Opening — Who this is for and what it does
You are a futures trader deciding whether to open or keep an AMP Futures account. You may already trade there and want to cut costs. Read this to see the exact fees that affect your profit and loss. Check per-contract commissions, exchange and clearing pass-throughs, margin levels, market data billing, and platform rules. See concrete per-contract numbers, sample round-trip math, and fixed monthly charges. Learn which trading styles pay more: scalpers, swing traders, and low-frequency traders. Skip the marketing. Get the figures and the steps to lower costs. Expect at least 20 concrete numbers across the article. Use them to model your breakeven and edge.
Quick Answer / TL;DR
- If you trade Micro E‑mini: expect $0.60 per side at AMP’s flat rate. Compare to $0.29 per side at some competitors.
- If you trade E‑minis: expect $2.00 per side at AMP’s flat rate; high-volume tiers may be lower.
- Expect exchange and clearing fees separate from AMP commissions. These often add $0.20–$0.70 per side.
- Market data is billed monthly per username. Pay the full calendar month even for 1 day.
- Daytrade S&P: AMP intraday margins examples are $400 for standard S&P and $40 for Micro S&P. Dow margin example is $500.
- Minimum deposit: $100. Consider volume tiers, different platforms, or another broker to reduce per-trade costs.
What We Looked For — evaluation criteria
- Concrete per-contract cost. Show exact cents or dollars per side because commissions drive short-term profits. Include at least 10 commission examples.
- Margin and minimums. Expose intraday and overnight margins because capital efficiency matters. Include at least 5 margin numbers.
- Market data and platform fees. Reveal monthly costs billed per username. Include billing rules: full-month charges, per-credential billing.
- Account rules and promos. Note minimum deposit, inactivity policy, and commission promos like 20 commission-free trades. List exact counts.
- Scalability and negotiation. Check whether AMP offers volume tiers. Show how many trades or contracts might move you to a lower tier. Use numbers for thresholds and per-side reductions when available.
1. Commissions — $0.60 per micro and $2.00 per e‑mini per side
AMP’s standard retail commission is simple and visible. Expect $0.60 per side on Micro E‑minis (MES, MNQ, M2K). Expect $2.00 per side on standard E‑minis. These are base commissions. They do not include exchange or clearing fees. They do not include market data fees. Use these numbers to calculate round-trip cost. A Micro round-trip costs $1.20. An E‑mini round-trip costs $4.00.
Check how commissions affect your strategy. For scalping, do the math. If you execute 100 round-trips per day on Micros, the commission bill is $120 per day (100 × $1.20). If you do 1,000 contracts per month as a swing trader on E‑minis and average 10 round-trips, commissions can be $4,000 per month at retail rates (1,000 × $4.00). Factor commissions into your expected edge per contract. If your edge is $0.50 per tick and the contract moves 4 ticks, subtract commission to see net.
Compare retail competitors. MetroTrade advertises $0.29 per side on Micro and $1.09 per side on E‑minis. That makes a Micro round-trip $0.58 and an E‑mini round-trip $2.18. For 200 round-trips per month, the difference is $124. For very active traders, ask AMP for volume-tier pricing. AMP advertises negotiated tiers for high-volume accounts. With sufficient volume you can lower $2.00 to under $1.00 per side in some negotiated deals.
Best for: traders who need AMP’s platform options, specific data feeds, or moderate monthly volume (10–1,000 trades).
Skip if: you execute >1,000 trades monthly and can get better retail or tiered rates elsewhere.
Key points:
– Commission: $0.60 per side (Micro).
– Commission: $2.00 per side (E‑mini).
– Round-trip cost: $1.20 per Micro, $4.00 per E‑mini.
– Competitor retail example: $0.29/side (Micro), $1.09/side (E‑mini).
– Scalper example: 100 round-trips/day → $120/day on Micros.
Watch out for: AMP’s base rate excludes exchange and data fees. Model total cost, not just the commission line.
2. Exchange and clearing fees — per-contract costs shown on your statement (2 concrete examples)
Exchange and clearing fees are not part of AMP’s commission. They are pass-through charges billed on your statement. They can appear as multiple line items. Example pass-throughs commonly look like $0.25 + $0.20 per contract. Another common format is $0.15 + $0.35. Those add to $0.45 or $0.50 per side respectively.
Reconcile these fees monthly. For one contract, add AMP commission plus exchange fees. For a Micro with $0.60 commission and $0.40 total pass-through, per-side cost is $1.00. Round-trip becomes $2.00. For an E‑mini with $2.00 commission and $0.60 pass-through, per-side cost is $2.60. Round-trip becomes $5.20. Use the sum in your breakeven math.
Note how these fees hit different strategies. If your strategy trades 500 contracts daily, an extra $0.40 per side costs $400 per day (500 × $0.40 × 2). If you trade 10 round-trips per month, that extra $0.40 may be negligible. Expect these fees to vary by exchange and product. AMP’s data pages show the exact amounts that will appear on your client statement. These items are not absorbed by AMP.
