diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 2f793c83..dedc93f1 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -21,9 +21,15 @@ For a development install::
     pip install cython
     pip install -e ./ -r requirements.txt
 
-To start the real-time pot-stock watchlist::
+To start the real-time index ETF watchlist::
 
-    piker watch cannabis
+    piker watch indexes -l info
+
+
+If you want to see super granular price changes, increase the
+broker quote query ``rate`` with ``-r``::
+
+    piker watch indexes -l info -r 10
 
 
 .. _trio: https://github.com/python-trio/trio
diff --git a/piker/brokers/_util.py b/piker/brokers/_util.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8d7a3e7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/brokers/_util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""
+Handy utils.
+"""
+import json
+import asks
+import logging
+
+from ..log import colorize_json
+
+
+class BrokerError(Exception):
+    "Generic broker issue"
+
+
+def resproc(
+    resp: asks.response_objects.Response,
+    log: logging.Logger,
+    return_json: bool = True
+) -> asks.response_objects.Response:
+    """Process response and return its json content.
+
+    Raise the appropriate error on non-200 OK responses.
+    """
+    if not resp.status_code == 200:
+        raise BrokerError(resp.body)
+    try:
+        data = resp.json()
+    except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError:
+        log.exception(f"Failed to process {resp}:\n{resp.text}")
+        raise BrokerError(resp.text)
+    else:
+        log.trace(f"Received json contents:\n{colorize_json(data)}")
+
+    return data if return_json else resp
diff --git a/piker/brokers/core.py b/piker/brokers/core.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d9c7dbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/brokers/core.py
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+"""
+Core broker-daemon tasks and API.
+"""
+import time
+import inspect
+from types import ModuleType
+from typing import AsyncContextManager
+
+import trio
+
+from .questrade import QuestradeError
+from ..log import get_logger
+log = get_logger('broker.core')
+
+
+async def api(brokermod: ModuleType, methname: str, **kwargs) -> dict:
+    """Make (proxy through) an api call by name and return its result.
+    """
+    async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
+        meth = getattr(client.api, methname, None)
+        if meth is None:
+            log.error(f"No api method `{methname}` could be found?")
+            return
+        elif not kwargs:
+            # verify kwargs requirements are met
+            sig = inspect.signature(meth)
+            if sig.parameters:
+                log.error(
+                    f"Argument(s) are required by the `{methname}` method: "
+                    f"{tuple(sig.parameters.keys())}")
+                return
+
+        return await meth(**kwargs)
+
+
+async def quote(brokermod: ModuleType, tickers: [str]) -> dict:
+    """Return quotes dict for ``tickers``.
+    """
+    async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
+        results = await client.quote(tickers)
+        for key, val in results.items():
+            if val is None:
+                brokermod.log.warn(f"Could not find symbol {key}?")
+
+        return results
+
+
+async def poll_tickers(
+    client: 'Client',
+    quoter: AsyncContextManager,
+    tickers: [str],
+    q: trio.Queue,
+    rate: int = 5,  # delay between quote requests
+    diff_cached: bool = True,  # only deliver "new" quotes to the queue
+) -> None:
+    """Stream quotes for a sequence of tickers at the given ``rate``
+    per second.
+
+    A broker-client ``quoter`` async context manager must be provided which
+    returns an async quote function.
+    """
+    sleeptime = round(1. / rate, 3)
+    _cache = {}  # ticker to quote caching
+
+    async with quoter(client, tickers) as get_quotes:
+        while True:  # use an event here to trigger exit?
+            prequote_start = time.time()
+            quotes = await get_quotes(tickers)
+            postquote_start = time.time()
+            payload = []
+            for symbol, quote in quotes.items():
+                # FIXME: None is returned if a symbol can't be found.
+                # Consider filtering out such symbols before starting poll loop
+                if quote is None:
+                    continue
+
+                if quote.get('delay', 0) > 0:
+                    log.warning(f"Delayed quote:\n{quote}")
+
+                if diff_cached:
+                    # if cache is enabled then only deliver "new" changes
+                    symbol = quote['symbol']
+                    last = _cache.setdefault(symbol, {})
+                    new = set(quote.items()) - set(last.items())
+                    if new:
+                        log.info(
+                            f"New quote {quote['symbol']}:\n{new}")
+                        _cache[symbol] = quote
+                        payload.append(quote)
+                else:
+                    payload.append(quote)
+
+            if payload:
+                q.put_nowait(payload)
+
+            req_time = round(postquote_start - prequote_start, 3)
+            proc_time = round(time.time() - postquote_start, 3)
+            tot = req_time + proc_time
+            log.debug(f"Request + processing took {tot}")
+            delay = sleeptime - tot
+            if delay <= 0:
+                log.warn(
+                    f"Took {req_time} (request) + {proc_time} (processing) = {tot}"
+                    f" secs (> {sleeptime}) for processing quotes?")
+            else:
+                log.debug(f"Sleeping for {delay}")
+                await trio.sleep(delay)
diff --git a/piker/brokers/questrade.py b/piker/brokers/questrade.py
index cdd3335b..312b2fa9 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/questrade.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/questrade.py
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 """
 Questrade API backend.
 """
-import inspect
-import json
 import time
 import datetime
+from functools import partial
 
