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Non-Tech : Interactive Brokers / Timberhill -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Gary E who wrote (8938)	8/17/2012 12:14:39 PM
From: wilywilly	Respond to of 9012

One advantage of Global Futures is that their margin requirement for E-mini futures is $400/contract vs. IB $1250-2500 or so, depending on the underlying. Their standard commission is $5/round trip vs. $4 at IB, but they are willing to "get competitive" if you trade often enough or have a large enough account. One disadvantage is that they trade options & futures only, no stocks or ETFs. That was a deal breaker for me when I checked into them, since I rely on my long stock holdings to provide my trading margin.

To: Gary E who wrote (8938)	8/17/2012 12:38:33 PM
From: Ken Adams	Respond to of 9012

If you're referring to the lower margins at Global, that's a positive. The commissions are about the same as IB, if my very quick glance was correct. I really need to see their demo before I decide anything. What I've read about them appeals to me mainly because it's all one program for data, charts and trade execution. I'm not concerned about the lower margins. I just want assurance of the stability of Global, and a trouble free trading platform with lightening fast executions. It will be had to beat what I get from IB, in spite of my hodge podge arrangement of software.