Broker contacts. (Technology & Trading).

All information is provided by the firms. However, because firms do things different ways or may not have interpreted questions the same way, we cannot guarantee that all information is correct. Verify with the firm. Many other firms were contacted but did not respond; several declined to participate.

Price quotes -- EOD: end of day; RTS: real-time streaming; RTD: intraday delayed; SSFs: single stock futures. RTS requires exchange fees in addition to any charge indicated.

Charts -- "All charts" means intraday, EOD, weekly, monthly charts and full analytical functions including popular indicators. If not the firm's own program, partner sources for charts and quotes are indicated.

Services -- "All newsletters" means intraday, daily, weekly, monthly, e-mail, print and online.

Alaron Trading Corp.

Chicago

Phone: 800-275-8844

E-mail: info@alaron.com

Web site: www.alaron.com

Clearing firms: Alaron Trading Corp., Man Financial

Trading platforms: Alaronline, patsystems J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_Trader, Fast Fill

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; 50 free quotes a day and 0.5 cents per quote thereafter; includes SSFs.

Charts: All charts; partner with FutureSource, Barchart, TradeSignals, eSignal.

Services: All newsletters; daily analysis; recommendations; Alaron Trading Academy Trading Simple free events; Single Stock Futures Resource Center paid events; FutureSource real-rime news free to customers, delayed to non-customers.

ANCO Discount Futures

Los Angeles

Phone: 800-795-2626

E-mail: wgordon@ancofutures.com

Web site: www.ancofutures.com

Clearing firm: Cargill Investor Services

Trading platform: ANCO Direct 7.0

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: RTD, snapshot; unlimited free to all customers; includes SSFs; FutureSource.

Charts: All charts, historical back to 1999; FutureSource.

Services: Daily comments; courses; FutureSource news.

ChicagoEFutures.com

Chicago

Phone: 312-697-2440, 888-262-7303

E-mail: info@chicagoefutures.com

Web site: www.chicagoefutures.com

Clearing firm: Kottke Associates LLC

Trading platform: patsystems J-Trader

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, Eurex, LIFFE

Quotes: RTS; unlimited free to all customers; includes SSFs; patsystems.

Charts: No.

Carlin Futures LLC

New York

Phone: 877-330-TRADE

E-mail: fdecuollo@carlinfutures.com

Web site: www.carlinfutures.com

Clearing firms: Refco, SLK, Penson

Trading platforms: patsystems J-Trader, Realtick, Redi

Exchanges: All U.S., Eurex, LIFFE

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; unlimited free to all customers; includes SSFs; eSignal, RealTick.

Charts: All charts; firm's own program and eSignal, RealTick.

efutures.com

Platteville, Wis.

Phone: 800-854-8738

E-mail: klk@efutures.com

Web site: www.efutures.com

Clearing firm: Cargill Investor Services

Trading platforms: CQG Otto, Rolfe & Nolan

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; unlimited free to all customers; includes SSFs; CQG, Barchart, FutureSource.

Charts: All charts, 200+ indicators; CQG, Barchart.

Services: Print, online newsletter; daily comments; recommendations; Oster/Dow Jones news service for $45 per month.

Fox Investments

(a division of Man Financial)

Chicago

Phone: 800-621-0265

E-mail: info@foxinvestments.com

Web site: www.foxinvestments.com

Clearing firm: Man Financial

Trading platforms: M-Trade, patsystems J-Trader, X_Trader

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: RTS streaming; free unlimited for Chicago exchanges, free up to 200 quotes a day for New York exchanges, 1 cent per quote above 200; includes SSFs; Barchart, FutureSource.

Charts: All charts; 42 indicators, customizable; Barchart, FutureSource.

Services: Weekly e-mail, online newsletter; daily comments; recommendations; courses; news links to more than 40 sources -- all free to customers.

Ira Epstein & Co.

Chicago

Phone: 800-284-3010

E-mail: Sysop@iepstein.com

Web site: www.iepstein.com

Clearing firms: Rolfe & Nolan, GTEX, Man Financial

Exchanges: All U.S., Eurex

Quotes: RTS, RTD, snapshot; includes SSFs; fees from $0 to $25 per month.

Charts: Firm's own program, all charts, 26 indicators.