 import trio
 from async_generator import asynccontextmanager
 
+from ..calc import humanize, percent_change
 from . import config
+from ._util import resproc, BrokerError
 from ..log import get_logger, colorize_json
 
 # TODO: move to urllib3/requests once supported
@@ -20,34 +21,13 @@ log = get_logger('questrade')
 
 _refresh_token_ep = 'https://login.questrade.com/oauth2/'
 _version = 'v1'
+_rate_limit = 3  # queries/sec
 
 
 class QuestradeError(Exception):
     "Non-200 OK response code"
 
 
-def resproc(
-    resp: asks.response_objects.Response,
-    return_json: bool = True
-) -> asks.response_objects.Response:
-    """Process response and return its json content.
-
-    Raise the appropriate error on non-200 OK responses.
-    """
-    if not resp.status_code == 200:
-        raise QuestradeError(resp.body)
-
-    try:
-        data = resp.json()
-    except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError:
-        log.exception(f"Failed to process {resp}:\n{resp.text}")
-        raise QuestradeError(resp.text)
-    else:
-        log.trace(f"Received json contents:\n{colorize_json(data)}")
-
-    return data if return_json else resp
-
-
 class Client:
     """API client suitable for use as a long running broker daemon or
     single api requests.
@@ -80,7 +60,7 @@ class Client:
             params={'grant_type': 'refresh_token',
                     'refresh_token': self.access_data['refresh_token']}
         )
-        data = resproc(resp)
+        data = resproc(resp, log)
         self.access_data.update(data)
 
         return data
@@ -121,11 +101,12 @@ class Client:
         expires_stamp = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(
             expires).strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
         if not access_token or (expires < time.time()) or force_refresh:
-            log.info(f"Refreshing access token {access_token} which expired at"
-                     f" {expires_stamp}")
+            log.debug(
+                f"Refreshing access token {access_token} which expired at"
+                f" {expires_stamp}")
             try:
                 data = await self._new_auth_token()
-            except QuestradeError as qterr:
+            except BrokerError as qterr:
                 if "We're making some changes" in str(qterr.args[0]):
                     # API service is down
                     raise QuestradeError("API is down for maintenance")
@@ -135,13 +116,13 @@ class Client:
                     self._reload_config()
                     try:
                         data = await self._new_auth_token()
-                    except QuestradeError as qterr:
+                    except BrokerError as qterr:
                         if qterr.args[0].decode() == 'Bad Request':
                             # actually expired; get new from user
                             self._reload_config(force_from_user=True)
                             data = await self._new_auth_token()
                         else:
-                            raise qterr
+                            raise QuestradeError(qterr)
                 else:
                     raise qterr
 
@@ -151,8 +132,8 @@ class Client:
             # write to config on disk
             write_conf(self)
         else:
-            log.info(f"\nCurrent access token {access_token} expires at"
-                     f" {expires_stamp}\n")
+            log.debug(f"\nCurrent access token {access_token} expires at"
+                      f" {expires_stamp}\n")
 
         self._prep_sess()
         return self.access_data
@@ -168,12 +149,21 @@ class Client:
 
         return symbols2ids
 
-    async def quote(self, tickers):
+    async def quote(self, tickers: [str]):
         """Return quotes for each ticker in ``tickers``.
         """
         t2ids = await self.tickers2ids(tickers)
         ids = ','.join(map(str, t2ids.values()))
-        return (await self.api.quotes(ids=ids))['quotes']
+        results = (await self.api.quotes(ids=ids))['quotes']
+        quotes = {quote['symbol']: quote for quote in results}
+
+        # set None for all symbols not found
+        if len(t2ids) < len(tickers):
+            for ticker in tickers:
+                if ticker not in quotes:
+                    quotes[ticker] = None
+
+        return quotes
 
