Choose Your Online Options Broker, Boost Your Options Trading Performance
If you want to trade forex options on world markets you may consider an online options broker and will want to look at various factors to help you decide which firm offers the best service. Among the considerations will be what, if any, is their exposure to credit default swaps, mortgage derivatives and other such leveraged instruments. Is the online broker a specialist in options or do they cover other areas such as bonds, stocks and futures?
You will want to have some idea about the size of the company and its operations, and asking about its daily trading volumes, whether it is a million or much more for example, will give you a good idea. A trader considering which online options broker to choose will want to know about how the margin requirements work, whether it operates in real time with the use of automatic limits or with the broker contacting traders at the end of the trading day with a margin call. As options are highly leveraged, what is the required minimum balance?
Some option contracts allow you to exit at any time up to the expiry date while other types of contract must be held to expiry or settlement. So you would need to know what type of options your broker can offer in their online trading platform. There is also the question of cost and whether the online options broker can offer a discount and so lower your trading costs. Under what circumstances would they do this? Do you have to have a premier type account or hold a higher maintenance margin to benefit from a discount?
As an options trader you have the opportunity to enter different markets as part of the wider options universe. One approach is going via an exotic options broker where you will trade a smaller, less liquid niche of currencies. Alternatively, go for the mainstream plain vanilla options broker using a standard, straightforward trading approach which makes use of the main clearinghouse system, where the market has relatively deep liquidity.
When you are deciding which online options broker to select, it is worth checking out the quality and effectiveness of the educational program and support available to clients. As a trader starting out you will find things easier if the firm offers a range of seminar and videos covering the basics of options trading. Find out if the videos offered are designed to let you see the effect of decisions you take in the mock scenario on your trading capital. As well as the educational angle, does the broker give you a report service, newsletters and trade alerts?
Looking at the trading platform software, find out exactly what it can achieve and how user friendly the system is for a retail trader and not just for seasoned professional traders. How easy is it to follow the progress of your contracts using the platform? Can you be confident that the online options broker is able to secure a better price per contract than the industry average?
If you can see your trade risk and option price in real time this offers you a great advantage, so try to find software that achieves these capabilities and help you improve your trade performance. It may also pay to see whether the firm offers data covering volatility and other trading measures as well as macroeconomic data like interest rates. Finally, after taking all the above into account you may be in a much better position to choose an online options trader that is right for you. And remember that trading these derivative products means there is a risk of losing your capital. - 23210
You will want to have some idea about the size of the company and its operations, and asking about its daily trading volumes, whether it is a million or much more for example, will give you a good idea. A trader considering which online options broker to choose will want to know about how the margin requirements work, whether it operates in real time with the use of automatic limits or with the broker contacting traders at the end of the trading day with a margin call. As options are highly leveraged, what is the required minimum balance?
Some option contracts allow you to exit at any time up to the expiry date while other types of contract must be held to expiry or settlement. So you would need to know what type of options your broker can offer in their online trading platform. There is also the question of cost and whether the online options broker can offer a discount and so lower your trading costs. Under what circumstances would they do this? Do you have to have a premier type account or hold a higher maintenance margin to benefit from a discount?
As an options trader you have the opportunity to enter different markets as part of the wider options universe. One approach is going via an exotic options broker where you will trade a smaller, less liquid niche of currencies. Alternatively, go for the mainstream plain vanilla options broker using a standard, straightforward trading approach which makes use of the main clearinghouse system, where the market has relatively deep liquidity.
When you are deciding which online options broker to select, it is worth checking out the quality and effectiveness of the educational program and support available to clients. As a trader starting out you will find things easier if the firm offers a range of seminar and videos covering the basics of options trading. Find out if the videos offered are designed to let you see the effect of decisions you take in the mock scenario on your trading capital. As well as the educational angle, does the broker give you a report service, newsletters and trade alerts?
Looking at the trading platform software, find out exactly what it can achieve and how user friendly the system is for a retail trader and not just for seasoned professional traders. How easy is it to follow the progress of your contracts using the platform? Can you be confident that the online options broker is able to secure a better price per contract than the industry average?
If you can see your trade risk and option price in real time this offers you a great advantage, so try to find software that achieves these capabilities and help you improve your trade performance. It may also pay to see whether the firm offers data covering volatility and other trading measures as well as macroeconomic data like interest rates. Finally, after taking all the above into account you may be in a much better position to choose an online options trader that is right for you. And remember that trading these derivative products means there is a risk of losing your capital. - 23210
About the Author:
William Davies contributes articles for a Commodities Trading website, providing an educational guide for those looking to understand more about commodities, futures and options. Find an appropriate online options broker for your trading style.
posted by X - Men @ 5:37 AM
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