AMP Futures

Overview

AMP Futures is the retail brand of AMP Global Clearing, LLC, a US futures commission merchant (FCM) that is also a clearing member of CME, CBOT, COMEX and NYMEX. AMP is known for three things: very low day-trade margins, a $100 minimum deposit and support for more than 50 trading platforms through four data feeds (CQG, Trading Technologies, Rithmic and Teton).

AMP quotes an all-in price per contract that already includes exchange, NFA, clearing and its own commission. That is simpler than adding fees yourself, but the quote page does not say whether the figure is per side or per round turn, and some platforms and data feeds add their own charges.

Commissions and fees

AMP's exact cost price quote lists one all-in figure per contract. AMP says it has "combined all the fees" into this number.

AMP's FAQ says commissions vary by trading platform and volume, and that its Exact Cost Calculator shows the all-in cost for your setup. The quote page lists these prices against AMP's All-In-One MetaTrader 5 setup, where fees are built in by default.

Other published costs:

• Rithmic: $25 per month per user ID, plus a $0.10 routing fee per contract filled. The optional Rithmic API adds $100 per month.
• Trading Technologies (TT) carries its own monthly connection fees.
• CQG and Teton (Sierra Chart) have no added monthly fee beyond exchange data charges.
• Exchange market data is billed monthly per live login and is not prorated.
• No monthly inactivity or maintenance fees, and no volume requirements.

All-in cost example

Is the AMP price per side? AMP doesn't label it, but the arithmetic only works one way. CME's non-member exchange fee for ES is $1.38 per side (CME fee schedule, as republished on TradeStation's exchange-fee page). A round turn of ES therefore carries at least $2.76 in exchange fees alone, which is more than $1.95. So the $1.95 figure must be per side, and we treat the MES figure the same way. Confirm with AMP's calculator for your platform.

One round turn of MES:

• AMP all-in price per side: $0.60 (includes commission, CME exchange fee of $0.35, NFA fee and clearing)
• Round turn: $0.60 × 2 = $1.20
• On Rithmic, add $0.10 routing per contract filled: $0.70 × 2 = $1.40

One round turn of ES:

• AMP all-in price per side: $1.95 (includes the $1.38 CME exchange fee, NFA fee and clearing)
• Round turn: $1.95 × 2 = $3.90
• On Rithmic: $2.05 × 2 = $4.10

For context, subtracting CME's exchange fee and the NFA's $0.01 per-side assessment leaves about $0.24 per side on MES and $0.56 per side on ES for AMP's commission and clearing combined. Monthly data and platform fees come on top. Run your own numbers through our profit and loss calculator.

Margins

AMP lists day-trade margin of $400 for the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) and $40 for the Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES), among the lowest we found. AMP says day-trade margins apply during both the US day session and the overnight session, except for the last 5 minutes of each session. Positions held through the close need full exchange margin.

Low margin is a convenience, not a risk limit. An 8-point move against one MES contract is $40, the full day-trade margin. Check your sizing with our position size calculator.

Platforms

AMP lists 56 platforms under its "50+ Trading Platforms" banner. They include Quantower, MetaTrader 5, MultiCharts, TradingView, Sierra Chart, CQG Desktop, TT, Rithmic R|Trader, Bookmap, ATAS, MotiveWave, Jigsaw and Volumetrica. Each runs on one of four data feeds: CQG, TT, Rithmic or Teton. Many platforms charge their own license, so the total monthly cost depends on your choice. This breadth is AMP's biggest advantage for traders who already know which software they want.

Account opening and minimums

AMP's minimum deposit is $100. Its FAQ says the $100 balance is needed to keep a live data connection, and if your balance falls below $100 your market data is switched off. To place a trade you also need the day-trade margin for the contract. Exchanges bill data for the full calendar month even if you subscribe for one day.

Regulation

AMP states that AMP Global Clearing, LLC is a US-regulated FCM, a clearing member of CME, CBOT, COMEX and NYMEX, and regulated by CME Group as its designated self-regulatory organization, the CFTC and the NFA. AMP publishes its NFA license number as 0412490. Look it up in NFA BASIC to confirm the current registration before funding.

Pros and cons

Pros

• $40 MES and $400 ES day-trade margins.
• $100 minimum deposit.
• More than 50 supported platforms on four data feeds.
• All-in quote includes exchange, NFA and clearing fees.
• No inactivity fees.

Cons

• The quote page doesn't say whether prices are per side or round turn.
• Rithmic and TT add monthly and per-contract fees.
• Third-party platform licenses and data fees vary.
• Data is cut off if the balance drops below $100.

Who it suits

AMP suits traders who want to choose their own platform, such as Sierra Chart, Quantower or MultiCharts, and who value low margins and a low minimum. It is less suited to beginners who want one simple app with data included, because AMP leaves platform and data choices to you.

Frequently asked questions

Is AMP's $0.60 MES price per side?

AMP doesn't label it. Because ES exchange fees alone are $1.38 per side, AMP's $1.95 ES price can only be per side, so we read both figures as per side. Check AMP's calculator to confirm.

What is AMP's minimum deposit?

$100. You also need day-trade margin to place a trade.

What is the MES day-trade margin at AMP?

$40, according to AMP's home page. ES is $400.

Does AMP charge for Rithmic?

Yes. $25 per month per user ID plus $0.10 per contract filled. The Rithmic API adds $100 per month.

Does AMP charge inactivity fees?

AMP says it charges no monthly inactivity or maintenance fees.

• AMP Futures home page
• AMP Global exact cost price quote
• AMP FAQ: fees associated with trading
• AMP FAQ: Rithmic technology fees
• CME non-member exchange fees (TradeStation fee page)
• CME Group exchange fees
• NFA assessment fees FAQ