currency, exchange, local symbol, trading class, and
contract ID. Option positions also include expiry, strike, right, and multiplier.
## Example Usage
Once connected to an LLM through MCP, you can ask questions like:
- "Look up the contract details for AAPL"
- "Get the last month of daily historical data for TSLA"
- "Show the XSP option chain strikes between 400 and 550"
- "Get put quotes for XSP expiry 20261218 at strikes 440, 450 and 460"
- "What are the recent news articles for Microsoft?"
- "Show me the financial summary for Google"
- "What positions do I currently have in my portfolio?"
## Data Formats
### XML to Markdown Conversion
The server automatically converts XML-formatted fundamental data to markdown for better readability in LLM interactions.
### Error Handling
The server includes comprehensive error handling and will provide meaningful error messages when:
- IB connection fails
- Invalid symbols are requested
- Market data is not available
- Authentication issues occur
## Troubleshooting
### Connection Issues
1. **"Cannot connect to Interactive Brokers"**
- Ensure TWS/Gateway is running
- Check that API is enabled in settings
- Verify port numbers match (7497 for TWS, 4001 for Gateway)
- Check firewall settings
2. **"No contract found"**
- Verify symbol spelling
- Try different exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ vs SMART)
- Check if security type is correct
3. **"No market data"**
- Ensure you have appropriate market data subscriptions
- Check if markets are open for real-time data
- Try delayed data mode if real-time is not available
### Performance Tips
1. Use specific exchanges when possible instead of "SMART" routing
2. Limit historical data requests to reasonable time ranges
3. Cache contract IDs for frequently accessed symbols
## Security Considerations
- The MCP server operates in read-only mode - no order placement capabilities
- Credentials are handled by the IB Gateway/TWS application
- The server only accesses data you have permission to view in your IB account
## Contributing
1. Fork & branch: `feat/xyz`
2. Install dev deps: `poetry install`
3. Activate pre-commit: `pre-commit install`
4. Run tests: `poetry run pytest -q`
5. Open a PR with a concise description.
### Release (maintainers)
```bash
poetry version patch # or minor / major
poetry build
poetry publish --username __token__ --password <pypi-token>
git tag v$(poetry version -s)
git push --tags
```
## Support & References
- IB API functionality: [ib_async docs](https://ib-api-reloaded.github.io/ib_async/)
- MCP protocol: [MCP spec](https://spec.modelcontextprotocol.io/)
- Interactive Brokers: [IB API docs](https://ibkrcampus.com/ibkr-api-page/twsapi-doc/)
---
Licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License. Contributions welcome.
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