Most traders check equities. Some track commodities. Almost nobody scans both at the same time.
Interactive Brokers just changed that. With version 2.1 of IBKR Desktop, the Heatmap tool now covers equities, fixed income, commodities, and more through a single Asset Class ETFs view. Instead of flipping between tabs, tickers, and third-party screeners, you get a visual snapshot of the entire market on one screen.
I run an automated USDJPY momentum strategy on IB Gateway. Every morning I check the macro backdrop before my system opens positions. This Heatmap update replaces three separate workflows I used to run. Here is exactly how it works and how I use it.
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What Changed: IBKR Desktop v2.1 Heatmap Enhancement
Before this update, the IBKR Desktop Heatmap showed stock sectors — basically a Finviz-style treemap of S&P 500 sectors. Useful, but limited to equities.
The March 10, 2026 release added a new Asset Class ETFs content mode. This adds:
- Equities — US sectors (Technology, Healthcare, Financials, etc.) via sector ETFs
- Fixed Income — Treasury bonds, corporate bonds, high-yield, TIPS, and international debt
- Commodities — Gold, silver, oil, natural gas, agriculture, and broad commodity baskets
- Real Estate — REITs and real estate sector ETFs
- International — Developed markets, emerging markets, regional ETFs
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How to Access the Cross-Asset Heatmap
Step 1: Open IBKR Desktop
Make sure you are running IBKR Desktop version 2.1 or later. If you are still on an older version, the application should auto-update. You can verify your version under Help → About.
If you do not have IBKR Desktop yet, download it from interactivebrokers.com. It runs alongside TWS — you can use both.
Step 2: Navigate to the Heatmap
Click the Sitemap icon (the grid icon in the top navigation bar). From the dropdown menu, select Heatmap.
The Heatmap opens in its own panel. By default, it shows the standard equity sector view — S&P 500 sectors broken down by market cap.
Step 3: Switch to Asset Class ETFs
In the top left corner of the Heatmap panel, find the Content dropdown menu. Click it and select Asset Class ETFs.
The heatmap instantly transforms. Instead of just stock sectors, you now see blocks representing:
- Equity sector ETFs (XLK, XLF, XLV, XLE, etc.)
- Bond ETFs (TLT, LQD, HYG, AGG, TIPS, etc.)
- Commodity ETFs (GLD, SLV, USO, UNG, DBA, etc.)
- Real estate ETFs (VNQ, IYR, etc.)
- International ETFs (EFA, EEM, VWO, etc.)
Step 4: Read the Heatmap
Each rectangle represents an ETF. The size of the block reflects the fund's assets under management (larger blocks = bigger funds = more market significance). The color intensity reflects the magnitude of the price change.
- Dark green: Strong positive move (> +2%)
- Light green: Moderate positive move (+0.5% to +2%)
- Neutral/gray: Flat (–0.5% to +0.5%)
- Light red: Moderate negative move (–0.5% to –2%)
- Dark red: Strong negative move (> –2%)
Step 5: Click for Details
Click any block to see the underlying ETF's quote data — last price, change, volume, bid/ask, and a mini-chart. From here you can:
- Open a full chart
- Place a trade
- Add to a watchlist
- View the ETF's holdings
Real Workflow: How I Use Cross-Asset Heatmap for USDJPY Trading
I trade USDJPY using a momentum strategy automated through the IB Python API. The pair is sensitive to macro risk appetite, so I check cross-asset conditions every morning before the Asian session.
Morning Macro Check (5 Minutes)
Here is what I look for on the heatmap before my algo runs:
1. Risk-On vs. Risk-OffIf equity ETFs (SPY, QQQ, XLK) are deep green and bond ETFs (TLT, AGG) are red, the market is risk-on. USDJPY tends to rally in risk-on environments because the yen weakens.
If bonds are green and equities are red, the market is risk-off. Yen strengthens, USDJPY drops. My momentum signal might still trigger long, but I size down or skip.
2. Commodity Shock DetectionIf oil (USO) or gold (GLD) shows an outsized move (+3% or more), something happened overnight. Oil spikes can signal geopolitical risk. Gold spikes often mean flight to safety.
Both scenarios typically mean yen strength — bad for my long USDJPY setup. One glance at the heatmap catches this faster than scanning individual tickers.
3. Dollar Strength ConfirmationInternational ETFs (EFA for developed markets, EEM for emerging markets) moving red while US equities hold green suggests dollar strength. USDJPY momentum signals have higher conviction when the dollar is broadly firm.
