Derivatives: Futures and Options

Chicago Board Options Exchange: This site provides a wide selection of market data and information on options. The CBOE's resource center provides downloadable guides to taxes relating to options as well as lists of brokers at key firms. For $99 you can attend a mock trading session at the CBOE. http://www.cboe.com/

Compass Financial: This web site provides fundamental and technical information related to the futures industry including quotes, charts, weather, news, and glossary. http://www.compassfinancial.com

Futures Industry Association (FIA): This site is sponsored by the FIA an association representing all organizations that have an interest in the futures market. FIA has more than 200 corporate members, reaching thousands of industry. The site includes information from the Futures Industry Magazine and considerable membership information. http://www.fiafii.org

Futures Magazine: This site is sponsored by one of the most popular magazines dealing with futures and options markets. The site provides excellent information and articles. http://www.futuresmag.com

INO Global Markets: Provides comprehensive coverage for futures and options. http://www.ino.com/

Ivolatility.com: This site focuses on defining and measuring implied volatility-a key component used by investors to determine an option's price. This site is designed for more advanced traders. Question mark icons define basic terms but beyond that novices may find themselves bewildered. http://www.ivolatility.com/home.j

Numa Financial Systems, Ltd.: This is a huge site providing valuable information on derivatives. The site includes reference materials, calculators for option, and links. http://www.numa.com/

OptionsXpress: This Chicago options brokerage site puts an emphasis on execution but also will educate you on the difference between straddle and a butterfly and offer a host of trading ideas. It contains easy to use execution windows. http://www.optionsxpress.com

Options Industry Counsel: This is one of the most comprehensive sites on the web devoted to information on futures and options. The Options Industry Council (OIC) is comprised of the four participant exchanges the American Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the Options Clearing Corporation. It provides news, quotes, charts, brochures, software, articles, contract specifications, and strategy information. http://www.optionscentral.com/

SchaeffersResearch.com: This organization is research oriented with a specialty in options trading. The site provides basic information on options, trading strategies, research, quotes, market commentary, and much more. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/

Webtrading.com: This site of an association of commodity traders sponsors Commodity Traders Club News, a clearing house, in newsletter format, for commodity futures traders or those wishing to learn about or get started in commodity futures trading & investing. A site with some useful data and analysis on the futures market. http://www.webtrading.com/