Interactive Brokers is a major global online brokerage firm primarily known for its trading platform, tools, and services. The firm is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and operates the largest electronic trading platform in the U.S. by number of daily average revenue trades.
The firm offers a broad range of services, including trading in stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and funds. Interactive Brokers caters to several types of users: individual investors, institutional investors, financial advisors, and broker-dealers.
The company has been noted for its robust trading platform called Trader Workstation (TWS). TWS is designed for active traders and institutions and provides a wealth of features, including advanced order types, algorithmic trading, risk management tools, and a comprehensive charting package. There’s also a Web-based version and a mobile app, providing flexibility for users with different needs or preferences.
Moreover, Interactive Brokers is also known for its competitive fees and commission structures, which are particularly attractive for high-volume traders. The firm often has low margin rates as well.
One of the distinctive features of Interactive Brokers is its global reach. It provides direct market access to stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and funds in over 135 markets in numerous countries around the world.
The company’s extensive offerings and complex platform make it a go-to for serious traders and investors, although it may be a bit overwhelming for beginners who are new to investing.