Best for: traders who want itemized cost breakdowns and monthly reconciliation.
Skip if: you prefer an “all-in” flat fee with no line-item pass-throughs.
Key points:
– Exchange pass-through examples: $0.25 + $0.20 (two line items).
– Example combined pass-through: $0.40 per side.
– Micro total per-side example: $0.60 + $0.40 = $1.00.
– E‑mini total per-side example: $2.00 + $0.60 = $2.60.
– High-frequency impact: $0.20–$0.70 per side can double effective cost.
Watch out for: these fees are billed monthly and can change when the exchange adjusts rates.
3. Market data fees — monthly per username, billed full month, multiple feeds
Market data fees pay for real-time quotes and depth-of-book feeds. AMP lists data by exchange and feed type. Fees are charged per live trading credential (per username). Billing is monthly. Exchanges bill full calendar months. Expect to pay a full month even if you subscribe for 1 day.
Choose feeds carefully. Common choices:
– Top-of-book CME feed. Example cost varies; treat it as $X per month for modeling.
– Depth-of-book (Level 2) through TT or Rithmic. Expect higher fees, often tens to low hundreds per month.
– Additional exchange feeds add more fees. Each credential can trigger multiple monthly charges.
Match feed to style. If you scalpe, use depth-of-book: you may pay $30–$200 per feed monthly. If you swing trade, top-of-book may suffice and cost significantly less. If you use multiple platforms, you may incur duplicate fees. For example, using TT plus Rithmic may mean paying 2 depth feeds. AMP’s FAQ warns that monthly fees are not prorated. Add these fixed costs to your monthly P&L model.
Best for: daytraders who need low latency and depth-of-book.
Skip if: you trade infrequently and can use delayed data or free platform feeds.
Key points:
– Billing basis: per username (1 credential = 1 charge).
– Billing rule: full calendar month, no prorating.
– Platforms: TT (Depth), Rithmic (Depth), CQG (Depth), some free options.
– Example range: $0–$200+ per feed per month depending on depth and exchange.
– Duplicate feeds: pay per platform if you use more than one.
Watch out for: opening mid-month and paying the full monthly fee for a feed you only use a few days.
4. Margin requirements and capital efficiency — intraday vs overnight examples
Margin determines how much capital you must post. AMP publishes intraday and overnight margins for major products. Use intraday margins to maximize leverage and reduce capital tied up. Examples provided by AMP include $400 intraday for S&P 500 E‑mini and $40 intraday for the Micro S&P. Overnight margins are higher and vary by product. Use the margin number in your position-sizing and risk model.
Understand two key numbers per product:
– Intraday margin (day trade only): lower, e.g., $400 for E‑mini SP, $40 for Micro SP, $500 for Dow.
– Overnight margin (carry positions): often multiples of intraday, sometimes 2–10× depending on risk.
Calculate buying power. With $4,000 in a daytrading account and $400 intraday margin on E‑mini, you can hold up to 10 contracts long or short (10 × $400 = $4,000). With the same $4,000 and $40 Micro margin, you can hold up to 100 Micros (100 × $40 = $4,000). Use margin to size trades within your risk limit. Check margin maintenance rules. If you exceed intraday buying power, AMP can liquidate positions or call for funds.
Best for: traders optimizing capital use and leverage for day trading.
Skip if: you cannot meet overnight margin requirements or hold positions through risk events.
Key points:
– Example intraday margins: $400 (E‑mini SP), $40 (Micro SP), $500 (Dow).
– Usecase: $4,000 account → 10 E‑mini contracts intraday, or 100 Micros.
– Overnight margin higher; expect 2×–10× intraday in many cases.
– Margin calls: failing to meet margin can trigger liquidation in hours.
Watch out for: intraday margins are only valid while markets are open and within AMP’s day-trading window.
5. Platform and software fees — free options and paid feeds
AMP offers multiple trading platforms. Many are free for AMP customers. Examples listed include Quantower, MultiCharts, MetaTrader 5, and browser/mobile apps. Several professional platforms use paid market-data feeds. Some platforms charge no monthly platform fee; others require data fees only.
Compare platform models:
– Free platform + paid exchange data: pay $0–$200+ per month for data depending on feeds.
– Platform with bundled data: may include some data but can cost per-month prices or higher commissions.
– API/colocation options: AMP offers colocated servers for low-latency. Expect explicit service fees for colocation and dedicated connections.
Pick based on need. If latency matters, use colocated service and expect higher monthly costs. If you trade casually, choose free platform options and pay only for necessary data. Quantower and MT5 are free for AMP clients. Teton/Sierra Chart can be used with AMP but may add a small monthly platform license (often $5–$25 depending on the build and license type).
Best for: choose platform based on latency needs and data feed cost.
Skip if: you select a paid platform without checking whether AMP offers a free alternative.
Key points:
– Minimum deposit: $100 to open an account.
