Quote from Jayford:
Actually the question was why use a prop firm period with futures? It is already assuming you want to trade futures (many advantages over equity trading). You already get massive leverage just going retail, with lower costs to boot. Just out of curiosity I have looked into two prop firms that advertise here, and they are both more expensive than IB. I will say, however, that both firms seem like real quality outlets, and if you need training, this could be the way to go. I don't see any other reason to do this however.
Jay
Quote from riskless:
Jay,
If you are getting quoted higher rates than IB at a prop firm then I would bet that the firms are not really set up as Prop. but just facilitators. If they quote you $4.80 round trip for minis then they are just trying to get the fees. Look for legitimate prop groups, who offer the real benefits: Training and Lower costs through memkbership! The good ones are extremely selective and the bad ones are just looking for Fee capture.
Try talking to:
Goldenberg Heymeyer: Chris Heymeyer
Resource Trading Group: Mark Schneider: (312) 939-8040
Octagon Trading: Carl Barako
Gelber Group:
Branko Borcich: (312) 347-5666
Falcon Trading: Jason Stratton: 312 637 7090
In order to take advantage of the Lower rates you will need to become an employee of the sponsoring firm and their is risk in that. Your comp must be a salary plus bonus based on production. Percentage deals usually have some risk due to the firms overall production.
Riskless
Quote from cartm:
How about reversing the question? Just for arguments sake, not trying to go too far ot here. But why do equity prop when you can do futures prop. You don't need a 7. No specialists or market makers to yell at and curse upside down. Better tax structure. More leverage than anyone could ever want or need. No PDT rule.....(is thats what its called I am not sure)...don't have to worry about scanning for hundreds of stocks, earnings, splits, guidance billion dollar off balance sheet transactions (c Enron).............I think you get the picture. Also, having read the previous post, commissions are pretty sweet, I am not sure how sweet they are comparable to prop stocks, but you have to admit, either way its not bad. Plus, the hours. If you trade Eurex it starts 3 am est, comparable with I think premarket starting at 8am est. Plus the futures trade pretty much 24 hrs. So why would one want to trade equity prop compared to fut prop? I think going forward we're going to see more fut prop firms opening than equity prop imo.
Quote from riskless:
He said that it has become apparent to him that the Cash Market leads the Futures and he can use the cash as an indicator rather than the reverse.
Quote from Jayford:
You guys think cash leads spoos? I think if anything, its the other way around. When I worked at Bright, every single trader watched the spoos rollover as a major indicator for initiating trades. If the futures lead individual equity trades, it would make sense that they lead the cash index to me. By eyeballing it, I actually don't see much difference. Yeah, I know, a little off topic.
Jay
Quote from riskless:
Jay,
. There is a Fast Cash model that the screen traders use as verification that they are on the right side.
I watch it every day and I would bet that if you see it in action, you will agree that Cash moves the Future not the other way around.
Riskless