Diksia.com - Futures trading is a popular and profitable way to speculate on the price movements of various assets, such as commodities, currencies, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date in the future. By trading futures, you can leverage your capital, hedge your risks, and diversify your portfolio.
However, futures trading is not for everyone. It requires a high level of skill, knowledge, and discipline, as well as a reliable and robust trading platform. A good futures trading platform should offer you the following features:
- Low commissions and fees
- A wide range of futures contracts and markets
- Advanced trading tools and order types
- Fast and reliable execution and data feed
- User-friendly interface and customization options
- Educational resources and customer support
In this article, we will review some of the best futures trading platforms available in 2024, based on these criteria. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the right platform for your trading style and goals.
E*TRADE: Best for Futures Education
ETRADE is one of the oldest and most reputable online brokers, offering trading and investing services for various asset classes, including futures. ETRADE’s futures trading platform is easy to use and supports multiple U.S. markets, such as CME Group and CFE.
ETRADE’s main advantage is its extensive educational content and resources, which can help you learn and improve your futures trading skills. ETRADE offers webinars, videos, articles, courses, and podcasts on various topics related to futures trading, such as strategies, risk management, technical analysis, and market trends. You can also access a demo account for paper trading and practice your skills without risking real money.
ETRADE charges $1.50 per contract, per side for futures trading, plus exchange, clearing, and NFA fees. The margin requirements are 50% for day trades and 100% for overnight positions, except for IRA accounts, which have higher rates. ETRADE does not offer access to international futures markets.
Interactive Brokers: Best for Professional Futures Traders
Interactive Brokers is a leading online broker that caters to professional and sophisticated traders, offering access to over 135 markets worldwide, including futures, options, stocks, forex, bonds, and more. Interactive Brokers’ Trader Workstation (TWS) platform is one of the most advanced and powerful trading platforms in the industry, offering a plethora of trading tools and order types, such as algorithmic trading, conditional orders, basket orders, and more.
