Best brokerage/platform/fees for futures trading?

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M3peat

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After searching through this subforum for a few hours, it seems there is a lot of potentially outdated (relatively speaking) information. Especially considering how quickly opinions and platforms change.

My question is specifically aimed at futures (Emini S&P for me) trading platforms, fees and brokerages, as I'm looking for opinions on what is the best brokerage to go with and what platform to use. I've been practicing on the TT trader platform and really like it but don't really have anything to compare it to, so I may be missing out on others.
It also appears fees vary widely from under $3/round turn to over $10 and additional monthly fees in some cases (incl. TT trader). Obviously lower is better but there are other factors to consider.

Ideally, everyone agrees that brokerage XYZ has the best customer service, lowest rates, best margins and the best futures trading platforms offered but I know that won't happen. All opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Fyi, I plan on opening an account with $5-10k and trading small units, after additional studying and sim-trading, until I feel comfortable.

TIA (y)
 
M3peat said:
After searching through this subforum for a few hours, it seems there is a lot of potentially outdated (relatively speaking) information. Especially considering how quickly opinions and platforms change.

My question is specifically aimed at futures (Emini S&P for me) trading platforms, fees and brokerages, as I'm looking for opinions on what is the best brokerage to go with and what platform to use. I've been practicing on the TT trader platform and really like it but don't really have anything to compare it to, so I may be missing out on others.
It also appears fees vary widely from under $3/round turn to over $10 and additional monthly fees in some cases (incl. TT trader). Obviously lower is better but there are other factors to consider.

Ideally, everyone agrees that brokerage XYZ has the best customer service, lowest rates, best margins and the best futures trading platforms offered but I know that won't happen. All opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Fyi, I plan on opening an account with $5-10k and trading small units, after additional studying and sim-trading, until I feel comfortable.

TIA (y)
Click to expand...
I trade with a similar plan as you have outlined above and I currently have a demo account with Mirius futures. I have found them to have good commissions for futures and a low day trade margin.... I usually scalp.

Hope it helps.
 
M3peat said:
After searching through this subforum for a few hours, it seems there is a lot of potentially outdated (relatively speaking) information. Especially considering how quickly opinions and platforms change.

My question is specifically aimed at futures (Emini S&P for me) trading platforms, fees and brokerages, as I'm looking for opinions on what is the best brokerage to go with and what platform to use. I've been practicing on the TT trader platform and really like it but don't really have anything to compare it to, so I may be missing out on others.
It also appears fees vary widely from under $3/round turn to over $10 and additional monthly fees in some cases (incl. TT trader). Obviously lower is better but there are other factors to consider.

Ideally, everyone agrees that brokerage XYZ has the best customer service, lowest rates, best margins and the best futures trading platforms offered but I know that won't happen. All opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Fyi, I plan on opening an account with $5-10k and trading small units, after additional studying and sim-trading, until I feel comfortable.

TIA (y)
Click to expand...
Depends on what your needs are. If you trade a wide variety of instruments, then IB might be good. I just trade futures (mostly day trading, but sometimes long term position swing) and so reliable platforms and execution speed are more important to me (low commissions too, obvisouly), so http://www.codexcommodities.com suites my needs, but maybe not everybody's depending on each person's requirements.
 
M3peat said:
After searching through this subforum for a few hours, it seems there is a lot of potentially outdated (relatively speaking) information. Especially considering how quickly opinions and platforms change.

My question is specifically aimed at futures (Emini S&P for me) trading platforms, fees and brokerages, as I'm looking for opinions on what is the best brokerage to go with and what platform to use. I've been practicing on the TT trader platform and really like it but don't really have anything to compare it to, so I may be missing out on others.
It also appears fees vary widely from under $3/round turn to over $10 and additional monthly fees in some cases (incl. TT trader). Obviously lower is better but there are other factors to consider.

Ideally, everyone agrees that brokerage XYZ has the best customer service, lowest rates, best margins and the best futures trading platforms offered but I know that won't happen. All opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Fyi, I plan on opening an account with $5-10k and trading small units, after additional studying and sim-trading, until I feel comfortable.

TIA (y)
Click to expand...

try - Trade Online with best choice of Online Trading Platforms in the World: Online Trading Platforms
 
It's amazing it took two months before getting a reply. I hadn't even checked this for about a month and a half.

Anyway, I've been demo'ing Xtrader through Global Futures to this point and unless I find a good reason not to go with them, I'll stick with them.

Very good commissions and great customer service when I've had questions so far.

One question I haven't asked them but I haven't had a problem with, is the use of Xtrader and Windows Vista (which I have). So far, everything seems to be working fine but everywhere I read says XP only. Only problem I see is the speed seems a little slow and choppy but I've found a couple video's on youtube comparing the demo version vs the real version (side by side) of Xtrader and how much smoother/faster the real version is.
 
It would be interesting to see a list comparing futures brokers' charges and commissions, which seem anything but clear on their websites.
 
I have been trading Futures for over 3 years now

I have accounts with several brokerages- Infinity, fastbrokers, IB, Global Futures, etc...

I have traded the Infinity AT platform ( the nice little dome). FastBrokers has the same platform but cause it the Fastscalper.

