..Benefits of Trading Options with PTI ProDirect
Efficient Technology
  • VolTrader which allows our clients to trade, like the professionals, in terms of option volatilities instead of prices.
  • OptionTrader which provides streaming option chains with quick-click order transmission.
  • Real-time Price/Risk Analytic tools, which includes Option Analytics, Portfolio Analytics, Option Modeler, and Arbitrage Meter.
  • Over 40 different order types that limit risk, speed execution, improve price, use discretion (Iceberg and Hidden Orders), time the market and simplify trading.
  • Real-time scanners and charts that provide options industry statistics such as Volatility, Volatility Gainers, and Put/Call Ratios.
Low Cost
  • $0.75 per U.S. option contract / $0.0075 per share for active traders*. $5.00 minimum per trade.
  • SmartRouting searches for the competitive price available at the time of your order, and unlike other routers, dynamically routes and re-routes all or parts of your order to achieve optimal execution.
  • IB independently routes US stock, option and futures spread order legs to the competitive possible venue or natively routes your combination seeking price improvement, with IB undertaking the risk of partially executed orders.
  • SmartRouting AutorecoverySM re-routes your US options order in the case of an exchange malfunction, with IB undertaking the risk of double executions.
  • Interest paid on balances. View current interest rates here.
* Customers who trade at least 100 option contracts in any one month.
. .Base commission = $1.00 per option with $5.00 minimum per trade.
 
..Penny-priced Options
In yet another first for the trading industry, PTI ProDirect and IB introduces the opportunity to trade options in pennies. Rather than entering options orders in nickels or dimes, customers and liquidity providers may post bid and offer prices in pennies, and others may attempt to trade on the prices posted on the IB system. Option prices that improve the NBBO are posted on IB's website unless a customer chooses not to display their quotes.
 
..PTI ProDirect Universal Account
The Universal Account allows you to trade multiple products around the world from a single account. You can trade stocks, options, futures, Forex, and bonds all from the same Trader Workstation screen, and your transaction history and positions are all reported on a single statement.

Trading around the world can be simple, because you are not required to open accounts in multiple currencies. Deposit a single currency in an account and when you want to trade a product denominated in another currency, a loan is created which is secured by your deposited currency. If you wish to eliminate the loan, you may do so at any time by trading currencies through our IDEAL network or depositing money in another currency. You will find that our currency exchange rates may be better than retail banks or exchange rates offered by the credit card companies.

For each account a single base currency designation must be made that determines an account's statement and margin requirement translation currency. However, deposits and withdrawals may be made in any non-base currency in AUD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, or USD.

Note: US IRA margin accounts are never allowed to borrow currency and must pay in full with the native currency of the asset. This may be accomplished by converting currency before the trade. Universal Account features are not available for cash accounts. See our Trading Permissions page for details.

 
..Futures, Commodity Futures & Futures Options
Efficient Technology
  • Agriculture, Currency, Energy, Equity Index, Fixed Income, Metals, and Volatility Futures from a single platform.
  • Futures, Commodities and Futures Options offered.
  • Specialized Spread and Combination trade tools.
  • Integrated charts and market scanners.
  • Over 40 different order types that limit risk, speed execution, improve price, use discretion (Iceberg and Hidden Orders), time the market and simplify trading.
  • Trade futures and futures options in combination with stocks, ETFs, and options worldwide from a single screen.
Low Cost
  • $1.80 to $5.00 per contract all-in. Non-US commissions at comparable rates.
  • IB independently routes US stock, option and futures spread order legs to the competitive possible venue seeking price improvement, with IB undertaking the risk of partially executed orders.
  • Interest paid on balances. View current interest rates here.
 
..Stocks
Efficient Technology
  • Specialized Book, Basket, Combination, Portfolio, Market Depth and Chart trading modules.
  • Integrated technical, fundamental and price/risk analysis tools.
  • Over 40 different order types that limit risk, speed execution, improve price, use discretion (Iceberg and Hidden Orders), time the market and simplify trading.
  • Stocks available for shorting electronically posted.
  • Trade stocks in combination with ETFs, options and futures worldwide from a single screen.
Low Cost
  • $0.0075 per US share for active traders* all-in. No ticket charge, $5 minimum per trade. Non-US commissions at comparable rates.
  • SmartRouting searches for the competitive price available at the time of your order, and unlike other routers, dynamically routes and re-routes all or parts of your order to achieve optimal execution.
  • IB independently routes US stock, option and futures spread order legs to the competitive possible venue seeking price improvement, with IB undertaking the risk of partially executed orders.
  • high interest paid on balances.
  • low margin financing costs.
* Customers who trade at least 10,000 shares in any one month.
. .Base commission =$ .01 per share, with $5.00 minimum per trade.
 
..ETFs

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are index funds or trusts that are listed and traded intraday on an exchange. ETFs are constructed like Mutual Funds, but trade like stocks. ETFs allow investors to buy or sell an entire portfolio of stocks as a single security. The benefits of ETFs vs. Mutual Funds are listed below.

