The two main stock-market gauges hadn’t finished with a decline of 1% or more for a history-setting 110 trading days. But a sudden late-morning jolt pushed the indexes into a tailspin.

Futures trading uses leverage, requiring a broker and margin minimum that varies by contract. If market value falls and reaches maintenance margin, you must deposit more funds or liquidate.

Our deep, independent analysis of online brokers cuts through the details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing an options trading account. Over 60 investment account ...

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They offer zero-commission trading and no account minimums, making investing affordable. CNBC Select has chosen the best brokers with offer zero-commission trading platforms in a variety of ...

It turns out that many investors can. Depending on your brokerage account type and balance, you may have the ability to do margin trading — or leverage your capital, as the pros call it.

Extremely stressful Often involves leveraged trading on margin, which could lead to losing more than you have. Day traders typically have greater account restrictions. If you trade too frequently ...

The best brokerage accounts have minimal fees, lots of investment options and access to advanced stock trading tools. Many provide educational resources that help you determine what stocks to buy.