Services: Daily, weekly e-mail newsletter; recommendations; courses for $295; Oster/Dow Jones news for variable fee; FuturesLine internet radio station, fee not yet determined.

Interactive Brokers

Greenwich, Conn.

Phone: 877-442-2757

E-mail: help@interactivebrokers.com

Web site: www.interactivebrokers.com

Clearing firm: Interactive Brokers

Trading platform: Trader Workstation (TWS)

Exchanges: All U.S. that offer electronic trading, major international

Quotes: RTS, RTD; U.S. futures quotes free to those generating more than $30 commissions per month, otherwise $10 per month; fees for international exchanges vary; includes SSFs.

Charts: All charts with six indicators but not programmable by user and no custom indicators; BigCharts.

Services: E-mail, online newsletter but not on a set schedule; news from CBS Marketwatch.com free.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

New York

Phone: 212-526-6876

E-mail: dregan@lehman.com

Web site: www.lehman.com

Clearing firm: Lehman Brothers

Trading platform: SmartConnect

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, OneChicago, NQLX, major international.

Quotes: RTS; unlimited, free to all customers; various services; includes SSFs.

Charts: Own charting program.

Services: Daily comments; courses.

Lind-Waldock

(a division of Refco LLC)

Chirago

Phone: 800-445-2000

E-mail: sales@lind-waldock.com

Web site: www.lind-waldock.com

Clearing firm: Refco

Trading platforms: LindConnect (web), Lind Xpress (downloadable), Lind Anywhere (wireless)

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; RTD free to all customers, snapshot free but limited to 500 per month; includes SSFs; FutureSource.

Charts: All charts; historical back to 1968; 27 indicators; FutureSource.

Services: Monthly e-mail, online newsletter; daily comments; recommendations; courses free; Oster/Dow Jones news service free for 60-minute delay or $35 a month for real-time.

Man Financial

Chicago

Phone: 312-663-7500

E-mail: info@manfutures.com

Web site: www.manfutures.com

Clearing firm: Man Financial

Trading platforms: M-Trade, patsystems J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_Trader

Exchanges: All U.S., major international.

Quotes: RTS streaming; free unlimited for Chirago exchanges, free up to 200 quotes a day for New York exchanges, 1 cent per quote above 200; includes SSFs; Barchart, FutureSource.

Charts: All charts; 42 indicators, customizable; Barchart, FutureSource.

Services: Weekly e-mail, online newsletter; daily comments; recommendations; courses; news links to more than 40 sources -- all free to customers.

MBF Clearing Corp.

New York

Phone: 212-845-5000

E-mail: andrew.mitrakas@mbfcc.com

Web site: www.mbfcc.com

Clearing firms: MBF in NY; R.J. O'Brien, ABN, Credit Lyonnaise elsewhere.

Trading platforms: Trading Technologies X_Trader, Market Center Direct.

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, NY.

Quotes: RTD; free for more than 500 contracts a month; FutureSource.

Charts: AU charts, historical back to 1970, FutureSource.

Services: Newsletter, daily comments, free courses.

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith

New York

Phone: 212-449-0109

E-mail: sbyrne@exchange.ml.com

Web site: www.mlx.ml.com

Clearing firm: Merrill Lynch

Trading platform: Trading Technologies X_trader, EOS (Asia)

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, Eurex, LIFFE, NQLX, OneChicago.

Quotes: RTS, includes SSFs.

Charts: No.

Services: Daily comments.

Merchant Capital

Cranston, R.I.

Phone: 800-809-8861

E-mail: broker@merchantcapitalinc.com

Web site: www.merchantcapitalinc.com

Clearing firm: Refco

Trading platform: Vision Express, patsystems J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_Trader

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: RTS, RTD, snapshot; unlimited, free to all customers.

Charts: Firm's own program; programmable; indicators.

Services: Newsletter; daily comments; courses; news services.

National Futures

Chicago

Phone: 800-539-4341

E-mail: info@nationalfutures.com

Web site: www.nationalffitures.com

Clearing firms: Rosenthal Collins, Refco

Trading platforms: patsystems J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_Trader, Rand System and Fast Fills

Exchanges: All U.S., Eurex, LIFFE

Quotes: RTD, snapshot; free to active traders; includes SSFs; FutureSource, TradeSignals.

