# Read-only quote before trade connector

Connect market-data / quote access first (read-only) and prove the agent can see prices cleanly before you grant place, trade, or spend permissions. Pair with one-connector-at-a-time, connect-only-what-you-need, paper-before-live, dry-run-before-first-live-place, and name-the-strategy-before-connect. Agent Lane does not place trades, hold wallets, or invent broker UI.

Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/read-only-quote-before-trade-connector/

## Answer first

Do not hand the agent place and spend on the same first grant as quotes. Connect read-only market data or quotes, prove symbols and prices match the venue UI, then add trade permissions under review.

## Why full trade access on first connect is the failure mode

- **Place before proof** — [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md).
- **One fat connector** — [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md), [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md).
- **Paper skipped** — [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md), [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md).

## What it means

1. Quotes first — official read-only / market-data scope if available; place/trade/spend still off.
2. Prove in the venue UI — [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md).
3. Named instruments only — [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md).
4. Place later under review — [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md), [agent-spend-caps.md](./agent-spend-caps.md).
5. Minimal live set — [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md).

## Shield stack

1. [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md) — written plan.
2. [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md) — reconnect one rail.
3. [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md) — minimal live surface.
4. Read-only quote before trade connector (this page) — quotes first; place later.
5. [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md) + [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md).
6. [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md) + [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md).

## How to run read-only quote before trade

1. Name the strategy first — [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md).
2. Connect one rail — quotes only; no invented UI — [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md).
3. Prove prices in the venue UI — [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md).
4. Paper or dry-run on the same path — [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md), [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md).
5. Grant place only after quotes are clean — [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [fund-session-ceiling.md](./fund-session-ceiling.md), [two-person-rule-for-large-places.md](./two-person-rule-for-large-places.md).
6. Keep extras off; revoke when idle — [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md), [revoke-connectors-when-idle.md](./revoke-connectors-when-idle.md); travel: [kill-switch-before-travel.md](./kill-switch-before-travel.md).

## Practical checklist

- Strategy named; instruments written.
- Quotes-only grant first — place/trade/spend still off.
- One connector — no batch-enable of quote + place.
- Venue truth for prices.
- Paper/dry-run before live place.
- Place under review + ceiling.
- Minimal live set; idle = revoke.
- Official paths only — no invented broker UI.

Related: [reject-agent-place-without-quote.md](./reject-agent-place-without-quote.md), [one-connector-at-a-time.md](./one-connector-at-a-time.md), [connect-only-what-you-need.md](./connect-only-what-you-need.md), [paper-before-live.md](./paper-before-live.md), [dry-run-before-first-live-place.md](./dry-run-before-first-live-place.md), [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md), [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md).

## FAQ

**What does read-only quote before trade connector mean?**
Connect market-data or quote access first (read-only), prove clean prices, then grant place/trade/spend. Pair with one-connector, connect-only, paper, dry-run, name-strategy.

**Do I invent a broker read-only menu?**
No. Official venue/MCP scopes and your notes only. Agent Lane does not invent UI.

**Does this replace one-connector, paper, or naming?**
No. Plan, reconnect order, live surface, prove-out, and permission ladder are different brakes. You need the stack.

## Sources

- Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/read-only-quote-before-trade-connector/
- Related shelf: https://agentlane.net/resources/
- Site index: https://agentlane.net/llms.txt

Agent Lane publishes checklists. We do not place trades, hold wallets, invent broker UI, or set your MCP scopes.