What Is The Best Platform for Trading Micro E-Mini S&P Futures?

One of the most common questions I get asked by forex traders is whether they should trade futures or stick to regular spot Fx trading. And that curiosity is even more prevalent in people who trade CFD’s on US stock indices, preferring a more centralized and organized exchange to process their trades. And considering you do not have to pay for large spreads or deal with specific market makers that make their own “price”, I understand the interest in futures.

And I believe this is one of the main reasons why the CME’s launch of the E-Mini Micro contracts for the stock index was such an instant success, opening the futures market to a whole new class of traders.

Just look at the point value of the contracts:

• MES (Micro S&P Contract) point value is $5
• MNQ (Micro NASDAQ) point value is $2
• MYM (Micro Dow Jones) point value is $2
• M2K (Micro Russell) point value is $2

And compare that to the original stock indices that traded at 10X the contracts above. They are still available, but for most small traders, the regular contracts (The Minis) simply became too large and, combined with the high volatility, was challenging for the average retail trader to cope with it.

The small micro stock index futures is therefore a perfect start for the beginner futures day trader, or any forex traders interested in dipping their toes in futures.

So, the question then becomes, what is the best platform to trade these micro futures contracts? Well, that is a very subjective choice, but I urge you to look at Optimus Flow.

External link disclaimer: The platform is offered via the external platform Optimus Futures LLC and to the contractual conditions specified therein. By using this link you will be redirected to the website of Optimus Futures. Tradeciety.com does not assume any liability or warranty insofar.

From the research I conducted, futures traders look for very specific points of execution. And since these contracts are traded on the exchange, you need to account for the total liquidity of the bids versus offers that is presented on the DOM.  Because there are no other exchanges that trade these specifics contracts, you can count them as a total when you consider global supply and demand for Micros Stock Index.

Here are some of the platform’s standout features:

• Unique and modern interface design for traders
• Customizable DOM
• Ability to trade from the chart
• Easy to navigate positions and orders tab

Next, let’s take a visual dive into Optimus Flow with images that will give you a better sense of what you see when you trade on the platform.

Optimus Flow is very slick from a design standpoint, and as soon as you open it, you can immediately sense its intuitiveness. Clearly, the designers of the platform kept real traders in mind, and the platform is constantly evolving with new sets of features and upgrades. But do you need all these features? We do not think so. But it does make a difference when you are learning how to trade futures and you have plenty of ways to choose how you wish to execute your orders.

Again, when we say, “best platform”, that is our opinion and it is subjective, and by no means are we implying that you will feel the same. You may be on a platform that has everything you need, but if you feel that you just jumped too fast on the platform you use or simply kept trading on the one you started out with, consider exploring how Optimus Flow executes.

The charts: “My Session Review, Accountability and Critique”

Optimus Flow lets you trade directly from the chart and anyone who trades visually can immediately look at the chart and execute without distraction, or on the trading module to the left of the chart. It is easy to see all the types of orders you can place.

For example, limit orders, stop orders and the ability to cancel all orders. Simple and easy. There is an ability to flatten all your positions, and that is important in case there is a “meltdown” in the marketplace.

The entire order entry is attached to the chart, and you can also manage your trades from the chart directly. If you are a keyboard shortcut trader, you can do that as well.

One nice feature that I particularly like is the profit and loss alerts. You can set an alert for any profit or loss and once you reach that target, you get a pop-up alert along with the option to liquidate your positions as well.

Many futures traders use the depth of market ladder, also called DOM, for trade execution. The DOM lists the number of buyers and sellers at specific prices on either side. Optimus Flow only lists limit prices. On the right side of the DOM above the price, are all the prices that traders are willing to sell at, and on the left below the price, it is all the prices that traders are willing to buy at. Each side lists the quantities, and these quantities change by the second as traders shift their opinion and willingness to buy at certain price levels.

The DOM, just like the chart trader, has all the order types attached to it.  You can also move your orders on the DOM if you wish to change targets, etc.

On a side note, I have come to realize that many futures day-traders like to adjust their trades as fast as possible while also adjusting their targets. In the futures trading game, orders that get entered first, get filled first, and as such those who day trade, need to make sure they are first in line for their orders to get filled.

As a trader, I look for very clean platform that allows me to see the market activity, execute fast and also see at all times my profit and loss without jumping through screens.  Effortless and intuitive should be the key for each trader. This is where Optimus Flow does a great job.

Take a look at this screenshot:

I suggest you try a free demo here.  Or just contact them if you need more information.

External link disclaimer: The platform is offered via the external platform Optimus Futures LLC and to the contractual conditions specified therein. By using this link you will be redirected to the website of Optimus Futures. Tradeciety.com does not assume any liability or warranty insofar.

Just like any other asset that uses leverage, always use caution and discretion. Futures trading is substantially risky, so use only risk capital.  The results you experience on the demo may not reflect what you will achieve in real life. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You may lose more than your initial investment when you trade Futures.