Charts: All charts; historical since 1972; 20 indicators; FutureSource, BigCharts, TradeSignals.

Services: Bottom Line Weekly Financial and Futures newsletter, e-mail and online; pivot points; daily comments; recommendations; courses, Oster/Dow Jones news service.

O'Connor & Co. LLC

Chicago

Phone: 312-604-8093

E-mail: jdaly@eoconnor.com

Web site: www.eoconnor.com

Clearing firm: O'Connor & Co.

Trading platforms: Shamrock, patsystems' J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_trader, Futures Dynamics

Exchanges: CME, OBOT, OneChicago, NQLX

PFG Inc.

Chicago

Phone: 1-800-333-6573

Email: info@pfmail.com

Web site: www.pfgbest.com

Clearing firms: Cargill Investor Services, R.J. O'Brien

Trading platform: BEST Direct Online Trading

Exchanges: CME, CEOT, NY, Eurex, OneChicago, NQLX

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; free to customers in electronic markets; includes SSFs.

Charts: All charts; 25 indicators plus custom indicators; FutureSource, eSignal.

Services: Weekly e-mail newsletter, free courses.

Pioneer Futures

New York

Phone: 212-763-1440

E-mail: smeyers@pioneerfutures.com

Web site: www.pioneerfutures.com

Clearing firm: Pioneer Futures

Trading platform: Trading Technologies X_Trader

Exchanges: CME, CBOT

Services: Daily comments; recommendations.

PreferredTrade Inc.

San Francisco, Calif.

Phone: 888-889-9178

E-mail: preferredtrade@preferredtrade.com

Web site: www.preferredtrade.com

Clearing firm: ABN AMRO

Trading platform: Preferred Trader

Exchanges: CME, CBOT (electronic markets only)

Quotes: RTS, RTD, snapshot; free for three or more trades a month, otherwise $10; includes SSFs; S&P Comstock.

Charts: No.

Rand Financial Services Inc.

Chicago

Phone: 312-559-8828

E-mail: vlambert@randfinancial.com

Web site: www.randfinancial.com

Clearing firm: Rand Financial Services

Trading platform: RandConnect

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, OneChicago, Eurex, LIFFE

Quotes: RTS; unlimited, free to all customers; includes SSFs.

Charts: No.

Services: Quarterly newsletter via e-mail, online, print; daily comments.

RB&H Financial Services LP

Chicago

Phone: 1-800-767-8317

Email: info@webvestor.com

Web site: www.webvestor.com

Clearing firm: RB&H Financial Services

Trading platforms: WebVestor, patsystems' J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_Trader

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, NY, Eurex, OneChicago

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; unlimited free to those trading more than 200 contracts per month, $75 for less than 200; includes SSFs.

Charts: All charts but not custom indicators; FutureSource.

Services: All newsletters; daily comments; recommendations; courses; free in-house news service.

Robbins Trading Co.

Chicago

Phone: 800-453-4444

E-mail: info@robbinstrading.com

Web site: www.robbintrading.com

Clearing firm: Rosenthal Collins Group

Trading platform: Robbins Online

Exchanges: CME

Quotes: EOD, RTD, snapshot; unlimited free to all customers; includes SSFs; TradeSignals.

Charts: EOD, intraday; indicators included; TradeSignals.

Services: Recommendations.

Smart Futures

Chicago, Ill.

Phone: 877-787-6278

E-mail: jriley@smartfutures.net

Web site: www.smartfutures.net

Clearing firm: Man Financial

Trading platform: OTEX

Exchanges: CME, CBOT

Quotes: EOD, snapshot from eSignal, Barcharts; includes SSFs. Free to those trading more than 200 contracts per month, $100 to others.

Charts: eSignal, Barcharts. All charts, most indicators.

Services: All newsletters, recommendations, courses.

Terra Nova Trading LLC

Chicago

Phone: 866-866-6546

E-mail: support@terranovatrading.com

Web site: www.terranovatrading.com

Clearing Firm: Pax Clearing Corp.

Trading Platform: RealTick by Townsend Analytics (stand-alone), Terra Nova Investor (browser-based)

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, OneChicago Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD; no extra charge for RTS on Terra Nova platform; base rate for RealTick analytical package $260 per month, $130 by trading 150-299 contracts per month, free by trading more than 300 contracts per month.

