The Channel Checkers » Financial

optionsXpress update – Xpress Trade Integration, November DART estimate

Casey — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:58:10 +0000

Xpress Trade

optionsXpress has migrated its Xpresstrade futures customers to the optionsXpress platform. Channel checks suggest that Xpresstrade customers in general are not enamored with the change or their new optionsXpress futures platform. This will have a slight negative impact on open accounts, balances, trading volume, etc. going forward. These changes are in TCC’s November estimates for optionsXpress November DARTS.

November DART Estimate

The Channel Checkers is estimating a 1.4% sequential increase in DARTS for November 2007 compared to October 2007 and a 53.3% year-over-year increase November 2007 over November 2006.

The 1.4% increase is significantly less than the September 2007 to October 2007 26% sequential increase.

November 2006 DARTS………..28,700

October 2007 DARTS…………..43,400

November CC Estimate…………44,000

Sequential Increase: +1.4%

Year-over-year increase: +53.3%

Past estimates of The Channel Checkers’ have varied in accuracy from -0.2% to + 4.7%.

CC Estimate Reported Error

August …………35,710…………35,800………….-0.2%

September……. 37,127………….35,400………….+4.7%

October…………43,400 ……….. 44,600………….+2.7%

November ……..44,000…………..(Metrics Released PMO 12/12/2007)

optionsXpress is expected to release November Metrics pre-market on December 12, 2007.

The November DART estimate for optionsXpress is currently available from The Channel Checkers directly by calling Casey at 415.359.9153 or e-mailing casey@thechannelcheckers.com.

Trading Volume Accelerates at Options Express Holdings

Casey — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:53:11 +0000

Channel checks indicate that trading volume spiked to a record high for October 2007. Our estimate for October 2007 DARTS is 44,000, a 24% increase over September 2007 and the highest month-over-month increase in trading volume since January 2006.

Past Performance of The Channel Checkers Estimate

CC Estimate Actual Difference

August 35,710 35,800 -0.2%

September 37,127 35,400 +4.7%

October 43,400 - -

October DARTS are expected to be released pre-market on November 14th (est.)

A copy of the full October 2007 OptionsXpress DART estimate report is available for purchase from The Channel Checkers directly by calling 415.359.9153 or e-mailing casey@thechannelcheckers.com.

optionsXpress DARTS projected to be up 4% in September from August

Casey — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:20:33 +0000

The Channel Checkers September DART channel check and analysis estimates that optionsXpress will report a 55% year over year increase in DARTS for the Quarter ended September 30, 2007. For September, DARTS are estimated to have increased to 37,127– a 4% increase over August 2007.

The September DART Forecast report will be available in The Channel Checkers archives November 15th (www.thechannelcheckers.com/archive/).

A copy of the full September report is for purchase from The Channel Checkers directly by calling 415.359.9153 or e-mailing casey@thechannelcheckers.com.

Summer Market Volatility Good for eBrokers?

Casey — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:34:48 +0000

Coventional wisdom says that the market volatility is good for option-focused ebrokers (TRAD, OXPS, SWIM, etc). We just completed our first metric forecast (August 2007 DARTS) for ebroker optionsXpress (OXPS).

Contrary to our notion of the conventional wisdom, our forecast indicates that optionsXpress will report a 10% decrease in DART volume for August 2007 compared to July 2007 and a 58% increase over August 2006. A majority of the 58% year-over-year increase is attributable to the January 2007 acquisition of Xpresstrade according to our data.

optionsXpress is scheduled to release August DARTS pre-market on September 12^th. The August DART Forecast report will be available in The Channel Checkers archives October 1^st (www.thechannelcheckers.com/archive/).

A copy of the full report is for sale from The Channel Checkers directly by calling 415.359.9153 or e-mailing casey@thechannelcheckers.com.