Product Description
Futures For You by Carley Garner
What are some highlights of popular
trading platforms?
Futures brokerage firms typically offer
trading platform options including
a “free” version along with an array of
premium platforms for additional cost.
Last issue, we discussed various types
of platform subscriptions and capabilities.
This time, we’ll focus on a few of
the more popular trading environments
available, their costs, and highlights.
The free trading platforms provided to
brokerage clients are often developed inhouse
and are, therefore, only available
at the firm offering it. Don’t automatically
assume the platform is inferior to
the high-cost options. In fact, one of the
most efficient and feature-rich platforms
we’ve made available to our DeCarley
Trading clients is accessible at no cost
to clients. Don’t forget, brokerage firms
only make money when their clients
trade, so strides are made to ensure it is
as easy for clients to pull the trigger.
Premium platforms are developed by
third parties whose sole purpose is to
generate revenue via platform subscriptions,
sales, and fees. These vendors don’t
benefit from trading commission or any
other fees you pay to your brokerage firm.
Accordingly, they have an incentive to
continually improve their product for
traders. If they didn’t, traders would opt
for the free options. For those looking
for upgraded charting, complex order
types, the ability to save settings or host
contingent orders on a server, a premium
platform might better accommodate.
Some of the most popular paid-for
platforms are QST (Quick Screen Trading),
NinjaTrader, Cunningham Trading
System’s T4, and Rithmic’s R-Trader.
Each platform has significant capabilities
with various strengths; consequently,
I’ve arranged to offer all of them to my
brokerage clients along with free platform
choices. I cannot do these platforms
justice in a brief description, but it’s
worthwhile to provide a synopsis.