Surefire Trading, Options Trading, Futures Trading » fx futures trading

Which US based commodities/fx broker offers emini index futures?

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:52:45 +0000

Which US based commodities/fx broker offers emini index futures? I’ve heard you can trade stock index futures in minilots just like trading currencies and commodities(ie pay no commission just the spread) and was wondering which US based fx brokers offer that?
I was under the impression that commodities(futures) do not have a flat commission but a "spread" from which a broker makes money. How on earth can somone make money with a $100 forex account otherwise.

I already know that gold, silver and currencies have next to low or no commission such as the flat dollar commission on stocks.

I need a list of brokers that sell futures in minilots without extravagent fees.

1. All futures brokers offer the eMini

2. You’re talking about currencies. When you trade futures, you pay a commission, whether currencies or the eMini or oil or any other commodity. When you trade the currency spot cash market, you pay the spread instead of a set commision. Personally, I prefer currency futures; the spread is a rip-off and costs a lot more than the $6 commision I pay. Try Forex.com (forget FXCM)

You can trade both futures and forex spot through NinjaTrader free trading platform
Download the free trial here:

http://www.ampfutures.com/index.php

Clearing Vs Non-clearing Brokers in USA &India?

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:21:00 +0000

What is the difference between a Clearing & NON-Clearing Commission Broker in Options and Futures markets in the USA and India,the legality (pros & cons) with reference to a Client trading through such Broker firms? For example, AXIS Bank/ Canmoney.in are Clearing brokers of NSE FX trades, fyi-

A clearing broker is a member of the clearing house and clears the trades itself.

A non-clearing broker is not a member of the clearing house and thus must give up trades for clearing to a clearing member.

For example, if you make a trade with a clearing broker then they will execute the trade for you and then also clear it (i.e. settle). If you make a trade with a non-clearing broker then that broker will execute the trade and then give it up to a clearing broker for clearing (i.e. settlement).

If you are a retail customer then it doesn’t really matter for you whether your broker is a clearing member or not, as non-clearing brokers always have a relationship with a clearing firm to clear their customers’ trades.

If you are an institutional customer then you can have a direct relationship with a clearing broker(s) and also non-clearing brokers (aka exection brokers), in which case your execution brokers will give up your trades to the specified clearing broker(s).

Technorati Tags: clearing vs broker

Private Traders: What Trading System do you use?

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:29:31 +0000

Please specify, whether your trading system:
1) was bought off the shelf and what is it called;
2) put together yourself using existing indicators & techniques (ie MACD, Moving Averages, Chart Patterns, etc);
3) developed entirely by yourself as a new proprietary system.

What do you use this system to trade (ie futures, stocks or FX)?
Not fishing for the secret all infallible holy grail of trading system (if it even exists).

Just want a simple answer like:
I trade using point (2) using candlestick patterns and moving averages as trailing stops. Use it to trade FX.

Dont need to know the time period of your moving averages or secret mathematical formulae you’ve programmed into TradeStation or MetaStock.

Do you think a successful trader is going to publish his answer to this? Get real, it ain’t gonna happen. You might get a ton of response, but you are not going to get a good one! Besides, why would they tell you? Likely they have a ton of time and money invested and are not likely to just let you fish for their results.

How many independant traders are there in options, futures and FX?

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:39:01 +0000

I would like a figure for how many people, outside of the financial institutions that actively trade all types of financial instruments. I want to exclude everyone who invests money in mutual funds and buys and holds shares, its the number of people who actively buy and sell with the aim of making short term profits that i am interested in.

Direct mail list brokers estimate the number to be 172,000 worldwide. These people are active traders as opposed to long term investors.