The current credit crisis has affected the FCMs which have banking and brokerage units with investments in credit products. The writedowns related to these losses have had a ripple effect throughout these firms. At Saratoga Futures, we are expanding the amount of FCM relationships we maintain in case consolidation or other unforeseen events lessen the pool of available outlets to execute and clear our customers’ futures business. Do you have a backup clearing solution in place in case your FCM is no longer around come 2009? Call or email us with any questions you may have.

The trading platform you choose should allow you to easily express your ideas.  That choice becomes more crucial as the electronic futures markets continue to grow in volume, depth and breadth.  In our capacity as electronic futures trading consultants, Saratoga Futures’ mission is to move beyond traditional brokerage by assisting you in selecting this crucial link to the markets.  We take into account your trading strategy, style and market connectivity needs to narrow down the plethora of choices to a smaller group that more closely meets your needs.  For further information, contact us by email or call.

Certain exchanges allow institutional buy-side customers to participate in membership programs that can significantly reduce per contract exchange fees, which are typically the bulk of the total cost of trading futures. Depending on the exchange, a customer can buy or lease a membership to qualify for the reduced exchange fees. Let us help you determine whether it’s an appropriate avenue for you to explore. Contact us by email or call.

CHICAGO, Jun 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- optionsXpress Holdings, Inc. (NasdaqGS: OXPS) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Open E Cry, LLC, for approximately $18 million, plus additional consideration based upon future performance. The Company anticipates the transaction to close on July 1, 2008. Open E Cry, based in Powell, OH, is an innovative futures broker offering direct access futures trading through its proprietary software platform, OEC Trader. The Open E Cry platform contains a set of complex systems and order routing technology specifically designed to meet the standards of high volume commodities and futures traders. End user access is achieved through a downloadable software interface or through a proprietary API.  More>>