Attribute
ETFs
Mutual Funds
Diversification
X
X
Continuous pricing
X
.
Can be sold short
X
.
Can be bought on margin
X
.
Can use stop and limit orders
X
.
low expense ratios
X
some
Tax Efficient
X
some

ETFs are available for equities and fixed income. There are a number of different ETFs on the market, including iShares, Diamonds, HOLDRs, SPDRs, Qubes and streetTRACKS managed by different issuers. Investors can trade ETFs on an exchange in any sized lots, except for HOLDRs, which are traded in 100 share lots. HOLDRs are unlike other exchange traded fund, in that any shareholder can exchange 100 shares of a HOLDR for the underlying stocks at any time. All other ETFs can only be created and redeemed by institutional investors.

Efficient Technology
  • Specialized Book, Basket, Combination, Portfolio, Market Depth and Chart trading modules.
    Integrated technical, fundamental and price/risk analysis tools.
  • Over 40 different order types that limit risk, speed execution, improve price, use discretion (Iceberg and Hidden Orders), time the market and simplify trading.
  • Stocks available for shorting electronically posted.
  • Trade stocks in combination with ETFs, options and futures worldwide from a single screen.
  • Wide availability of ETFs for shorting.
Low Cost
  • $0.0075 per US share for active traders* all-in. No ticket charge, $5 minimum per trade. Non-US commissions at comparable rates.
  • SmartRouting searches for the competitive price available at the time of your order, and unlike other routers, dynamically routes and re-routes all or parts of your order to achieve optimal execution.
  • IB independently routes US stock, option and futures spread order legs to the competitive possible venue seeking price improvement, with IB undertaking the risk of partially executed orders.
  • Interest paid on balances. View current interest rates here.
  • low margin financing costs.
* Customers who trade at least 10,000 shares in any one month.
. .Base commission =$ .01 per share, with $5.00 minimum per trade.
 
..Forex - Forex Risk Disclosure
PTI ProDirect is the choice of professional forex traders because of our tight interbank spreads, advanced FXTrader order entry tool, and tight integration with other asset classes such as forex futures and options. In addition our Universal Account allows customers to trade assets in multiple currencies and convert the proceeds at professional rates.

IB provides two vehicles for the exchange of currencies: IDEALPRO which allows a customer to trade Forex and IDEAL which allows a customer to convert their balances from one currency to another. Whatever currency balances you may hold, we always pay interest on credit balances (view current interest rates here), and charge low interest rates on debit balances.

IDEALPRO provides professional Interbank spreads which are generally 0.5-3 PIPs (smallest price increment) wide, but the minimum order size is $25,000 or USD equivalent. Multiple large forex dealers provide direct price feeds with IDEALPRO displaying the composite of the competitive available price. With our universal account, it is easy to trade IDEALPRO cash along with currency futures from a single screen. To promote price transparency, as is the custom with all our products, we have separated our commissions from the quoted price. Please keep in mind that although many brokers don't explicitly charge forex commissions, they do build their commissions into the price spread.

IDEAL (for currency conversions) provides bid and ask quotes at spreads that are better than what you can obtain at your bank or through a credit card transaction. There is no minimum order size for an IDEAL order.

All forex trades are entered through the Trader Workstation like any other trade. The currency you wish to buy or sell is the transaction currency and is entered like any other securities or futures market data line into the Trader Workstation. You then choose Forex as the assets type and select a settlement or payment currency. Currency exchanges can be entered in one of two ways as buying one currency is the same as selling the other currency. Buying a transaction currency of Euros with a settlement currency of USD is the same as selling a transaction currency of USD with a settlement currency of Euros.

 
..Spreads & Combinations
  • IB independently routes US stock, option and futures spread order legs to the competitive possible venue seeking price improvement, with IB undertaking the risk of partially executed orders.
  • ComboTrader allows customers to choose from a selection of predefined combinations or to create any generic combination of unlimited legs.
  • SpreadTrader allows customers to instantly view and trade futures calendar spreads.
    Delta Neutral combinations are automatically computed.
  • Portfolio Analytics displays real-time value at risk on all positions across asset classes.
 
..Midpoint Match
The International Securities Exchange (ISE) Stock Exchange, LLC offers its Midpoint Match facility that allows US stock traders and investors to buy or sell at the average of the bid and ask price instead of having to buy at a high ask price and sell at a low bid price. This unique matching platform furthers the quest of professional traders and investors to minimize their trading costs. Customers choosing SmartRouting will automatically be able to take advantage of Midpoint Match as an additional routing destination for price improvement.

  • Continuous, instantaneous, and fully automated
  • Complete anonymity
  • Minimizes market impact
  • No restrictions on maximum trade size
  • No pre-set timed crossing
  • NYSE, NASD, and AMEX stocks and ETFs available
  • Access to non-displayed liquidity
  • Two types of orders; Standard and Solicitation of Interest (SOI)
 
..Bonds
PTI ProDirect offers corporate bonds in the United States. Corporate bonds are available for trading from BondDesk, the NYSE and IB’s sister market making affiliate, Timber Hill, LLC.
 
...Disclaimer | Forex Risk Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Site Index
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors.  
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