     async def symbols(self, tickers):
         """Return quotes for each ticker in ``tickers``.
@@ -196,7 +186,7 @@ class _API:
 
     async def _request(self, path: str, params=None) -> dict:
         resp = await self._sess.get(path=f'/{path}', params=params)
-        return resproc(resp)
+        return resproc(resp, log)
 
     async def accounts(self) -> dict:
         return await self._request('accounts')
@@ -268,6 +258,8 @@ def write_conf(client):
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def get_client() -> Client:
     """Spawn a broker client.
+
+    A client must adhere to the method calls in ``piker.broker.core``.
     """
     conf = get_config()
     log.debug(f"Loaded config:\n{colorize_json(dict(conf['questrade']))}")
@@ -292,38 +284,16 @@ async def get_client() -> Client:
         write_conf(client)
 
 
-async def serve_forever(tasks) -> None:
-    """Start up a client and serve until terminated.
-    """
-    async with get_client() as client:
-        # pretty sure this doesn't work
-        # await client._revoke_auth_token()
-
-        async with trio.open_nursery() as nursery:
-            # launch token manager
-            nursery.start_soon(token_refresher, client)
-
-            # launch children
-            for task in tasks:
-                nursery.start_soon(task, client)
-
-
-async def poll_tickers(
-    client: Client, tickers: [str],
-    q: trio.Queue,
-    rate: int = 3,  # delay between quote requests
-    diff_cached: bool = True,  # only deliver "new" quotes to the queue
-) -> None:
-    """Stream quotes for a sequence of tickers at the given ``rate``
-    per second.
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def quoter(client: Client, tickers: [str]):
+    """Quoter context.
     """
     t2ids = await client.tickers2ids(tickers)
     ids = ','.join(map(str, t2ids.values()))
-    sleeptime = round(1. / rate, 3)
-    _cache = {}
 
-    while True:  # use an event here to trigger exit?
-        prequote_start = time.time()
+    async def get_quote(tickers):
+        """Query for quotes using cached symbol ids.
+        """
         try:
             quotes_resp = await client.api.quotes(ids=ids)
         except QuestradeError as qterr:
@@ -334,66 +304,88 @@ async def poll_tickers(
             else:
                 raise
 
-        postquote_start = time.time()
-        quotes = quotes_resp['quotes']
-        payload = []
-        for quote in quotes:
+        return {quote['symbol']: quote for quote in quotes_resp['quotes']}
 
-            if quote['delay'] > 0:
-                log.warning(f"Delayed quote:\n{quote}")
-
-            if diff_cached:
-                # if cache is enabled then only deliver "new" changes
-                symbol = quote['symbol']
-                last = _cache.setdefault(symbol, {})
-                new = set(quote.items()) - set(last.items())
-                if new:
-                    log.info(
-                        f"New quote {quote['symbol']}:\n{new}")
-                    _cache[symbol] = quote
-                    payload.append(quote)
-            else:
-                payload.append(quote)
-
-        if payload:
-            q.put_nowait(payload)
-
-        req_time = round(postquote_start - prequote_start, 3)
-        proc_time = round(time.time() - postquote_start, 3)
-        tot = req_time + proc_time
-        log.debug(f"Request + processing took {req_time + proc_time}")
-        delay = sleeptime - (req_time + proc_time)
-        if delay <= 0:
-            log.warn(
-                f"Took {req_time} (request) + {proc_time} (processing) = {tot}"
-                f" secs (> {sleeptime}) for processing quotes?")
-        else:
-            log.debug(f"Sleeping for {delay}")
-            await trio.sleep(delay)
+    yield get_quote
 