The Old Way vs. The New Way
| Before Heatmap v2.1 | After Heatmap v2.1 |
|---|---|
| Check SPY on TradingView | One glance at equity blocks |
| Check TLT separately | Bond blocks right next to equities |
| Check GLD and USO | Commodity section visible instantly |
| Check DXY on another tab | Infer from international ETF colors |
| ~10 minutes, 4 tabs | ~2 minutes, 1 screen |
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Heatmap vs. TradingView Screener vs. Finviz
If you already use TradingView or Finviz for market scanning, here is how the IBKR Heatmap compares:
IBKR Desktop Heatmap
Strengths:- Cross-asset in one view (stocks + bonds + commodities + real estate)
- Integrated with your broker — click a block and trade immediately
- Real-time data included with your IB account (no extra subscription for most ETFs)
- Clean, uncluttered interface
- Only available on IBKR Desktop (not TWS, not mobile)
- Cannot customize which ETFs appear in the heatmap
- No historical heatmap replay
- Fewer filter options compared to a dedicated screener
TradingView Screener
TradingView excels at charting and alerts but its screener is separate from the heatmap visualization. You can build custom screener filters with dozens of criteria, but the visual heatmap in TradingView covers equities only — no bonds or commodities in the same view.Finviz
Finviz has the best-known stock market heatmap. It covers S&P 500 sectors beautifully, but again — equities only. No bonds, no commodities, no international markets. And it is not connected to your broker, so there is no one-click trading.
Like what you're reading? Try it yourself — this link supports ChartedTrader at no cost to you.
Sign up for Interactive Brokers →---
Advanced Tips
Combine with IB Scanner
The heatmap gives you the big picture. IB's Market Scanner gives you granular stock picks. A solid workflow:
1. Heatmap → identify which sectors and asset classes are moving
2. Market Scanner → drill into the hottest sector for specific stocks 3. Chart → analyze the top candidates 4. Trade → execute directly from IBKR DesktopPair with PortfolioAnalyst
If you hold a diversified portfolio across stocks, bonds, and commodities, the heatmap doubles as a real-time portfolio health check. Compare what the heatmap shows against your allocation to see if you are overexposed to the strongest or weakest asset class.
IB's PortfolioAnalyst tool gives you the historical view. The heatmap gives you the real-time one. Together, they cover both angles.
Use Timeframe Toggle
The heatmap supports different timeframes — intraday, 1-day, 1-week, 1-month. Switch between them to distinguish noise from trend:
- 1-day: What happened today? Useful for overnight gap analysis
- 1-week: Short-term momentum. Is the sector move real or a one-day blip?
- 1-month: Medium-term trend. Which asset classes are in sustained moves?
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Common Questions
Do I need a specific IBKR plan to use the Heatmap?
No. The heatmap is available to all IBKR Desktop users — both IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro. The ETF data is included with standard US market data, which most accounts have by default. No additional subscriptions required.
For information on which market data subscriptions you might need for non-US markets, see our dedicated guide.
Does the heatmap work on TWS?
TWS has its own heatmap, but it is the older version — equities only, without the Asset Class ETFs view. The cross-asset heatmap is an IBKR Desktop exclusive (as of March 2026). If you are deciding between the two platforms, see our bracket order guide for a sense of what TWS still does best.
Can I customize which ETFs appear?
Not yet. The Asset Class ETFs view uses a curated list selected by Interactive Brokers. You cannot add custom tickers or remove existing ones from the heatmap view. For custom watchlist monitoring, use the Watchlist panel instead.
Is there a mobile version?
IBKR Mobile does not have the cross-asset heatmap as of March 2026. The feature is desktop-only. You can use IBKR Mobile's standard watchlist and portfolio views for mobile monitoring.
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Who Should Use This
The cross-asset heatmap is most valuable for:
- Multi-asset traders who hold positions across stocks, bonds, and commodities and want a single dashboard
- Macro-aware stock traders who want to quickly check if bonds and commodities confirm or contradict their equity thesis
- Forex traders (like me) who use cross-asset signals to assess risk appetite before placing currency trades
- Portfolio managers who need a real-time visual check on asset allocation exposure
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Setting Up Your Morning Routine
Here is a practical morning checklist using the IBKR Desktop heatmap:
1. Open IBKR Desktop and navigate to Heatmap → Asset Class ETFs
2. Scan the 1-day view — which asset classes moved overnight? Any outsized moves (dark green or dark red)? 3. Check for divergence — are equities and bonds moving in the same direction? (Unusual; often signals confusion or a regime shift) 4. Note commodity activity — oil and gold moves can foreshadow currency and equity moves later in the day 5. Switch to 1-week view — is today's action continuing a trend or reversing one? 6. Decide your bias — risk-on, risk-off, or mixed? Adjust your trading plan accordingly 7. Drill down — click the most interesting blocks to check individual ETF chartsTotal time: 3–5 minutes. You now know more about the macro landscape than 90% of traders who only check their stock watchlist.
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Final Thoughts
The IBKR Desktop Heatmap update is not flashy. It does not add a new asset class or a new order type. What it does is remove a barrier — the barrier between seeing your stocks and seeing everything else.
For traders who think in terms of asset allocation, risk appetite, and cross-market signals, this is a genuine time-saver. For everyone else, it is a visual tool that might open your eyes to market dynamics you were ignoring.
If you do not have an Interactive Brokers account yet, you can sign up here — new accounts can receive up to ,000 in IBKR stock through the referral program.
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*This guide is based on IBKR Desktop version 2.1, released March 10, 2026. The author trades USDJPY on Interactive Brokers and uses the heatmap as part of a daily macro check routine. This article contains affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you open an account through our links, at no extra cost to you.*