diff --git a/piker/ui/monitor.py b/piker/ui/monitor.py
index d9568135..9d15b257 100644
--- a/piker/ui/monitor.py
+++ b/piker/ui/monitor.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Launch with ``piker monitor <watchlist name>``.
 """
 from itertools import chain
 from types import ModuleType, AsyncGeneratorType
-from typing import List
+from typing import List, Callable, Dict
 
 import trio
 import tractor
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ from kivy.lang import Builder
 from kivy import utils
 from kivy.app import async_runTouchApp
 from kivy.core.window import Window
-from async_generator import aclosing
 
 from ..log import get_logger
 from .pager import PagerView
@@ -126,10 +125,11 @@ _kv = (f'''
         # row higlighting on mouse over
         Color:
             rgba: {_i3_rgba}
-        RoundedRectangle:
+        # RoundedRectangle:
+        Rectangle:
             size: self.width, self.height if self.hovered else 1
             pos: self.pos
-            radius: (10,)
+            # radius: (0,)
 
 
 
@@ -148,9 +148,10 @@ class Cell(Button):
 
     ``key`` is the column name index value.
     """
-    def __init__(self, key=None, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, key=None, is_header=False, **kwargs):
         super(Cell, self).__init__(**kwargs)
         self.key = key
+        self.is_header = is_header
 
 
 class HeaderCell(Cell):
@@ -178,6 +179,8 @@ class HeaderCell(Cell):
             # sort and render the rows immediately
             self.row.table.render_rows(table.quote_cache)
 
+        # TODO: make this some kind of small geometry instead
+        # (maybe like how trading view does it).
         # allow highlighting of row headers for tracking
         elif self.is_header:
             if self.background_color == self.color:
@@ -227,7 +230,7 @@ class BidAskLayout(StackLayout):
         self.row = None
 
     def get_cell(self, key):
-        return self._keys2cells[key]
+        return self._keys2cells.get(key)
 
     @property
     def row(self):
@@ -246,13 +249,16 @@ class BidAskLayout(StackLayout):
 
 class Row(GridLayout, HoverBehavior):
     """A grid for displaying a row of ticker quote data.
-
-    The row fields can be updated using the ``fields`` property which will in
-    turn adjust the text color of the values based on content changes.
     """
     def __init__(
-        self, record, headers=(), bidasks=None, table=None,
+        self,
+        record,
+        headers=(),
+        no_cell=(),
+        bidasks=None,
+        table=None,
         is_header=False,
+        cell_type=None,
         **kwargs
     ):
         super(Row, self).__init__(cols=len(record), **kwargs)
@@ -260,11 +266,13 @@ class Row(GridLayout, HoverBehavior):
         self._last_record = record
         self.table = table
         self.is_header = is_header
+        self._cell_type = cell_type
+        self.widget = self
 
-        # selection state
-        self.mouse_over = False
-
-        # create `BidAskCells` first
+        # Create `BidAskCells` first.
+        # bid/ask cells are just 3 cells grouped in a
+        # ``BidAskLayout`` which just stacks the parent cell
+        # on top of 2 children.
         layouts = {}
         bidasks = bidasks or {}
         ba_cells = {}
@@ -291,20 +299,20 @@ class Row(GridLayout, HoverBehavior):
             elif key in children_flat:
                 # these cells have already been added to the `BidAskLayout`
                 continue
-            else:
+            elif key not in no_cell:
                 cell = self._append_cell(val, key, header=header)
                 cell.key = key
                 self._cell_widgets[key] = cell
 
     def get_cell(self, key):
-        return self._cell_widgets[key]
+        return self._cell_widgets.get(key)
 
     def _append_cell(self, text, key, header=False):
         if not len(self._cell_widgets) < self.cols:
             raise ValueError(f"Can not append more then {self.cols} cells")
 
         # header cells just have a different colour
-        celltype = HeaderCell if header else Cell
+        celltype = self._cell_type or (HeaderCell if header else Cell)
         cell = celltype(text=str(text), key=key)
         cell.is_header = header
         cell.row = self
@@ -312,7 +320,8 @@ class Row(GridLayout, HoverBehavior):
         return cell
 
     def update(self, record, displayable):
-        """Update this row's cells with new values from a quote ``record``.
+        """Update this row's cells with new values from a quote
+        ``record``.
 
