Quote from TL Trader:
This is a copy and paste and obviously not everyone will agree. But I thought it relevant.
"3. Better Spreads than the E-mini S&P
The mini-sized Dow has the same specifications as the popular E-mini S&P contract:
* One point in the E-mini S&P = about ten points in the mini-sized Dow
* One point in the E-mini S&P = $50; ten points in mini-sized Dow = $50
The key here is that a trader will get picked off on stop runs less frequently if he or she uses the CBOT mini-sized Dow over the E-mini S&P.
Why is this? The E-mini S&P moves one point in four quarter-point increments. The mini-sized Dow will move an equivalent ten points in ten one-point increments, giving the trader six extra places to place a stop or target.
This is a huge advantage over trading the E-mini S&P and will save a trader a lot of money over the course of a trading career.
By trading the mini-sized Dow, the trader is essentially cutting the spread by 60 percent. That money goes straight into the traderâs pocket."
TL - what that fails to discuss is slippage issues. You won't get much (if any) on the ES and you can get considerable slippage on the YM depending on the size you are trading.
The size/slippage argument may be minimal if you are not trading size, but if/when that happens, you'll quickly realize the YM simply won't cut it for this reason and this reason only.