 
-async def api(methname: str, **kwargs) -> dict:
-    """Make (proxy through) an api call by name and return its result.
+# Questrade key conversion / column order
+_qt_keys = {
+    'symbol': 'symbol',  # done manually in qtconvert
+    '%': '%',
+    'lastTradePrice': 'last',
+    'askPrice': 'ask',
+    'bidPrice': 'bid',
+    'lastTradeSize': 'size',
+    'bidSize': 'bsize',
+    'askSize': 'asize',
+    'VWAP': ('VWAP', partial(round, ndigits=3)),
+    'mktcap': ('mktcap', humanize),
+    '$ vol': ('$ vol', humanize),
+    'volume': ('vol', humanize),
+    'close': 'close',
+    'openPrice': 'open',
+    'lowPrice': 'low',
+    'highPrice': 'high',
+    # 'low52w': 'low52w',  # put in info widget
+    # 'high52w': 'high52w',
+    # "lastTradePriceTrHrs": 7.99,
+    # "lastTradeTick": "Equal",
+    # "lastTradeTime": "2018-01-30T18:28:23.434000-05:00",
+    # "symbolId": 3575753,
+    # "tier": "",
+    # 'isHalted': 'halted',  # as subscript 'h'
+    # 'delay': 'delay',  # as subscript 'p'
+}
+
+_bidasks = {
+    'last': ['bid', 'ask'],
+    'size': ['bsize', 'asize'],
+    'VWAP': ['low', 'high'],
+}
+
+
+def format_quote(
+    quote: dict,
+    symbol_data: dict,
+    keymap: dict = _qt_keys,
+) -> (dict, dict):
+    """Remap a list of quote dicts ``quotes`` using the mapping of old keys
+    -> new keys ``keymap`` returning 2 dicts: one with raw data and the other
+    for display.
+
+    Returns 2 dicts: first is the original values mapped by new keys,
+    and the second is the same but with all values converted to a
+    "display-friendly" string format.
     """
-    async with get_client() as client:
-        meth = getattr(client.api, methname, None)
-        if meth is None:
-            log.error(f"No api method `{methname}` could be found?")
-            return
-        elif not kwargs:
-            # verify kwargs requirements are met
-            sig = inspect.signature(meth)
-            if sig.parameters:
-                log.error(
-                    f"Argument(s) are required by the `{methname}` method: "
-                    f"{tuple(sig.parameters.keys())}")
-                return
+    last = quote['lastTradePrice']
+    symbol = quote['symbol']
+    previous = symbol_data[symbol]['prevDayClosePrice']
+    change = percent_change(previous, last)
+    share_count = symbol_data[symbol].get('outstandingShares', None)
+    mktcap = share_count * last if share_count else 'NA'
+    computed = {
+        'symbol': quote['symbol'],
+        '%': round(change, 3),
+        'mktcap': mktcap,
+        '$ vol': round(quote['VWAP'] * quote['volume'], 3),
+        'close': previous,
+    }
+    new = {}
+    displayable = {}
 
-        return await meth(**kwargs)
+    for key, new_key in keymap.items():
+        display_value = value = computed.get(key) or quote.get(key)
 
+        # API servers can return `None` vals when markets are closed (weekend)
+        value = 0 if value is None else value
 
