Futures spread trading margin

[bone]

AMP simply can’t or won’t correctly margin a spread - I’ve had several clients switch accounts.

A major Chicago FCM like Advantage, Rosenthal-Collins, RJ O’Brien, Dorman, Rand (and there are others) has the Risk Management and clientele experience to apply intraday and settlement SPAN margin credits for spreads. These are big, long established direct clearing member firms with commercial clients that are spreading/hedging, big spec independents who spread, and prop firms who of course are all about spread trading anything and everything.

Discount brokers really don’t have the Risk Management chops to correctly handle spreads from my experience. I’ve had dozens of people PM me that their deep discount futures broker treats each leg of an exchange recognized spread as outright risk - which is insane. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

For example, when I buy May contract of /NG and sell June contract of /NG at the same time, my broker AMP still charges $3500 ($1750 x 2) for overnight margin. Is this the same in other brokers?

 

[Overnight]

AMP simply can’t or won’t correctly margin a spread - I’ve had several clients switch accounts...

...I’ve had dozens of people PM me that their deep discount futures broker treats each leg of an exchange recognized spread as outright risk - which is insane. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

The most MADDENING THING ABOUT THIS is why the daily broker statement from the discount broker shows the correct margin discount?!? Talk about love/hate relationship. OMG I just think it is all...

 

[bone]

It’s their shite lazy Risk Management/Manager.

Their entire business model is tailored towards scalpers and day traders.

The big swinging dicks won’t use a discount broker.

The most MADDENING THING ABOUT THIS is why the daily broker statement from the discount broker shows the correct margin discount?!? Talk about love/hate relationship. OMG I just think it is all...

 

[Overnight]

It’s their shite lazy Risk Management/Manager.

Their entire business model is tailored towards scalpers and day traders.

The big swinging dicks won’t use a discount broker.

Well, that is even MORE maddening...If the small FCMs know that they can apply the margin credits, then why don't they? The exchange is giving them the credit, and their clients would be getting the credits...What is the big damned deal? The FRACK, man?

You can appeal to the small scalpers AND the big swinging dicks at the same time!

 

[bone]

Discount brokers are only interested in high turnover clients. They’ll let you open an account with $10K and give you 4 X buying power intraday on ES.

But if you want access to LME Select because you want to spread Daily Prompt Gold versus Comex Gold on Globex - you’re going to RJ O’Brien. And RJO does SPAN inter and intra commodity risk scans every second. With no give-ups on LME. Running ORC automation? NP.

You get what you pay for.

If you want to get off the retail scalping kiddy ride and you want to trade a big boy trade you go clear a big boy FCM. And yes, you can go open up an account at Advantage for $25K. Easy.

You’ll pay a modest amount more in commissions - but they’ll margin you $500 on a May-June HHNG Spread; NOT $3375.

Well, that is even MORE maddening...If the small FCMs know that they can apply the margin credits, then why don't they? The exchange is giving them the credit, and their clients would be getting the credits...What is the big damned deal? The FRACK, man?

You can appeal to the small scalpers AND the big swinging dicks at the same time!