In my opinoin, the way to is with Fastbrokers platform called the Tradepulse. This platform is free, there are no data fees, and it comes with a nice charting package (i trade off the charts) and its all at no charge.Even the commissions are very attractive, and to my knowledge the daytrading margins are $500 for the ES,YM, TF, NQ.

You can see what the platform looks like from here: YouTube - The best "Free" Futures Trading Platform--TradePulse / OEC Trader / Trade Pulse

My layout is much different than the video though.
 
Any broker in Luxembourg or Switzerland or Gran Caiman?

All that I know are sooooo expensive
 
futurevl said:
I have accounts with several brokerages- Infinity, fastbrokers, IB, Global Futures, etc...

I have traded the Infinity AT platform ( the nice little dome). FastBrokers has the same platform but cause it the Fastscalper.

In my opinoin, the way to is with Fastbrokers platform called the Tradepulse. This platform is free, there are no data fees, and it comes with a nice charting package (i trade off the charts) and its all at no charge.Even the commissions are very attractive, and to my knowledge the daytrading margins are $500 for the ES,YM, TF, NQ.

You can see what the platform looks like from here: YouTube - The best "Free" Futures Trading Platform--TradePulse / OEC Trader / Trade Pulse

My layout is much different than the video though.
Click to expand...

Looks quite promising. Pity the demo download doesn't seem to work...
 
Has anybody here dealt with Finotec.co.uk ? Shall thank you to indicate. What A/C size they are good for - 10k - 20k ?

Thanks for your time.
Vilas.
 
M3peat said:
One question I haven't asked them but I haven't had a problem with, is the use of Xtrader and Windows Vista (which I have).
Click to expand...
I used live TT on Vista. Worked fine. Needed some tinkering with security but nothing you cant manage.

No platform can be compared to TT. I am using Infinity but am thinking to go back. After careful comparision to their own data feed it appeared that Infinity DOM itself is lagging 500ms during active hours.....

I cant afford that kind of lag. $650 for TT now seems not that expensive.
 
futurevl said:
In my opinoin, the way to is with Fastbrokers platform called the Tradepulse. This platform is free, there are no data fees, and it comes with a nice charting package (i trade off the charts) and its all at no charge.Even the commissions are very attractive
Click to expand...
$4.74 RT for minis is attractive for you? are you philantropist? :cool:
 
$3.80 is the max what retail trader should pay. Velocity charge 3.80 including free CQG trader. I know at least 2 more who has the same rate.. These rates are freely available without negotiations for 1+ RT per month.

I use Infinity (free platform and data feed) and I have long relations with guy in the there. I have it below $4.

Global Futures offers $3.2 for X Trader ($650 paltform fee).

I am talking 1 ES RT for non-members with no minimum RTs per month. For example. If you have volume and profit you will get lower commissions and also you might consider getting membership on CME for $2000 and it lowers exchange fees a lot.

I can personally guarantee that Infinity/Transact and Velocity are sound companies and have proper account management and Infinity has especially friendly support (their tech guy is weird however but I heard he is leaving company soon). I talked to Global Futures just yesterday - I havent had account with them but they seem to be real people too.

I am sure there are lot more discount brokers with even smaller comms. I am picking only those who provide good plaforms with static DOM (InfinityAT, CQG, XTrader). There are number other platforms which has rebates and brokers often willing to split it with you.

Use google then call people then check reputation over the web.

Oh no! it is much easier to bickering on forums!... yeah babe! way to go... :cool:
 
maxima said:
I used live TT on Vista. Worked fine. Needed some tinkering with security but nothing you cant manage.
Click to expand...
P.S. I can confirm now is that TT 7.3 works on Windows7 64-bit. I am sure the latest version does too..

But I'd like to warn is that once you subscribe to TT you have lost $1300 - 2 months subscription as they have 30 day notice policy (unless you cancel same day you subscribed). You have to be sure you are making at least $650 a month on average to break-even to be comfortable.

Also TT is really faster than any retail platform. On ES you might simply get shock on opening and lose sense of reality and lose trades as the result. CQG is said to be even faster but I didnt use CQG on real data feed cant comment.

:smart:
 
maxima said:
$3.80 is the max what retail trader should pay. Velocity charge 3.80 including free CQG trader. I know at least 2 more who has the same rate.. These rates are freely available without negotiations for 1+ RT per month.

I use Infinity (free platform and data feed) and I have long relations with guy in the there. I have it below $4.

Global Futures offers $3.2 for X Trader ($650 paltform fee).

I am talking 1 ES RT for non-members with no minimum RTs per month. For example. If you have volume and profit you will get lower commissions and also you might consider getting membership on CME for $2000 and it lowers exchange fees a lot.

I can personally guarantee that Infinity/Transact and Velocity are sound companies and have proper account management and Infinity has especially friendly support (their tech guy is weird however but I heard he is leaving company soon). I talked to Global Futures just yesterday - I havent had account with them but they seem to be real people too.

I am sure there are lot more discount brokers with even smaller comms. I am picking only those who provide good plaforms with static DOM (InfinityAT, CQG, XTrader). There are number other platforms which has rebates and brokers often willing to split it with you.

Use google then call people then check reputation over the web.

Oh no! it is much easier to bickering on forums!... yeah babe! way to go... :cool:
Click to expand...

Hi,
Can you please tell us the name of the platform and datafeed too?
 
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