-async def quote(tickers: [str]) -> dict:
-    """Return quotes dict for ``tickers``.
-    """
-    async with get_client() as client:
-        return await client.quote(tickers)
+        # convert values to a displayble format using available formatting func
+        if isinstance(new_key, tuple):
+            new_key, func = new_key
+            display_value = func(value)
+
+        new[new_key] = value
+        displayable[new_key] = display_value
+
+    return new, displayable
diff --git a/piker/brokers/robinhood.py b/piker/brokers/robinhood.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..405f1fa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/brokers/robinhood.py
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+"""
+Robinhood API backend.
+"""
+from functools import partial
+
+from async_generator import asynccontextmanager
+import asks
+
+from ..log import get_logger
+from ._util import resproc
+from ..calc import percent_change
+
+log = get_logger('robinhood')
+
+_service_ep = 'https://api.robinhood.com'
+
+
+class _API:
+    """Robinhood API endpoints exposed as methods and wrapped with an
+    http session.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, session: asks.Session):
+        self._sess = session
+
+    async def _request(self, path: str, params=None) -> dict:
+        resp = await self._sess.get(path=f'/{path}', params=params)
+        return resproc(resp, log)
+
+    async def quotes(self, symbols: str) -> dict:
+        return await self._request('quotes/', params={'symbols': symbols})
+
+    async def fundamentals(self, symbols: str) -> dict:
+        return await self._request(
+            'fundamentals/', params={'symbols': symbols})
+
+
+class Client:
+    """API client suitable for use as a long running broker daemon or
+    single api requests.
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._sess = asks.Session()
+        self._sess.base_location = _service_ep
+        self.api = _API(self._sess)
+
+    async def quote(self, symbols: [str]):
+        results = (await self.api.quotes(','.join(symbols)))['results']
+        return {quote['symbol'] if quote else sym: quote
+                for sym, quote in zip(symbols, results)}
+
+    async def symbols(self, tickers: [str]):
+        """Placeholder for the watchlist calling code...
+        """
+        return {}
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def get_client() -> Client:
+    """Spawn a RH broker client.
+    """
+    yield Client()
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def quoter(client: Client, tickers: [str]):
+    """Quoter context.
+    """
+    yield client.quote
+
+
+# Robinhood key conversion / column order
+_rh_keys = {
+    'symbol': 'symbol',  # done manually in qtconvert
+    '%': '%',
+    'last_trade_price': ('last', partial(round, ndigits=3)),
+    'last_extended_hours_trade_price': 'last pre-mkt',
+    'ask_price': ('ask', partial(round, ndigits=3)),
+    'bid_price': ('bid', partial(round, ndigits=3)),
+    # 'lastTradeSize': 'size',  # not available?
+    'bid_size': 'bsize',
+    'ask_size': 'asize',
+    # 'VWAP': ('VWAP', partial(round, ndigits=3)),
+    # 'mktcap': ('mktcap', humanize),
+    # '$ vol': ('$ vol', humanize),
+    # 'volume': ('vol', humanize),
+    'previous_close': 'close',
+    'adjusted_previous_close': 'adj close',
+    # 'trading_halted': 'halted',
+
+    # example fields
+    # "adjusted_previous_close": "8.1900",
+    # "ask_price": "8.2800",
+    # "ask_size": 1200,
+    # "bid_price": "8.2500",
+    # "bid_size": 1800,
+    # "has_traded": true,
+    # "last_extended_hours_trade_price": null,
+    # "last_trade_price": "8.2350",
+    # "last_trade_price_source": "nls",
+    # "previous_close": "8.1900",
+    # "previous_close_date": "2018-03-20",
+    # "symbol": "CRON",
+    # "trading_halted": false,
+    # "updated_at": "2018-03-21T13:46:05Z"
+}
+
+_bidasks = {
+    'last': ['bid', 'ask'],
+    # 'size': ['bsize', 'asize'],
+    # 'VWAP': ['low', 'high'],
+    # 'last pre-mkt': ['close', 'adj close'],
+}
+
+
+def format_quote(
+    quote: dict, symbol_data: dict,
+    keymap: dict = _rh_keys,
+) -> (dict, dict):
+    """remap a list of quote dicts ``quotes`` using the mapping of old keys
+    -> new keys ``keymap`` returning 2 dicts: one with raw data and the other
+    for display.
+
+    returns 2 dicts: first is the original values mapped by new keys,
+    and the second is the same but with all values converted to a
+    "display-friendly" string format.
+    """
+    last = quote['last_trade_price']
+    # symbol = quote['symbol']
+    previous = quote['previous_close']
+    change = percent_change(float(previous), float(last))
+    # share_count = symbol_data[symbol].get('outstandingshares', none)
+    # mktcap = share_count * last if share_count else 'na'
+    computed = {
+        'symbol': quote['symbol'],
+        '%': round(change, 3),
+        'ask_price': float(quote['ask_price']),
+        'bid_price': float(quote['bid_price']),
+        'last_trade_price': float(quote['last_trade_price']),
+        # 'mktcap': mktcap,
+        # '$ vol': round(quote['vwap'] * quote['volume'], 3),
+        'close': previous,
+    }
+    new = {}
+    displayable = {}
+
+    for key, new_key in keymap.items():
+        display_value = value = computed.get(key) or quote.get(key)
+
+        # api servers can return `None` vals when markets are closed (weekend)
+        value = 0 if value is None else value
+
+        # convert values to a displayble format using available formatting func
+        if isinstance(new_key, tuple):
+            new_key, func = new_key
+            display_value = func(value)
+
+        new[new_key] = value
+        displayable[new_key] = display_value
+
+    return new, displayable
diff --git a/piker/cli.py b/piker/cli.py
index a1641a34..43540213 100644
--- a/piker/cli.py
+++ b/piker/cli.py
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ import click
 import trio
 import pandas as pd
 
-from .log import get_console_log, colorize_json
+from .log import get_console_log, colorize_json, get_logger
+from .brokers import core
+
+log = get_logger('cli')
+DEFAULT_BROKER = 'robinhood'
 
 
 def run(main, loglevel='info'):
@@ -29,7 +33,8 @@ def cli():
 
