other instruments would be like derivatives. options and futures are both common derivatives. there are many other derivatives made for custom purposes like combinations of credit, risk, mortgages etc. they are basically contracts which allow you to make bets on bets. a google search will turn up lots of info.
Liquid Listed Stocks and quips with OverTheLine! Why? I like trading with the specialist, using the futures as a leading indicator, but the REAL REASON - I want to be like my friend Don Bright!
Traded stocks for four yrs. Went to the minis 6 mos. ago for all the aforementioned reasons. Will probably never go back to stocks. Entertaining messing with the large S+P contract but have not done it. Anybody played with this?