Select an Online Options Broker, Learn More Option Trading Tips

By William Davies

As someone considering trading forex options on global exchanges you will want to find an online options broker, look at the key points and decide which service provides the best value. You should find out for example if the firm has any exposure to leveraged instruments like credit default swaps and mortgage investments, as this could be an indicator of potential solvency problems at a future point in time. Also look to see if the firm cover other areas like futures, stocks and bonds.

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?

It is possible for the options trader to gain exposure to different markets in the global options universe. You could approach a plain vanilla options broker who will enable you to enter markets with deeper liquidity and the contract is broadly a standard, uncomplicated vehicle most likely traded through the main clearinghouse system. If you are more adventurous you could use an exotic options broker and trade the niche sector of smaller, less liquid traded currencies.

One important area of consideration in choosing an online options broker will be the quality of the educational support they provide to clients. New traders in particular will find a range of videos and seminars on the basics of options trading very helpful as they set up their accounts. You will also need to consider whether the videos are interactive, so that as a trader you can see the impact of your decision on your trading capital. Does the online broker provide research reports, trade alerts and newsletters with tips on better trading strategies?

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?

The ability to look at price and risk in real time is a great advantage and so technology which allows you to achieve this will improve your trading management performance. Check also to see if the broker provides data on interest rates, volatility and other key trading measures which will help you decide what to trade. So after investigating the above and other factors you will choose the online options trader right for you, but always remember that there is a risk of losing your capital when trading options and other derivatives. - 23221

About the Author:

The author, William Davies, edits articles for a website on trading commodities, a helpful informational resource for investors wanting to understand more about options, commodities and futures. Find a suitable online options broker for your trading style.