absolutely. they are lowering because just about everyone in this business has lowered. they were the last. thats how advantage came out of nowhere. they offered rates far below everyone else.
Does anyone keep a software copy of the old "Futures Commissions Bundled vs. Unbundled Pricing Comparisons" (for all markets)? If so please post it here or via PM. Thanks.
What makes you think infinity, amp, global have higher commissions than IB? In fact it should be lower.
ZRA, I don't have a copy but the way I see it they eliminated the first tier which was up to 300 contracts. With the old unbundled once you hit 300, you saved 20 cents/side, now everyone starts at 2nd tier and you save 35 cents/side over the old "rack rate" Comes out to ~$100 a month savings over the old plan if you trade 300, then it's about another ~$100 up to 1000, then almost identical to the old scheme over 1000. Way to go IB!
IB has removed nearly all the unbundled vs bundled comparison when it updates the part of "flat rate vs volume tiered" for US markets. Take a look at Canadian, European and Asian markets. The tables are next to empty now. What's up IB? Why do you remove them when they still stay valid? IB, please restore those tables and bring them back to the old good shape.
I'm surpirsed that noone mentioned it but my calculations says if you trade well above 1000 per month you pay more on the above 1000 volume
yeah, they lowered commissions for lower volume traders but raised the bar for the higher volume traders to receive the 1st level unbundled price discount from 300 to 1000. I'm probably going to switch back to bundled because they have raised the bar 3x above what it used to be to get the first level discount and no overnight fees w/ bundled. The bundled commission is still a good rate so I'm not complaining either.
The USD rate schedule for over 1000 contracts per month is unchanged (exactly as I said in my previous post). If you are trading well over 1000 contracts per month you should be using another much cheaper futures broker.