 
 @cli.command()
-@click.option('--broker', default='questrade', help='Broker backend to use')
+@click.option('--broker', '-b', default=DEFAULT_BROKER,
+              help='Broker backend to use')
 @click.option('--loglevel', '-l', default='warning', help='Logging level')
 @click.option('--keys', '-k', multiple=True,
               help='Return results only for these keys')
@@ -49,7 +54,8 @@ def api(meth, kwargs, loglevel, broker, keys):
             key, _, value = kwarg.partition('=')
             _kwargs[key] = value
 
-    data = run(partial(brokermod.api, meth, **_kwargs), loglevel=loglevel)
+    data = run(
+        partial(core.api, brokermod, meth, **_kwargs), loglevel=loglevel)
 
     if keys:
         # filter to requested keys
@@ -66,7 +72,8 @@ def api(meth, kwargs, loglevel, broker, keys):
 
 
 @cli.command()
-@click.option('--broker', default='questrade', help='Broker backend to use')
+@click.option('--broker', '-b', default=DEFAULT_BROKER,
+              help='Broker backend to use')
 @click.option('--loglevel', '-l', default='warning', help='Logging level')
 @click.option('--df-output', '-df', flag_value=True,
               help='Ouput in `pandas.DataFrame` format')
@@ -75,13 +82,17 @@ def quote(loglevel, broker, tickers, df_output):
     """client for testing broker API methods with pretty printing of output.
     """
     brokermod = import_module('.' + broker, 'piker.brokers')
-    quotes = run(partial(brokermod.quote, tickers), loglevel=loglevel)
-    cols = quotes[0].copy()
+    quotes = run(partial(core.quote, brokermod, tickers), loglevel=loglevel)
+    if not quotes:
+        log.error(f"No quotes could be found for {tickers}?")
+        return
+
+    cols = next(filter(bool, quotes.values())).copy()
     cols.pop('symbol')
     if df_output:
         df = pd.DataFrame(
-            quotes,
-            index=[item['symbol'] for item in quotes],
+            (quote or {} for quote in quotes.values()),
+            index=quotes.keys(),
             columns=cols,
         )
         click.echo(df)
@@ -90,29 +101,16 @@ def quote(loglevel, broker, tickers, df_output):
 
 
 @cli.command()
-@click.option('--broker', default='questrade', help='Broker backend to use')
-@click.option('--loglevel', '-l', default='info', help='Logging level')
-@click.argument('tickers', nargs=-1)
-def stream(broker, loglevel, tickers, keys):
-    # import broker module daemon entry point
-    bm = import_module('.' + broker, 'piker.brokers')
-    run(
-        partial(bm.serve_forever, [
-            partial(bm.poll_tickers, tickers=tickers)
-        ]),
-        loglevel
-    )
-
-
-@cli.command()
-@click.option('--broker', default='questrade', help='Broker backend to use')
+@click.option('--broker', '-b', default=DEFAULT_BROKER,
+              help='Broker backend to use')
 @click.option('--loglevel', '-l', default='warning', help='Logging level')
+@click.option('--rate', '-r', default=5, help='Logging level')
 @click.argument('name', nargs=1, required=True)
-def watch(loglevel, broker, name):
+def watch(loglevel, broker, rate, name):
     """Spawn a watchlist.
     """
     from .ui.watchlist import _async_main
-    get_console_log(loglevel)  # activate console logging
+    log = get_console_log(loglevel)  # activate console logging
     brokermod = import_module('.' + broker, 'piker.brokers')
 
     watchlists = {
@@ -126,12 +124,15 @@ def watch(loglevel, broker, name):
             'SEED.TO', 'HMJR.TO', 'CMED.TO', 'PAS.VN',
             'CRON',
         ],
-        'dad': [
-            'GM', 'TSLA', 'DOL.TO', 'CIM', 'SPY',
-            'SHOP.TO',
-        ],
+        'dad': ['GM', 'TSLA', 'DOL.TO', 'CIM', 'SPY', 'SHOP.TO'],
+        'pharma': ['ATE.VN'],
+        'indexes': ['SPY', 'DAX', 'QQQ', 'DIA'],
     }
     # broker_conf_path = os.path.join(
     #     click.get_app_dir('piker'), 'watchlists.json')
     # from piker.testing import _quote_streamer as brokermod
-    trio.run(_async_main, name, watchlists[name], brokermod)
+    broker_limit = getattr(brokermod, '_rate_limit', float('inf'))
+    if broker_limit < rate:
+        rate = broker_limit
+        log.warn(f"Limiting {brokermod.__name__} query rate to {rate}/sec")
+    trio.run(_async_main, name, watchlists[name], brokermod, rate)
diff --git a/piker/ui/watchlist.py b/piker/ui/watchlist.py
index 18593e31..4aa3b268 100644
--- a/piker/ui/watchlist.py
+++ b/piker/ui/watchlist.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Launch with ``piker watch <watchlist name>``.
 (Currently there's a bunch of questrade specific stuff in here)
 """
 from itertools import chain
+from types import ModuleType
 from functools import partial
 
 import trio
@@ -18,9 +19,9 @@ from kivy import utils
 from kivy.app import async_runTouchApp
 from kivy.core.window import Window
 
