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IndexTrade.com Launches World's First Index Trading Web Site Allowing Individual Investors to Trade on the Movement of Global Equity Markets, Commodities, Currencies and Bonds |
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ST. JOHNS, Antigua, Sept. 27 /PR Newswire/ -- Pioneering a new form of online trading, IndexTrade.com today announced the world's first Web-based trading site for major global equity indices as well as bonds, selected commodities and currencies. IndexTrade.com offers traders the opportunity to back their views on the movement of the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, German DAX 30 and Britain's FTSE 100. Additionally, IndexTrade.com users can take positions on the price of gold and crude oil futures, US Dollar/Euro and US Dollar/British Pound exchange rates, and government bonds. "Trading these kinds of broad market instruments has traditionally been off-limits to small investors, meaning the greatest potential for profit has always been reserved for the very wealthy," said Joe Tighe, co-founder and CEO of IndexTrade.com. "On IndexTrade.com, anyone can begin trading with an initial account of as little as $100. For the first time, you don't have to be a fat cat or an insider to trade on the directional moves of the markets." IndexTrade.com has been operating in beta since August with 3,000 users registered in Player accounts that use virtual money only, and a select group of traders who have been trading with real-money Investor accounts. As of September 27, 1999, all users will be able to open Investor accounts using a credit card. Both types of account give users access to all of the site's features, but only Investor accounts utilize real money. Why Index Trading?
A market index, such as the Nasdaq or S&P, is a powerful indicator
of the market's direction as a whole. Index funds have captured a
significant share of the mutual fund market in recent years as consumers
have come to recognize that these widely reported indices are easier to
follow than individual companies or sectors. Unlike index funds, however,
index traders do not buy the stocks, bonds or other instruments that make
up each index -- they buy or sell the price of the index itself. This
allows savvy traders to use their knowledge of market trends and take
profits off the general direction of their IndexTrade.com provides all the tools necessary to allow traders to educate themselves about the markets. This includes both general and financial news, along with an economic calendar of major market-moving announcements. IndexTrade gives traders live portfolio updates and dynamic charts for each market or trading product. These charts can be displayed on a desktop outside of the browser. Visitors can also participate in the Trader's Lounge, an online forum and message board community, to gain insight from other investors. Virtual Trading and Competitions Users can begin index trading with an Investor account, or establish a Player account to play IndexTrade.com's online trading game with "virtual" money. With a Player account, users can experience first-hand what index trading is like, track their gains and losses, and will soon be able to enter into competitions against other players -- all at no cost. Game players gain all the benefits of IndexTrade.com including the live portfolio updates, Java charts tracking individual markets, news and financial reports, as well as access to the trader community. Once the competition feature goes live, any group of registered users will be able to create their own competition and go head to head with their respective trading strategies over a given period. Such contests will provide an exciting way to learn about economics and the dynamics of the marketplace. Offering Security and a Way to Limit Risk Index trading, day trading -- even long-term stock market investing -- all carry risk. IndexTrade.com has taken steps to allow traders to minimize their risk. Most importantly, each order requires the trader to indicate a stop limit, which places a cap on the trade's downside risk. However, IndexTrade does present a high risk to capital invested due to the leveraged nature of the product. "We've organized IndexTrade.com to lower risk as much as possible," said John O'Malia, co-founder and Managing Director of IndexTrade.com. "In fact, there's no other trading vehicle that offers the reward profile of index trading while requiring the trader to control his downside. It's almost impossible for an investor who puts $100 into a mutual fund to double his money in a single day, but that's very possible to achieve in index trading. And the trader can cap his losses by placing a stop limit at a specific price, effectively managing his exposure." IndexTrade.com also allows traders to get a feel for the market without risking one penny through opening a Player account and trading with virtual dollars. With accounts from $100, it is also possible for small investors to get into index trading. As a Web-based business, IndexTrade.com has taken extensive measures to provide a secure environment for a user's information and accounts. "Online trading has been firmly established in recent years as a viable and safe means of investing," notes Joe Tighe. "We are using secure technologies like SSL and digital certificates, which make conducting business over the Internet as safe as doing so in person." About IndexTrade.com IndexTrade.com is the world's first online trading site with access from $1 per point for major indices like the S&P 500, German DAX and British FTSE-100, as well as select commodities, currencies and bonds. Registered users can utilize IndexTrade.com for real-money trading by establishing an Investor account, or trade without cost or risk by using a Player account. IndexTrade.com offers non-professionals the first Web-based global marketplace in which to speculate on the direction of major equity indices and financial products. IndexTrade.com is a subsidiary of Panagea Holdings Ltd. The company is privately funded and operates from Antigua to offer customers the highest possible flexibility in their trading and tax exposure, while ensuring high standards of communication and security. For more information, visit IndexTrade at http://www.indextrade.com/. SOURCE: IndexTrade.com CO: IndexTrade.com; Panagea Holdings Ltd. ST: Antigua |
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| Posted September 27, 1999. |