         Return all cells that changed in a ``dict``.
         """
@@ -331,10 +340,13 @@ class Row(GridLayout, HoverBehavior):
                 color = gray
 
             cell = self.get_cell(key)
-            cell.text = str(displayable[key])
-            cell.color = color
-            if color != gray:
-                cells[key] = cell
+            # some displayable fields might have specifically
+            # not had cells created as set in the `no_cell` attr
+            if cell is not None:
+                cell.text = str(displayable[key])
+                cell.color = color
+                if color != gray:
+                    cells[key] = cell
 
         self._last_record = record
         return cells
@@ -359,40 +371,53 @@ class Row(GridLayout, HoverBehavior):
 class TickerTable(GridLayout):
     """A grid for displaying ticker quote records as a table.
     """
-    def __init__(self, sort_key='%', quote_cache={}, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, sort_key='%', **kwargs):
         super(TickerTable, self).__init__(**kwargs)
         self.symbols2rows = {}
         self.sort_key = sort_key
-        self.quote_cache = quote_cache
+        self.quote_cache = {}
         self.row_filter = lambda item: item
         # for tracking last clicked column header cell
         self.last_clicked_col_cell = None
         self._last_row_toggle = 0
+        self._rendered = set()
 
-    def append_row(self, record, bidasks=None):
+    def append_row(self, key, row):
         """Append a `Row` of `Cell` objects to this table.
         """
-        row = Row(record, headers=('symbol',), bidasks=bidasks, table=self)
         # store ref to each row
-        self.symbols2rows[row._last_record['symbol']] = row
+        self.symbols2rows[key] = row
         self.add_widget(row)
         return row
 
     def render_rows(
-            self, pairs: {str: (dict, Row)}, sort_key: str = None,
-            row_filter=None,
+        self,
+        pairs: Dict[str,  Row],
+        sort_key: str = None,
+        row_filter=None,
     ):
         """Sort and render all rows on the ticker grid from ``pairs``.
         """
         self.clear_widgets()
+        self._rendered.clear()
         sort_key = sort_key or self.sort_key
-        for data, row in filter(
+        # TODO: intead of constantly re-rendering on every
+        # change do a binary search insert using ``bisect.insort()``
+        for row in filter(
             row_filter or self.row_filter,
                 reversed(
-                    sorted(pairs.values(), key=lambda item: item[0][sort_key])
+                    sorted(
+                        pairs.values(),
+                        key=lambda row: row._last_record[sort_key]
+                    )
                 )
         ):
-            self.add_widget(row)  # row append
+            widget = row.widget
+            if widget not in self._rendered:
+                self.add_widget(widget)  # row append
+                self._rendered.add(widget)
+            else:
+                log.debug(f"Skipping adding widget {widget}")
 
     def ticker_search(self, patt):
         """Return sequence of matches when pattern ``patt`` is in a
@@ -402,6 +427,9 @@ class TickerTable(GridLayout):
             if patt in symbol:
                 yield symbol, row
 
+    def get_row(self, symbol: str) -> Row:
+        return self.symbols2rows[symbol]
+
     def search(self, patt):
         """Search bar api compat.
         """
@@ -410,7 +438,7 @@ class TickerTable(GridLayout):
 
 async def update_quotes(
     nursery: trio._core._run.Nursery,
-    brokermod: ModuleType,
+    formatter: Callable,
     widgets: dict,
     agen: AsyncGeneratorType,
     symbol_data: dict,
@@ -426,24 +454,27 @@ async def update_quotes(
         for cell in cells:
             cell.background_color = _black_rgba
 
-    def color_row(row, data, cells):
+    def color_row(row, record, cells):
         hdrcell = row.get_cell('symbol')
         chngcell = row.get_cell('%')
 
         # determine daily change color
-        daychange = float(data['%'])
-        if daychange < 0.:
-            color = colorcode('red2')
-        elif daychange > 0.:
-            color = colorcode('forestgreen')
-        else:
-            color = colorcode('gray')
+        color = colorcode('gray')
+        percent_change = record.get('%')
+        if percent_change:
+            daychange = float(record['%'])
+            if daychange < 0.:
+                color = colorcode('red2')
+            elif daychange > 0.:
+                color = colorcode('forestgreen')
 
         # update row header and '%' cell text color
-        chngcell.color = hdrcell.color = color
-        # if the cell has been "highlighted" make sure to change its color
-        if hdrcell.background_color != [0]*4:
-            hdrcell.background_color = color
+        if chngcell:
+            chngcell.color = color
+            hdrcell.color = color
+            # if the cell has been "highlighted" make sure to change its color
+            if hdrcell.background_color != [0]*4:
+                hdrcell.background_color = color
 
         # briefly highlight bg of certain cells on each trade execution
         unflash = set()
@@ -483,12 +514,12 @@ async def update_quotes(
 
     # initial coloring
     for sym, quote in first_quotes.items():
-        row = table.symbols2rows[sym]
-        record, displayable = brokermod.format_quote(
+        row = table.get_row(sym)
+        record, displayable = formatter(
             quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
         row.update(record, displayable)
         color_row(row, record, {})
-        cache[sym] = (record, row)
+        cache[sym] = row
 