-from ..calc import humanize, percent_change
 from ..log import get_logger
 from .pager import PagerView
+from ..brokers.core import poll_tickers
 
 log = get_logger('watchlist')
 
@@ -96,81 +97,6 @@ _kv = (f'''
 ''')
 
 
-# Questrade key conversion / column order
-_qt_keys = {
-    'symbol': 'symbol',  # done manually in qtconvert
-    '%': '%',
-    'lastTradePrice': 'last',
-    'askPrice': 'ask',
-    'bidPrice': 'bid',
-    'lastTradeSize': 'size',
-    'bidSize': 'bsize',
-    'askSize': 'asize',
-    'VWAP': ('VWAP', partial(round, ndigits=3)),
-    'mktcap': ('mktcap', humanize),
-    '$ vol': ('$ vol', humanize),
-    'volume': ('vol', humanize),
-    'close': 'close',
-    'openPrice': 'open',
-    'lowPrice': 'low',
-    'highPrice': 'high',
-    'low52w': 'low52w',
-    'high52w': 'high52w',
-    # "lastTradePriceTrHrs": 7.99,
-    # "lastTradeTick": "Equal",
-    # "lastTradeTime": "2018-01-30T18:28:23.434000-05:00",
-    # "symbolId": 3575753,
-    # "tier": "",
-    # 'isHalted': 'halted',
-    # 'delay': 'delay',  # as subscript 'p'
-}
-
-
-def qtconvert(
-    quote: dict, symbol_data: dict,
-    keymap: dict = _qt_keys,
-) -> (dict, dict):
-    """Remap a list of quote dicts ``quotes`` using the mapping of old keys
-    -> new keys ``keymap`` returning 2 dicts: one with raw data and the other
-    for display.
-
-    Returns 2 dicts: first is the original values mapped by new keys,
-    and the second is the same but with all values converted to a
-    "display-friendly" string format.
-    """
-    last = quote['lastTradePrice']
-    symbol = quote['symbol']
-    previous = symbol_data[symbol]['prevDayClosePrice']
-    change = percent_change(previous, last)
-    share_count = symbol_data[symbol].get('outstandingShares', None)
-    mktcap = share_count * last if share_count else 'NA'
-    computed = {
-        'symbol': quote['symbol'],
-        '%': round(change, 3),
-        'mktcap': mktcap,
-        '$ vol': round(quote['VWAP'] * quote['volume'], 3),
-        'close': previous,
-    }
-    new = {}
-    displayable = {}
-
-    for key, new_key in keymap.items():
-        display_value = value = quote.get(key) or computed.get(key)
-
-        # API servers can return `None` vals when markets are closed (weekend)
-        value = 0 if value is None else value
-
-        # convert values to a displayble format using available formatting func
-        if isinstance(new_key, tuple):
-            new_key, func = new_key
-            display_value = func(value)
-
-        new[new_key] = value
-        displayable[new_key] = display_value
-
-    return new, displayable
-
-
 class HeaderCell(Button):
     """Column header cell label.
     """
@@ -266,7 +192,8 @@ class Row(GridLayout):
     turn adjust the text color of the values based on content changes.
     """
     def __init__(
-        self, record, headers=(), table=None, is_header_row=False,
+        self, record, headers=(), bidasks=None, table=None,
+        is_header_row=False,
         **kwargs
     ):
         super(Row, self).__init__(cols=len(record), **kwargs)
@@ -276,13 +203,9 @@ class Row(GridLayout):
         self.is_header = is_header_row
 
         # create `BidAskCells` first
-        bidasks = {
-            'last': ['bid', 'ask'],
-            'size': ['bsize', 'asize'],
-            'VWAP': ['low', 'high'],
-        }
-        ba_cells = {}
         layouts = {}
+        bidasks = bidasks or {}
+        ba_cells = {}
         for key, children in bidasks.items():
             layout = BidAskLayout(
                 [record[key]] + [record[child] for child in children],
@@ -356,10 +279,10 @@ class TickerTable(GridLayout):
         # for tracking last clicked column header cell
         self.last_clicked_col_cell = None
 
