Futures & options industry firms.

The following is an alphabetical listing of U.S. firms serving the futures and options industry that responded to our requests to be listed in the Futures' 2004 SourceBook.

The basic listing includes the firm name in boldface type followed by the firm's address, up to two telephone or fax numbers, an e-mail and Web address.

Several letters in parentheses describe the type of firm or the services it offers. U.S. firms registered with the National Futures Association are listed as:

  FCM  futures commission merchant
  CTA  commodity trading advisor
  IB   introducing broker
  CPO  commodity pool operator

       Other firms in the broker/advisor group include:

  RIA  registered investment advisor
  OTC  over-the-counter dealer or market-maker
  FB   floor broker or clearing service
  B    commercial or investment bank

       Another broad group includes suppliers of information:

  IBK  book or video publisher and/or distributor
  IH   advisory service
  INS  producer of a news service
  IPC  publisher of print chart service
  IM   magazine, newspaper or newsletter publisher

Those firms indicating they provide computer or electronic products or services are divided into:

  EPQ   electronic price quotes or data, real-time or delayed
  EP    programming or consulting services
  EC    charting or technical analysis software
  ETS   trading system software
  EA    accounting, back office or other operational software

Those firms that provide professional services include:

  PSA   accounting

  PSL   legal

  PSP   portfolio, pension plan, investment management

  PSE   educational training, including seminars

  PSR   research or consulting services of many types

  PSM   marketing, public relations, mailing list
        services

  PSER  executive recruitment, placement services

Most firms fit in more than just one category, and their listings will indicate this. Other firms (an FCM, for example) may offer a newsletter, hotline, financial planning, etc., but may list themselves only as an FCM because these other functions are considered to be facets of the main FCM business. For more category definitions and a list of all the firms in each of the categories, see the category listing section starting on page 5.

Firms with a logo with their listing or with additional lines of information are either display advertisers in this issue or have paid to have their listing enhanced.