Charts: All charts, historical data back to 1999; 32 indicators and customizable ndicators.

Services: Weekly, monthly e-mail, online newsletters; daily analysis; courses through educational partner, MarketWise Trading School for $1,500 (reimbursed to trading customers); news services include Dow Jones Newswire, $95, Real Time Traders, $15, Fly on the Wall, free, Comtex, $25. Daily Web seminars on RealTick software; chat discussions on trading topics; Tradedge software add-on to RealTick to evaluate trading strategies.

TradeStation Securities Inc.

Plantation, Fla.

Phone: 800-808-9336

E-mail: sales@tradestation.com

Web site: www.tradestation.com

Clearing firm: Refco

Trading platforms: TradeStation 7, TradeStation Futures

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; free for those trading 300 or more futures or 600 or more security futures in previous month, $99 for those trading less; includes SSFs.

Charts: All charts, up to 30 years of historical data, up to 10 years of intraday equity data and 20 years of intraday futures data (minute and above); firm's own program, TradeStation 7, has more than 70 indicators, EasyLanguage programming technology and extensive backtesting capabilities.

Services: Streaming news from 45 sources part of basic service, Dow Jones News Service for $99.95; TradeStation World Community web site to share trading ideas, strategies and EasyLanguage programs; alert chat connection; free courses.

Vision LP

New York

Phone/E-mail: Steve Giangrasso 866594-2274, smg@rradewithvision.com; Matthew Zimberg 866-893-8540, mzim@tradewithvision.com

Web site: www.tradewithvision.com

Clearing firms: Refco, Cargill, R.J. O'Brien

Trading platforms: Vision Express, par systems J-Trader, Market Center Direct

Exchanges: All U.S., major international Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; free to customers; includes SSFs; Finwin and FutureSource.

Charts: All charts; firm's own charting program includes standard indicators and customizable indicators.

Services: All newsletters; daily comments; recommendations; free courses; news services.

XPRESSTRADE LLC

Chicago

Phone: 800-947-6228, 312-715-6228

E-mail: infor@xpressrrade.com

Web site: www.xpresstrade.com

Clearing firm: ADM Investor Services

Trading platform: XPRESSTRADE

Exchanges: All U.S.; eight foreign.

Quotes: RTS, snapshot futures, RTS forex free to all customers.

Charts: Interactive Charts, proprietary Java-based application for futures, free to customers; 20 technical studies, drawing tools, alerts, shortcut to trade screen.

Services: FWN, Hightower, Vardon Report, Tucker Emmett's Daily Commentary, IFR Forex Watch -- all free to all customers. First and only Internet broker to rake primary order and up to two contingent orders simultaneously that are activated after the primary order has been executed (at exact price or at specified distance from entry price).

Zaner Group LLC/NetFutures

Chicago

Phone: 800-621-1414

E-mail: info@netfutures.com

Web site: www.zaner.com, www.netfutures.com

Clearing firms: Refco, Iowa Grain, GNI/Man Financial

Trading platforms: patsystems J-Trader, Trading Technologies X_Trader, Oak I & II, Leo 4, all Refco and all Man Financial products

Exchanges: CME, CBOT, Eurex, LIFFE, OneChicago, NQLX

Quotes: EOD, RTS, RTD, snapshot; includes SSFs; all free to customers.

Charts: All charts; 28 indicators plus customizable indicators; FutureSource and eSignal.

Services: Newsletter; daily analysis; recommendations; courses; news service.

ZAP Futures LLC

Chicago

Phone: 800-441-1616

E-mail: info@zapfutures.com

Web site: www.zapfutures.com

Clearing firms: Refco, R.J. O'Brien

Trading platform: ZAP 3D

Exchanges: All U.S., major international

Quotes: RTS, RTD; free to those making more than 30 trades a month, $100 for those trading less.

Charts: All charts, firm's own program. Services: All newsletters; daily comments; recommendations; courses; Commodity News Service for $20 a month.