– Free platform examples: Quantower, MT5, MultiCharts (for AMP clients).
– Data-only costs: $0–$200+ per feed per month depending on depth.
– Colocation: available with explicit service fees; contact sales for pricing.
– Platform license examples: $5–$25 per month for some desktop clients (vendor-dependent).
Watch out for: platform trials that show daily data but bill monthly for live credentials.
6. Account rules, promos, and small-print charges
AMP’s account rules matter. Note key numbers and policies. AMP advertises no inactivity fees and no monthly maintenance fees. Minimum deposit to open is $100. AMP also runs commission promotions, such as a guarantee to beat or match quotes and offers like 20 commission-free trades for new clients. These deals change, so verify during signup.
Check account credential rules. Each live username triggers market data billing. If you use 3 usernames, expect 3 sets of monthly data charges. AMP states exchange market data fees are the exact amounts on your client statement. They may exceed AMP’s internal costs. AMP distinguishes non-professional and professional rates; professional fees are higher, often multiple times the non-professional amount. Verify your status if you qualify as professional.
Watch out for deposit and withdrawal rules. AMP accepts multiple currencies for deposit. Expect settlement windows per transfer type. Ask about wire fee reimbursements. Promotions often have conditions: minimum volume, time limits, or platform restrictions. Read the promo terms.
Best for: traders who read fine print and track monthly statements.
Skip if: you want absolute simplicity with one bundled monthly invoice.
Key points:
– No inactivity fee.
– Minimum deposit: $100.
– Promo example: 20 commission-free trades for qualifying new accounts.
– Data billing: per username; 1 username = 1 monthly charge.
– Professional status: may trigger higher fees (multiple times non-pro fees).
Watch out for: promotional offers that require a minimum funded balance or trading volume to qualify.
7. How to lower fees — volume tiers, platform choices, and negotiations
Reduce cost by combining levers. Use volume tiers, change platforms, reduce data subscriptions, or negotiate a bespoke rate. AMP offers volume-tiered pricing for active traders. Negotiate when you hit specific thresholds. Example target tiers: 5,000 contracts monthly, 20,000 contracts monthly, or higher. As volume rises, per-side commission can drop substantially. Ask AMP sales for exact tier numbers and targets.
Take these steps:
1. Track your monthly contracts and round-trips. Note counts like 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000.
2. Request a volume quote when you hit 1,000–5,000 contracts monthly.
3. Consolidate usernames to avoid duplicate data fees. If you used 3 usernames, reduce to 1 to save 2× data bills.
4. Move to a cheaper platform if feasible. Switching from depth-of-book to top-of-book can cut monthly fees by tens or hundreds of dollars.
Model the savings. Example:
– Current: 200 round-trips/month on Micros → 200 × $1.20 = $240 commission.
– After negotiation: per-side drops to $0.30 → round-trip $0.60 → new commission $120.
– Save $120 per month in commissions alone. Add saved data fees if you consolidated usernames.
Best for: traders who can prove steady monthly volume or who consolidate tools.
Skip if: you trade only a few contracts per month and cannot meet tier thresholds.
Key points:
– Negotiate at 1,000–5,000+ contracts monthly.
– Consolidate usernames to avoid duplicate data bills.
– Platform swap can save $30–$200 per month in data.
– Example savings: reduce per-side from $0.60 → $0.30 on Micros to halve commission cost.
Watch out for: negotiated rates often require contract or minimum volume commitments.
Comparison table: AMP standard retail vs MetroTrade retail
| Item | AMP Futures (standard retail) | MetroTrade (retail example) |
|---|---|---|
| Micro E‑mini commission per side | $0.60 | $0.29 |
| E‑mini commission per side | $2.00 | $1.09 |
| Micro round-trip commission | $1.20 | $0.58 |
| E‑mini round-trip commission | $4.00 | $2.18 |
| S&P intraday margin (example) | $400 | N/A |
| Micro S&P intraday margin (example) | $40 | N/A |
| Minimum deposit to open | $100 | N/A |
| Data billing | Monthly per username, full month | Varies by broker |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Varies by broker |
Closing — Practical next steps
Check your trading frequency. Count expected round-trips per day, week, and month: 1, 10, 100, 500. Multiply by round-trip commission to get monthly commission cost. Add expected exchange pass-throughs of $0.20–$0.70 per side. Add fixed data fees per username, estimated $0–$200 per feed monthly. Compare AMP’s standard $0.60/$2.00 per-side to competitor retail $0.29/$1.09 per-side. If your monthly commissions exceed $500, call AMP sales and request tiered pricing. If you trade fewer than 50 round-trips monthly, prioritize lower fixed costs and a cheaper data plan. Test a one-month model using numbers: commissions, pass-throughs, data, margin, and expected P&L per contract. Negotiate when you hit thresholds like 1,000 or 5,000 contracts. Keep statements and reconcile line items monthly. Check that every fee you modeled appears on your AMP client statement.