ICICIdirect API (Algo Trading) Review

API Usage Costs

• API Access Fee: Free. There is no cost to use the Breeze API.
• Historical Data: Free access to historical data and streaming OLC for backtesting.

Standard Brokerage Charges (Applicable via API)

Brokerage depends on your chosen ICICI Direct plan, not the API itself:

• iValue Plan: Flat ₹20 per order across Equity Intraday, Futures, and Options.
• Prime Plan: Varies, with lower brokerage on delivery (e.g., 0.15% to 0.29%) and fixed fees on derivatives.
• Other Charges: Statutory charges, GST, SEBI charges, STT, and Stamp Duty apply as per standard trading

Key Considerations

• 3-in-1 Account: Integrates your savings account with the API, allowing seamless funds handling.
• Call and Trade: Using API prevents the ₹50 per order charge for broker-assisted trades.
• System Square-off: A charge of ₹50 per order (up to ₹100/day) may apply to system-initiated square-offs.

100 API calls per minute/5,000 calls per day.

To get an ICICI Direct API key, register on the Breeze API portal using your ICICI Direct credentials. Navigate to "Register an App," enter the required details to generate your API Key, Secret Key, and Session Token. The API supports streaming data, historical data, and automated trading via the API/SDK.

Steps to Get Your API Keys (Breeze API):

• Login: Access the Breeze API Portal and log in with your trading account credentials.
• Register App: Go to the "Register an App" section, provide an app name, and define a redirect URL.
• Generate Keys: Upon submission, your API key and Secret Key will be visible in the "View Apps" section.
• Activate & Session: Ensure the app is active and generate a session token by logging in, which is required for authentication.

Key Features:

• Streaming Data: Access live OHLC data.
• Historical Data: Get 3 years of futures and options historical data.
• Secure: Uses SSL, app key, secret key, and checksum for security.

The API supports various development environments, including Python, Jupyter, and Visual Studio.

Authentication Essentials

To perform trades, you need three credentials for every session:

• API Key: Your permanent app identifier.
• Secret Key: Used for encrypting messages.
• Session Token: A temporary key generated daily.
• How to generate: Click "Login" next to your app in the "View Apps" section. After logging in, the Session Token will appear in the URL address bar or in the browser's developer tools under the Network tab.

Key Technical Limits

• Cost: ₹0 (Free for all ICICI Direct customers).
• Rate Limits: 100 API calls per minute / 5,000 calls per day.
• Order Limit: Maximum 10 orders per second.
• IP Restriction: Orders must be placed from a static IP address registered with ICICI Direct.

1. Trading API

Allows programmatic order placement, cancellation, and modification across equity, F&O, currency, and commodities. The API supports:

• Place Market, Limit, SL, and GTT orders
• Check margin requirements
• Monitor position updates
• Execute algo-based trades triggered by technical or fundamental signals

2. Market Data & Historical Data API

Provides access to extensive datasets for market analysis, including:

• Tick-level and OHLC data up to one year
• Intraday data (1-minute, 5-minute, 15-minute, hourly)
• EOD historical data since inception
  Ideal for backtesting, predictive modeling, and statistical arbitrage strategies.

3. Order Management API

A complete lifecycle management system that lets users:

• Retrieve live order and trade book
• Track open and executed positions
• Cancel, square-off, or modify existing trades
• Receive execution status notifications in real-time via WebSocket stream

Advanced Integrations

• TradingView Bridge: Allows traders to execute TradingView alerts directly through ICICI Direct accounts using webhook triggers or API calls.
• AmiBroker Bridge: Seamless integration for automatic trade placement based on AmiBroker strategy signals using AFL scripts linked with Breeze API.
• Custom Algo Integration: Developers can build scalping, arbitrage, or hedging algorithms using ICICI’s low-latency streaming APIs in languages such as Python or C++.

Authentication and Security

Breeze API uses the OAuth 2.0 protocol, where developers must:

1. Generate API Key and Secret Key from the Breeze developer console.
2. Obtain an Access Token for secure trading sessions.
3. Use the Refresh Token to maintain session persistence without re-login.

Data is encrypted end-to-end using 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption, ensuring compliance with financial data protection standards.

Example Use Cases

• Automated Intraday Scalping with algorithmic signals generated by technical indicators like EMA crossover or RSI thresholds.
• Portfolio Rebalancing Bots that automatically align holdings with a predefined asset allocation strategy.
• Derivatives Trading Systems executing delta-hedged positions using futures and options Greeks.
• Quantitative Backtesting Frameworks using historical data for model validation.

Algo Trading Ecosystem by ICICI Direct

AlgoScalp Integration (Automated Scalping Product):

Breeze API supports integration with scalping bots to capitalise on rapid price movements in options and futures.

Third-Party Platform Compatibility

• AmiBroker: Backtest and execute directly through Trade Racer / Breeze.
• TradingView: Run webhook-based strategies through automatic API triggers.
• Python-Based Bots: Fully supported SDKs for algorithmic traders.

The ICICI Direct Breeze API stands out as a robust, enterprise-grade solution for algorithmic and high-frequency trading. It combines security, speed, and data accuracy, making it one of the most capable trading APIs among Indian brokers.

With features like OAuth 2.0 security, multi-language SDKs, real-time streaming, and deep integration potential with platforms like TradingView and AmiBroker, the Breeze API is ideal for both retail algo traders and institutional developers seeking reliable automation.

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