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Strategies & Market Trends : Systems, Strategies and Resources for Trading Futures -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: F Robert Simms who wrote (7938)	11/5/1998 3:41:00 PM
From: Patrick Slevin	Respond to of 44573

I don't think you need that much but when Scott gets back he would know. Yes, you need a different account to trade futures. Your current firm may have a Futures branch; that's how I opened mine....I traded Options prior to Futures. Other than that, I have heard good things about Zap Futures if you are comfortable with an Internet ordering system.

To: F Robert Simms who wrote (7938)	11/5/1998 6:28:00 PM
From: SE	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 44573

The margin for the mini is around $4,000 per mini. That obviously is not right on, but it is close. ZAP requires a $10,000 amount to open an account. Other firms will let you trade the mini for less of an opening amount, but not all. The commission varies but is usually going to cost you .75 to 1 full point on the mini, when you factor in exchange fees and other costs. The biggest problem is the commission. It is very large compared to the SPOO, but the losses are obviously minimized as well...so are the gains. Of course if you position trade it, the commission is of less importance as long as there are good money management rules in place. There are numerous on line brokerages for the mini. If you search around you will find many. I would give you links, but I did not save them once I chose ZAP. I mainly went with ZAP cause I liked what I heard when I talked with them and Williams likes ZAP. I don't know Williams at all, but I do know he trades a fair amount and his recommend carried weight with me based on that. Wish I could be of more help.... -Scott