-    def append_row(self, record):
+    def append_row(self, record, bidasks=None):
         """Append a `Row` of `Cell` objects to this table.
         """
-        row = Row(record, headers=('symbol',), table=self)
+        row = Row(record, headers=('symbol',), bidasks=bidasks, table=self)
         # store ref to each row
         self.symbols2rows[row._last_record['symbol']] = row
         self.add_widget(row)
@@ -395,6 +318,7 @@ class TickerTable(GridLayout):
 
 
 async def update_quotes(
+    brokermod: ModuleType,
     widgets: dict,
     queue: trio.Queue,
     symbol_data: dict,
@@ -428,7 +352,9 @@ async def update_quotes(
     for quote in first_quotes:
         sym = quote['symbol']
         row = grid.symbols2rows[sym]
-        record, displayable = qtconvert(quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
+        # record, displayable = qtconvert(quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
+        record, displayable = brokermod.format_quote(
+            quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
         row.update(record, displayable)
         color_row(row, record)
         cache[sym] = (record, row)
@@ -440,7 +366,9 @@ async def update_quotes(
         log.debug("Waiting on quotes")
         quotes = await queue.get()  # new quotes data only
         for quote in quotes:
-            record, displayable = qtconvert(quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
+            # record, displayable = qtconvert(quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
+            record, displayable = brokermod.format_quote(
+                quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
             row = grid.symbols2rows[record['symbol']]
             cache[record['symbol']] = (record, row)
             row.update(record, displayable)
@@ -456,7 +384,7 @@ async def run_kivy(root, nursery):
     nursery.cancel_scope.cancel()  # cancel all other tasks that may be running
 
 
-async def _async_main(name, tickers, brokermod):
+async def _async_main(name, tickers, brokermod, rate):
     '''Launch kivy app + all other related tasks.
 
     This is started with cli command `piker watch`.
@@ -467,29 +395,38 @@ async def _async_main(name, tickers, brokermod):
             # get long term data including last days close price
             sd = await client.symbols(tickers)
 
-            nursery.start_soon(brokermod.poll_tickers, client, tickers, queue)
+            nursery.start_soon(
+                partial(poll_tickers, client, brokermod.quoter, tickers, queue,
+                rate=rate)
+            )
 
             # get first quotes response
             pkts = await queue.get()
+            first_quotes = [
+                # qtconvert(quote, symbol_data=sd)[0] for quote in pkts]
+                brokermod.format_quote(quote, symbol_data=sd)[0]
+                for quote in pkts]
 
-            if pkts[0]['lastTradePrice'] is None:
-                log.error("Questrade API is down temporarily")
+            if first_quotes[0].get('last') is None:
+                log.error("Broker API is down temporarily")
                 nursery.cancel_scope.cancel()
                 return
 
-            first_quotes = [
-                qtconvert(quote, symbol_data=sd)[0] for quote in pkts]
-
             # build out UI
             Window.set_title(f"watchlist: {name}\t(press ? for help)")
             Builder.load_string(_kv)
             box = BoxLayout(orientation='vertical', padding=5, spacing=5)
 
+            # define bid-ask "stacked" cells
+            # (TODO: needs some rethinking and renaming for sure)
+            bidasks = brokermod._bidasks
+
             # add header row
             headers = first_quotes[0].keys()
             header = Row(
                 {key: key for key in headers},
                 headers=headers,
+                bidasks=bidasks,
                 is_header_row=True,
                 size_hint=(1, None),
             )
@@ -501,7 +438,7 @@ async def _async_main(name, tickers, brokermod):
                 size_hint=(1, None),
             )
             for ticker_record in first_quotes:
-                grid.append_row(ticker_record)
+                grid.append_row(ticker_record, bidasks=bidasks)
             # associate the col headers row with the ticker table even though
             # they're technically wrapped separately in containing BoxLayout
             header.table = grid
@@ -525,4 +462,5 @@ async def _async_main(name, tickers, brokermod):
                 'pager': pager,
             }
             nursery.start_soon(run_kivy, widgets['root'], nursery)
-            nursery.start_soon(update_quotes, widgets, queue, sd, pkts)
+            nursery.start_soon(
+                update_quotes, brokermod, widgets, queue, sd, pkts)