OptionsHouse Announces Improvements to Website, Trading Tool

OptionsHouse blog and video go live, offering information and education
Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment processing now online

Online brokerage firm OptionsHouse recently launched two improvements to www.optionshouse.com designed to streamline account management and educate traders.

Market Environment Necessitates Education:

Retirement savings have decreased by about $2 trillion during the last 15 months, and volatility is at an all-time high. Now more than ever, investors are desperate for clarity about fast-moving markets. OptionsHouse, in response to this growing need, has debuted daily videos (OH TV) and market commentary1 and has committed to rich media presentations.

The OptionsHouse blog, available from the OptionsHouse.com homepage and at blog.optionshouse.com, features market commentary authored by Chief Investment Strategist Steve Claussen and Chief Executive Officer George Ruhana. Recent posts have explained bear-market rallies, analyzed evaporating liquidity, and evaluated strategic buy-write opportunities.

OH TV (a “dedicated market news channel”) is accessible from the main OptionsHouse home page and features two daily financial news reports – “Market on Open” and “Market on Close” – hosted by Steve Claussen. The daily broadcasts are available via RSS feed.

“Steve and I are eager to share our thoughts on the fast-moving market with self-directed, smart traders,” noted Ruhana. “In today’s volatile times, the speed of information transfer is critical,” he noted, adding, “Quick delivery of our market commentary is a critical component for our customers.”

Focus on Faster Movement of Cash:

This week, OptionsHouse cut days off the process for ACH cash transfers. Instead of requiring voided checks and additional paperwork, the new ACH process allows clients to establish a relationship between OptionsHouse and a financial institution through a simple method of micro-deposit verification. Not only is the procedure paperless, but it saves time; an online ACH can take just three to four business days as opposed to traditional processing, which could take up to two weeks or more. “We thought it critical, especially in the current environment, to provide clients with a faster method of transferring funds,” said Ruhana.

About OptionsHouse:

OptionsHouse, LLC, is an online stock and option broker delivering a fast, streamlined trading experience on its professional-grade trading platform, accessible at OptionsHouse.com. OptionsHouse’s flat-rate commission structure offers online trading of $9.95 per option trade and $4.95 per stock trade, with no escalating fees, regardless of size.2

In Barron’s 2008 survey of Online Brokers, OptionsHouse earned a four-star rating and its innovative platform was ranked number-one for “usability.”3 A licensed FINRA broker-dealer, OptionsHouse, LLC was founded in 2005 and is a subsidiary of proprietary option-trading firm, PEAK6 Investments, L.P.

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. In addition, electronic trading poses unique risk to investors. System response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system performance and other factors. OptionsHouse provides neither investment nor tax advice. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options | Risk Statements and Disclosures, copies of which can also be obtained by contacting our Customer Service Department at customerservice {at} optionshouse(.)com.

1OptionsHouse blogs and videos are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as trading or investment advice or recommendations that any particular security, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions. Commentary and opinions expressed are those of the author/speaker and not necessarily of OptionsHouse. Neither OptionsHouse nor any of its employees, officers, shareholders or affiliated companies guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions of guest speakers or commentators. Projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature and are not guarantees of future results. Any examples used that discuss trading profits or losses may not take into account trading commissions or fees.

2Barron’s, March 17, 2008, 13th annual survey, “The Best Online Brokers.” Overall ratings (on a five-star scale) based on Usability, Trade Experience, Trading Technology, Range of Offerings, Research Amenities, Portfolio Analysis & Reports, Customer Service, Costs. Usability rating based on overall site design, ease of use and navigation, ability to customize and constant ticket availability. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones, L.P.

3No escalating per-contract fees for equity options. OptionsHouse reserves the right to pass-through any third-party fees related to index and ETF options. See www.optionshouse.com/home/rates/index.jsp for more details on trade commissions for stocks under $2 per share, mutual funds, and other securities. Customers may trade up to 50,000 shares or 4,000 option contracts per trade; trades in excess of these parameters require multiple order tickets and will be billed as separate orders.

Contacts

OptionsHouse, LLC
Beth Gaston Moon
312-676-8800
bmoon {at} peak6(.)com