                                        Markets
                                     traded online



Firm                 Electronic  Open-outcry  Options   SSFs

Alaron               Y           Y            Y         Y
ANCO                 Y           Y            Y         Y
Carlin Futures       Y           Y            Y         Y
ChicagoEFutures      Y           N
efutures.com         Y           Y            Y         Y
Fox Investments      Y           Y            Y         Y
Interactive Brokers  Y           NY           Y         Y
Ira Epstein          Y           Y            Y         Y
Lehman Brothers      Y                                  Y
Lind-Waldock         Y           Y            Y         Y
Man Financial        Y           Y            Y         Y
MBF Clearing Corp.   Y           Y            N         N
Merchant Capital     Y           Y            Y         Y
Merrill Lynch        Y           Y            Y         Y
National Futures     Y           Y            Y         Y
O'Connor & Co.       Y           N            N         Y
PFG Inc.             Y           Y            Y         Y
Pioneer Futures      Y           N
PreterredTrade       Y           N            N
Rand Financial       Y           Y                      Y
RNB&H                Y           Y            N         Y
Robbins Trading      Y           Y            Y         Y
Smart Futures        Y           Y            Y
Terra Nova           Y           Y            Y         Y
TradeStation         Y           Y            Y         Y
Vision LP            Y           Y            Y         Y
XPRESSTRADE          Y           Y            Y         Y
Zaner Group          Y           Y            Y         Y
ZAP Futures          Y           Y            Y         Y

                                 Markets               Order-entr
                                                           y
                              traded online

                                              program

Firm                 NBIs      ETFs      Currencies  Browser

Alaron               Y         Y         Y           Y
ANCO                 Y                               Y
Carlin Futures       Y         Y         Y           Y
ChicagoEFutures                                      Y
efutures.com         Y                               Y
Fox Investments      Y
Interactive Brokers  Y         Y                     Y
Ira Epstein          Y         Y                     Y
Lehman Brothers      Y                               Y
Lind-Waldock         Y                               Y
Man Financial        Y
MBF Clearing Corp.   Y         N         N           N
Merchant Capital     Y         N         Y           N
Merrill Lynch        Y         Y         Y           N
National Futures     Y                   Y           Y
O'Connor & Co.       N         N         N           Y
PFG Inc.             Y         N         Y           N
Pioneer Futures
PreterredTrade
Rand Financial       Y                               Y
RNB&H                Y         N         N           Y
Robbins Trading                Y
Smart Futures
Terra Nova           Y         N         Y           Y
TradeStation         Y         Y         Y           Y
Vision LP            Y         Y         Y           Y
XPRESSTRADE          Y                   Y           Y
Zaner Group          Y         soon      Y           Y
ZAP Futures          Y                   Y           Y

                                 Order-entry                Orders
                                                           accepted


                                   program

Firm                 Stand-alone  PC-Windows  Mac       Market

Alaron               Y            Y           Y         Y
ANCO                 Y            Y                     Y
Carlin Futures                    Y                     Y
ChicagoEFutures                                         Y
efutures.com         Y            Y                     Y
Fox Investments                                         Y
Interactive Brokers  Y            Y           Y         Y
Ira Epstein          Y                                  Y
Lehman Brothers                                         Y
Lind-Waldock         Y            Y                     Y
Man Financial                                           Y
MBF Clearing Corp.   Y            N           N         Y
Merchant Capital     Y            Y           Y         Y
Merrill Lynch        N            Y           N         Y
National Futures                  Y           Y         Y
O'Connor & Co.       N            N           N         Y
PFG Inc.             Y            N           N         Y
Pioneer Futures      Y            Y                     Y
PreterredTrade       Y            Y                     Y
Rand Financial                    Y                     Y
RNB&H                Y            Y           Y         Y
Robbins Trading      Y                                  Y
Smart Futures        Y            Y                     Y
Terra Nova           N            N           Y         Y
TradeStation         Y            Y                     Y
Vision LP            Y            Y           N         Y
XPRESSTRADE                       Y                     Y
Zaner Group          Y            Y           Y         Y
ZAP Futures          Y                                  Y