     # render all rows once up front
     table.render_rows(cache)
@@ -496,12 +527,12 @@ async def update_quotes(
     # real-time cell update loop
     async for quotes in agen:  # new quotes data only
         for symbol, quote in quotes.items():
-            record, displayable = brokermod.format_quote(
+            record, displayable = formatter(
                 quote, symbol_data=symbol_data)
-            row = table.symbols2rows[symbol]
-            cache[symbol] = (record, row)
+            row = table.get_row(symbol)
             cells = row.update(record, displayable)
             color_row(row, record, cells)
+            cache[symbol] = row
 
         table.render_rows(cache)
         log.debug("Waiting on quotes")
@@ -528,6 +559,9 @@ async def _async_main(
             "piker.brokers.data", 'stream_from_file',
             filename=test
         )
+        # TODO: need a set of test packets to make this work
+        # seriously fu QT
+        # sd = {}
     else:
         # start live streaming from broker daemon
         quote_gen = await portal.run(
@@ -540,62 +574,69 @@ async def _async_main(
         "piker.brokers.data", 'symbol_data',
         broker=brokermod.name, tickers=tickers)
 
+    # get first quotes response
+    log.debug("Waiting on first quote...")
+    quotes = await quote_gen.__anext__()
+    first_quotes = [
+        brokermod.format_stock_quote(quote, symbol_data=sd)[0]
+        for quote in quotes.values()]
+
+    if first_quotes[0].get('last') is None:
+        log.error("Broker API is down temporarily")
+        return
+
+    # build out UI
+    Window.set_title(f"monitor: {name}\t(press ? for help)")
+    Builder.load_string(_kv)
+    box = BoxLayout(orientation='vertical', spacing=0)
+
+    # define bid-ask "stacked" cells
+    # (TODO: needs some rethinking and renaming for sure)
+    bidasks = brokermod._stock_bidasks
+
+    # add header row
+    headers = first_quotes[0].keys()
+    header = Row(
+        {key: key for key in headers},
+        headers=headers,
+        bidasks=bidasks,
+        is_header=True,
+        size_hint=(1, None),
+    )
+    box.add_widget(header)
+
+    # build table
+    table = TickerTable(
+        cols=1,
+        size_hint=(1, None),
+    )
+    for ticker_record in first_quotes:
+        table.append_row(
+            ticker_record['symbol'],
+            Row(ticker_record, headers=('symbol',), bidasks=bidasks, table=table)
+        )
+
+    # associate the col headers row with the ticker table even though
+    # they're technically wrapped separately in containing BoxLayout
+    header.table = table
+
+    # mark the initial sorted column header as bold and underlined
+    sort_cell = header.get_cell(table.sort_key)
+    sort_cell.bold = sort_cell.underline = True
+    table.last_clicked_col_cell = sort_cell
+
+    # set up a pager view for large ticker lists
+    table.bind(minimum_height=table.setter('height'))
+
     async with trio.open_nursery() as nursery:
-        # get first quotes response
-        log.debug("Waiting on first quote...")
-        quotes = await quote_gen.__anext__()
-        first_quotes = [
-            brokermod.format_quote(quote, symbol_data=sd)[0]
-            for quote in quotes.values()]
-
-        if first_quotes[0].get('last') is None:
-            log.error("Broker API is down temporarily")
-            nursery.cancel_scope.cancel()
-            return
-
-        # build out UI
-        Window.set_title(f"monitor: {name}\t(press ? for help)")
-        Builder.load_string(_kv)
-        box = BoxLayout(orientation='vertical', spacing=0)
-
-        # 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=True,
-            size_hint=(1, None),
+        pager = PagerView(
+            container=box,
+            contained=table,
+            nursery=nursery
         )
-        box.add_widget(header)
-
-        # build table
-        table = TickerTable(
-            cols=1,
-            size_hint=(1, None),
-        )
-        for ticker_record in first_quotes:
-            table.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 = table
-
-        # mark the initial sorted column header as bold and underlined
-        sort_cell = header.get_cell(table.sort_key)
-        sort_cell.bold = sort_cell.underline = True
-        table.last_clicked_col_cell = sort_cell
-
-        # set up a pager view for large ticker lists
-        table.bind(minimum_height=table.setter('height'))
-        pager = PagerView(box, table, nursery)
         box.add_widget(pager)
 
         widgets = {
-            # 'anchor': anchor,
             'root': box,
             'table': table,
             'box': box,
@@ -603,7 +644,14 @@ async def _async_main(
             'pager': pager,
         }
         nursery.start_soon(
-            update_quotes, nursery, brokermod, widgets, quote_gen, sd, quotes)
+            update_quotes,
+            nursery,
+            brokermod.format_stock_quote,
+            widgets,
+            quote_gen,
+            sd,
+            quotes
+        )
 
         try:
             # Trio-kivy entry point.