Open Account
mob menu

Ironbeam News and Updates

Trading news, market updates, education, and insights for futures traders.

  • All
  • Institutional
  • News
  • Press Releases
  • Trader Education
All
  • All
  • Institutional
  • News
  • Press Releases
  • Trader Education
Blog Banner

Independence Day Trading Schedule 7/4/26

In observance of Independence Day on 7/4/26, U.S. futures markets will operate on a modified trading schedule for Friday, 7/3/26. Most CME futures products will ...
Read More
June 2026 Futures Market Recap

June 2026 Futures Market Recap

June 2026 was a month that reminded futures traders why risk management is non-negotiable. Crude oil posted its biggest monthly decline since March 2020. Gold ...
Read More
CQG Futures Trading at Ironbeam: Platforms, Data & APIs

CQG at Ironbeam: Platforms, Market Data, APIs, and Order Routing

Ironbeam is a professional futures broker and longstanding CQG partner, offering the full CQG product suite to individual traders and institutional clients. That includes CQG ...
Read More
FCM vs Introducing Broker in Futures Trading

FCM vs Introducing Broker in Futures Trading

A futures commission merchant (FCM) is the regulated firm that actually holds your funds and accepts your orders, while an introducing broker (IB) focuses on ...
Read More
Understanding Futures Trading for Beginners

Understanding Futures Trading for Beginners

Futures trading lets you control standardized contracts on commodities and financial assets using margin, which can magnify both opportunity and risk. When you approach it ...
Read More
Futures Trader's Guide to Evaluating Broker Support

The Futures Trader’s Guide to Evaluating Broker Support

When you trade futures actively or run automated strategies, choosing a futures brokerage goes far beyond commission rates. Trade desk coverage, platform reliability, and fee ...
Read More
Rithmic Futures Trading at Ironbeam: Platforms, Data & APIs

Rithmic at Ironbeam: Platforms, Market Data, APIs, and Order Routing

Ironbeam is a professional futures broker and longtime Rithmic partner, offering the complete lineup of Rithmic futures trading platforms, market data subscriptions, and trading APIs. ...
Read More
How Futures Margin Rates Are Set by Brokers in 2026

How Futures Margin Rates Are Set by Brokers in 2026

Futures margin in 2026 is set in two layers: exchanges like CME Group define baseline initial and maintenance margin using risk-based models, then each FCM ...
Read More
Juneteenth futures trading hours

Juneteenth 2026 Futures Trading Schedule

In observance of Juneteenth on 6/19/26, U.S. futures markets will operate on a modified trading schedule. Most CME futures products will remain open for trading, ...
Read More
What Is a Futures Contract and How Does It Settle?

What is a Futures Contract and How Does It Settle?

A futures contract is a legally binding agreement to buy or sell a specific asset at a predetermined price on a specific future date. The ...
Read More
10 Order Types HFT Traders Need on a Futures Trading Platform

10 Order Types HFT Traders Need on a Futures Trading Platform

High-frequency trading in futures markets demands more than raw speed. The order types and execution features built into your futures trading platform determine whether your ...
Read More
May 2026 Futures Market Recap

May 2026 Futures Market Recap

May 2026 was not a quiet month. Crude oil swung nearly $30 from top to bottom. The S&P 500 logged its eighth straight week of ...
Read More
futures trading API

What 10 Features Should a Futures Trading API Have

Choosing a futures trading API comes down to one question: can the infrastructure hold up when your strategy needs it most? A stable API is not just ...
Read More
How to Choose an FCM for High Frequency Futures Trading in 2026

How to Choose an FCM for High Frequency Futures Trading in 2026

High-frequency futures trading lives or dies on infrastructure and support. When your algorithm is firing hundreds of orders per session, the futures trading brokerage you ...
Read More
What is an FCM in Futures Trading?

What Is a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) in Futures Trading?

A futures commission merchant (FCM) is a firm registered with the CFTC and NFA that accepts orders to buy or sell futures contracts and accepts ...
Read More
What Is Futures Margin and How Margin Calls Work

What Is Futures Margin and How Do Margin Calls Work?

Futures margin is a performance deposit, not a loan and not a down payment. You post a fraction of a contract’s notional value to open ...
Read More
Memorial Day Futures Trading Schedule

Memorial Day 2026 Futures Trading Schedule

In observance of Memorial Day on 5/25/26, U.S. futures markets will operate on a modified trading schedule. Most CME futures products will remain open for ...
Read More
Cloud vs Co-Location

Cloud vs. Co-location Execution for Futures Strategies

Execution infrastructure is one of the most consequential decisions an institutional futures operation makes. The co-location vs. cloud debate gets framed as a technical question ...
Read More
Top Futures Platforms for Scalping

Top Futures Platforms for Scalping in 2026

The best futures trading platform for scalping in 2026 combines free Level 2 market data, market-by-order (MBO) depth, direct exchange routing, and zero platform fees. ...
Read More
How to Compare Futures Brokers for Day Trading in 2026

How to Compare Futures Brokers for Day Trading in 2026

If you are actively day trading futures in 2026, the broker and platform you choose will directly influence your fills, your risk, and how confidently ...
Read More