                                   Orders accepted




Firm                 Limit     Stop      Stop w/limit  MOC

Alaron               Y         Y         Y
ANCO                 Y         Y         Y             Y
Carlin Futures       Y         Y         Y
ChicagoEFutures      Y         Y         Y
efutures.com         Y         Y         Y
Fox Investments      Y         Y         Y
Interactive Brokers  Y         Y         Y             Y
Ira Epstein          Y         Y         Y
Lehman Brothers      Y         Y         Y             Y
Lind-Waldock         Y         Y         Y             Y
Man Financial        Y         Y         Y
MBF Clearing Corp.   Y         Y         Y             N
Merchant Capital     Y         Y         Y             Y
Merrill Lynch        Y         Y         Y             Y
National Futures     Y         Y         Y
O'Connor & Co.       Y         N         Y             N
PFG Inc.             Y         Y         Y             Y
Pioneer Futures      Y         Y         Y             Y
PreterredTrade       Y                   Y
Rand Financial       Y         Y         Y             Y
RNB&H                Y         Y         Y             N
Robbins Trading      Y         Y         Y             Y
Smart Futures        Y         Y         Y             Y
Terra Nova           Y         N         Y             N
TradeStation         Y         Y         Y             Y
Vision LP            Y         Y         Y             Y
XPRESSTRADE          Y         Y         Y             Y
Zaner Group          Y         Y         Y             Y
ZAP Futures          Y         Y         Y             Y

                       Orders             Commission rates
                      accepted
                                 (Dollars per contract)

                                       E-mini S&P

Firm                 OCO       1-50        51-500     500 plus

Alaron                         ND          ND         ND
ANCO                           10          7          5
Carlin Futures       Y         ND          ND         ND
ChicagoEFutures                9.90        5.50-8     2.70-5
efutures.com                   7.66        5.66       3
Fox Investments                ND          ND         ND
Interactive Brokers  Y         4.80        4.80       4.80
Ira Epstein          Y         8           8          8
Lehman Brothers                ND          ND         ND
Lind-Waldock                   19          ND         ND
Man Financial                  ND          ND         ND
MBF Clearing Corp.   N         10          8          6
Merchant Capital     Y         14          11         9
Merrill Lynch        N
National Futures               8           4.95       4
O'Connor & Co.       N
PFG Inc.             N
Pioneer Futures      Y         7           6          <5
PreterredTrade                 10          8          6
Rand Financial                 ND          ND         ND
RNB&H                Y         12-20       5-12       4-5
Robbins Trading                20          20         20
Smart Futures                  8.25        7.25       6.25
Terra Nova           soon      10/RT       10/RT      6-10/RT
TradeStation                   5.76        5.76       5.76
Vision LP            Y         14/RT       12/RT      10/RT
XPRESSTRADE          Y         11          9          8
Zaner Group          Y         1.98-9.98   1.98-9.98  1.98-9.98
ZAP Futures                    17          10         5

                                   Commission rates
                                (Dollars per contract)

                         T-bonds/notes              Soybeans

Firm                 1-100       100 plus  1-100       100 plus

Alaron               ND          ND        ND          ND
ANCO                 10          8         10          8
Carlin Futures       ND          ND        ND          ND
ChicagoEFutures      9.90        2.70-8    NA          NA
efutures.com         11.34       8.34      11.34       8.34
Fox Investments      ND          ND        ND          ND
Interactive Brokers  4.80        4.80      NA          NA
Ira Epstein          9.98        9.98      9.98        9.98
Lehman Brothers      ND          ND        NA          NA
Lind-Waldock         25          ND        25          ND
Man Financial        ND          ND        ND          ND
MBF Clearing Corp.   15          10        15          10
Merchant Capital     11-14       9-11      11-14       9-11
Merrill Lynch
National Futures     8           8         8           8
O'Connor & Co.
PFG Inc.
Pioneer Futures      NA          NA        NA          NA
PreterredTrade                             NA          NA
Rand Financial       ND          ND        ND          ND
RNB&H                18-25       14-18     20-27       16-20
Robbins Trading      20          20        20          20
Smart Futures        10          8         16          12
Terra Nova           10/RT       10/RT     NA          NA
TradeStation         13.98       13.98     13.98       13.98
Vision LP            15/RT       13/RT     15/RT       13/RT
XPRESSTRADE          11          8         11          8
Zaner Group          1.98-17.98            1.98-17.98
ZAP Futures          17          10        17          10

                        Commission rates
                     (Dollars per contract)

