optionsXpress (Nasdaq:OXPS) today formally introduced a powerful, fully-integrated futures platform aimed at helping individual investors better manage their portfolios through improved diversification. optionsXpress is unique as a retail-focused online broker that is offering the ability to invest in futures side-by-side with stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds.
The new futures capabilities, a result of the company's early-2007 acquisition of retail futures broker XpressTrade, offer investors seamless access to futures contracts listed at all U.S. futures exchanges, including CME Group, ICE US, OneChicago and NYMEX, as well as over 20 other leading US and international exchanges, including Eurex, ICE Europe, Liffe, Tokyo Commodity Exchange, Sydney Futures Exchange and Singapore Exchange.
"Retail investors have become very interested in futures as a result of currency volatility, rising energy costs and futures exchange IPOs over the past two years," said Dan O'Neil, executive vice president of futures at optionsXpress. "What retail investors are finding is a market that in many ways is similar to the equity options market several years ago; one that is becoming more focused on their needs, with electronic trade execution, more retail-friendly products, and a wealth of educational content."
As with all of optionsXpress' offerings, customers enjoy access to a wide variety of tools and services to help educate themselves about futures, evaluate investment opportunities and experience efficient trade execution. Among the many tools and features available to optionsXpress customers are virtual trading for futures; simplified order entry; futures spread trading; Advanced Orders, including Contingent Orders and Trigger Orders; futures research; and futures market news.
David Fisher, CEO of optionsXpress Holdings, adds, "Just as we did with equity options, optionsXpress looks forward to further leveling the playing field, making futures markets more accessible to more investors."
Over 100 futures contracts are available to optionsXpress customers in the following categories:
- Metals
- Energies
- Grains
- Stock Indexes
- Currencies
- Interest Rates
- Softs (food and fiber)
- Livestock and Dairy
- Housing