PDT rule and 25k requirements for daytrading stocks. Now all you need is a paltry 5k and you're a futures daytrading maven
Leverage is the answer. You can much more leverage with future. Which is great and dangerous at the same time.
Advantages of Trading Futures: - Lightning Fast Executions (from what I hear) - Very good Spreads - One market, knowlege of only one trading vehicle - High level of leverage - Ability to hedge against a diverse portfolio - No risk of bankruptcy or corrupt CEO / Board - Short-term holdings have favorable tax consequences over Stocks - No SEC Advantages of Trading Stocks: - Wide range of choices to trade - More ability to be creative when trading (pairs, etc) - Leverage via Options and Margin - Ability to use futures as a slight leading indicator Disadvantages of Futures Trading - Lack of leading indicators - Huge ability to leverage can work against you - Generally one of the most difficult markets to trade Disadvantages of Stocks - Risk of Bankruptcy - HALTS - Specialists - SEC - Poor execution speed and poor spreads for some stocks - Taxed unfavorably for short-term holding times