                             Sugar           Options          Services

Firm                 1-100       100 plus             Quotes    Charts

Alaron               ND          ND        ND         Y         Y
ANCO                 10          8         7.50       Y         Y
Carlin Futures       ND          ND        ND         Y         Y
ChicagoEFutures      NA          NA        NA         Y         N
efutures.com         11.34       8.34      8.17       Y         Y
Fox Investments      ND          ND        ND         Y         Y
Interactive Brokers  NA          NA        1          Y         Y
Ira Epstein          9.98        9.98      4.99       Y         Y
Lehman Brothers      NA          NA        ND         Y         Y
Lind-Waldock         26          ND        17.50      Y         Y
Man Financial        ND          ND        ND         Y         Y
MBF Clearing Corp.   15          8         NA         Y         Y
Merchant Capital     11-14       9-11      28         Y         Y
Merrill Lynch                                         Y         N
National Futures     8           8         4          Y         Y
O'Connor & Co.                                        N         N
PFG Inc.                                              Y         Y
Pioneer Futures      NA          NA        NA         N         N
PreterredTrade       NA          NA        NA         Y         N
Rand Financial       ND          ND        ND         Y         N
RNB&H                20-27       16-20     10-20      Y         Y
Robbins Trading      20          20        20         Y         Y
Smart Futures        18          16        20         Y         Y
Terra Nova           NA          NA        varies     Y         Y
TradeStation         13.98       13.98     varies     Y         Y
Vision LP            18/RT       16/RT     17.50      Y         Y
XPRESSTRADE          11          8         8-11       Y         Y
Zaner Group          1.98-17.98            0.99-9.99  Y         Y
ZAP Futures          17          10        2.50-8.50  Y         Y




                        Services

Firm                 ENewsletters

Alaron               Y
ANCO                 Y
Carlin Futures
ChicagoEFutures      N
efutures.com         Y
Fox Investments      Y
Interactive Brokers  Y
Ira Epstein          Y
Lehman Brothers      Y
Lind-Waldock         Y
Man Financial        Y
MBF Clearing Corp.   Y
Merchant Capital     Y
Merrill Lynch        N
National Futures     Y
O'Connor & Co.       N
PFG Inc.             Y
Pioneer Futures      N
PreterredTrade
Rand Financial       Y
RNB&H                Y
Robbins Trading
Smart Futures        Y
Terra Nova           Y
TradeStation
Vision LP            Y
XPRESSTRADE          Y
Zaner Group          Y
ZAP Futures          Y

Key

This survey was limited to firms that (1) primarily trade futures, (2) offer online trading, (3) focus on the individual trader retail audience. Therefore not all brokerage firms may be included. See a firm's descriptive sting for more details or for contact information.

Y - Yes, the firm offers this

N - No, the firm definitely does not offer this

NA - Does not apply as firm does not offer this

ND - Firm offers this but would not disclose fees or answered "call" or "negotiable"

Blank - No answer by firm, which probably means not offered (except for prices)

MARKETS TRADED ONLINE

Electronic - Direct access to exchange

Open-outcry - Pit-traded markets

Options - Options on futures

SSFs - Single stock futures

NBIs - Narrow-based index futures

ETFs - Exchange-traded funds (such as QQQ)

Currencies - Cash market

ORDER-ENTRY PROGRAM

Browser - Browser-based Internet program

Stand-alone - Special software provided by firm that must be installed on your computer

ORDERS ACCEPTED

Only some major order types are listed; others are available in various markets at various firms.

MOC - Market on close

OCO - Order cancels order (or one cancels other)

COMMISSION RATES

Only a few selected samples of round-turn (RT) rates per contract for on me futures trading are shown, based on number of contracts traded per month. Firms have a variety of fee schedules, depending on market, session traded, amount of activity, services required, etc. The commission rate for options also may depend on strike, price, time remaining, premium cost or other factors. Most of the rates listed for options are per side; however, some firms charge only a round-turn rate whether the second side is used or not, Some rates listed include all fees; others do not. Some brokers would not reveal rates (ND). You should contact the broker to get rates for your specific situation.

SERVICES

Many services are free to customers but there may be a charge in some cases often depending on the level of trading activity Real-time streaming price quotes (RTS) generally require the payment of exchange fees for each exchange, but the firm often does not charge customers extra for this service. See the broker's descriptive listing or contact the broker for more details on services.