What is CTS？
CTS is a United States-based company specializing in futures and options trading technology. Their primary product is the T4 platform, a comprehensive suite aimed at various trading professionals. The T4 platform boasts features like direct exchange connections for swift execution, built-in risk management tools, and multiple access points: T4Charts for analysis, T4Desktop for a traditional experience, T4Mobile for on-the-go trading, and API for WebTrader. However, CTS operates without any valid regulation.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Comprehensive Trading Platform: T4 offers a full suite of trading components, including T4 Desktop, T4 Mobile, and API for WebTrader, providing traders with a comprehensive trading experience.
Direct Exchange Connectivity: T4 offers direct connectivity to major global exchanges, ensuring fast and reliable trade execution, including CBOE, CME Group, EUREX, Intercontinental Exchange, and NYSE Euronext.
Catering to Diverse Traders: With a variety of optional plans and features, T4 is designed for various user types, from professional traders to beginners.
Cons:
Lack of Regulation: CTS is not regulated. This raises a red flag for users, as regulations usually help protect traders.
Cost for Advanced Features: While the basic T4 platform has a $0 monthly fee for WebTrader, access to more advanced features may require a higher monthly subscription fee.
Market Focus: CTS specializes in futures and options trading, so traders primarily interested in other asset classes need to look elsewhere for their trading needs.
Is CTS Legit or a Scam？
It's difficult to definitively say whether CTS is legitimate or a scam due to the lack of information on regulatory oversight. Regulation is crucial in the financial industry as it helps protect traders from fraudulent activity, ensures fair trading practices, and provides a framework for resolving disputes.
Market Instruments
CTS primarily focuses on offering trading solutions for futures and options markets. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a specified asset at a predetermined price and date in the future. Options contracts give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price within a specified time frame.
Trading Platforms
CTS offers a trading platform called T4 with various functionalities accessible through desktop, mobile, and API options.
T4 Desktop: This flagship platform offers versatile trading solutions, catering to both professional and retail traders. It provides full functionality and customization options, allowing users to create a trading screen that suits their needs. T4 Desktop is user-friendly while offering advanced features demanded by professional traders.
T4 Mobile: T4 Mobile provides a simple trading interface optimized for touchscreen devices. It offers real-time market access, order submission, and reliability. T4 Mobile is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and all Android devices, and as a web-based platform (T4 WebTrader).
API: CTS offers open NET and FIX APIs, allowing third-party developers to create their own trading applications. The APIs provide access to CTS's backend infrastructure, offering scalability, speed, reliability, and robustness. The T4 API simplifies development, supporting languages such as C++, C#, and Visual Basic.
Packages
CTS offers tiered packages for both professional and non-professional traders on their T4 platform. There are two main categories: Professional and Non-Professional (as defined by the CME).
Non-Professional Packages: These come at a higher cost than similarly named Professional packages. They include Core+Charting (Non-Pro) with a $35 minimum monthly fee and Advanced Data+Charting (Non-Pro) with a $200 minimum monthly fee. Both incur a $0.20 per contract data fee with no monthly cap on top of the base package cost.
Professional Packages: These are generally more cost-effective for users who qualify as professionals under CME definitions. They include a free WebTrader Only option with limited features, Core+Charting (Pro) with a $25 minimum monthly fee (first 50 contracts free, then $0.50 per contract with a capped $500 monthly data fee), and Advanced Data+Charting (Pro) with a $200 minimum monthly fee (first 400 contracts free, then $0.50 per contract with a capped $500 monthly data fee).
Add-on Functionalities
CTS offers various add-on functionalities for their T4 platform that cater to different trading needs, but all come with additional monthly fees.
T4 Options Auto 1 ($100/month): This is a basic options system that allows you to view CTS-generated data like volatility, greeks, and theoretical values.
T4 Options Auto 2 ($200/month): This is a more advanced option than Auto 1. It includes everything from Auto 1, plus features like theoretical values displayed directly in the contract ladder, a strategy solver for analyzing spreads, and the ability to create custom spreads (UDS).
T4 Options Pro ($500/month): This is the most comprehensive options system offered by CTS. It allows you to generate theoretical values, identify and compare trading opportunities, create custom spreads, and perform multi-scenario position analysis.
T4 Custom Strategies ($50-$100/month): This tool lets you create, chart, and trade custom spreads. You choose the legs and ratios, and T4 Custom Strategies provides real-time market depth quotes for your custom spread. There are two tiers: a basic tier with quotes and charts for $50/month, and a pro tier with quotes, charts, and trading functionality for $100/month.
Market Profile ($10/month): This is a technical analysis tool used to assess market value throughout the trading day.
Time Entry ($12.50/month): This functionality allows you to schedule orders to be automatically entered into the market at a future time.
Customer Service
CTS offers multiple channels for customer support. These various communication channels ensure that customers have options to reach out to CTS for assistance or information.
Phone: You can reach out to CTS support via phone at 312-939-0164 or +1 (866) 379-1289.
Email: For inquiries and assistance, you can email CTS support atsupport@ctsfutures.com or directly contact it at brian@ctsfutures.com.
Social Media: CTS maintains a presence on social media platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. You can connect with CTS through these channels for updates, announcements, and support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, CTS offers a robust trading platform, the T4, which caters to both professional and retail traders in the futures and options markets. With its direct exchange connectivity, comprehensive trading components, and user-friendly interface, T4 provides a versatile trading experience. However, a major drawback is the lack of regulatory oversight, which raises security concerns. Additionally, while the basic platform is free, advanced features come with extra fees, potentially increasing your overall trading costs.
If you're a futures and options trader looking for a versatile platform, CTS' T4 may be worth considering. However, prioritize your safety and thoroughly research alternative platforms with regulatory licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What markets does CTS specialize in？
A: CTS specializes in futures and options trading.
Q: What trading platforms does CTS offer？
A: CTS offers the T4 platform, which includes T4 Desktop, T4 Mobile, and API for WebTrader.
Q: Is CTS regulated？
A: No, CTS operates without any valid regulation.
Q: Does CTS offer a demo account？
A: Yes, CTS offers a demo account for users to test their platform.
Q: What add-on functionalities does CTS offer？
A: CTS offers add-ons like T4 Options Auto 1, T4 Options Auto 2, T4 Options Pro, Market Profile, T4 Custom Strategies, and Time Entry for additional fees.
Risk Warning
Online trading involves significant risk, and you may lose all of your invested capital. It is not suitable for all traders or investors. Please ensure that you understand the risks involved and note that the information provided in this review may be subject to change due to the constant updating of the company's services and policies.
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