optionsXpress Launches Idea Generation Tool for Options Traders

optionsXpress, Inc., a pioneer in bringing professional technology for options and futures trading to individual investors, today announced the launch of Idea Hub, a new idea generation tool for options traders. Idea Hub filters real-time data from various analytical tools – including options screeners, strategy scanners and earnings calendars – and packages the results into actionable options trading ideas. The tool can help investors find trading opportunities based on their preferred trading strategies and bullish, bearish or neutral market views.

Idea Hub generates trading ideas in four key categories and presents trades that are bullish, bearish or neutral:

• Premium Harvesting –Uncovers trading opportunities that are designed to generate income using options writing strategies, based on a range of volatility measures and probability outputs.
• Earnings – Generates options trading ideas that are driven by the earnings calendar for the upcoming week.
• Covered Calls – Displays ideas for buy-write strategies based on liquidity, volatility and current expected returns.
• Big Movers – Identifies trading opportunities by examining changes in open interest, volatility, or stock volume using outputs from optionsXpress’ proprietary options analytics tools, StrategyScan^SM and the Dragon^SM.

“Idea Hub can help simplify the research process for investors of all experience levels who want to identify options trading opportunities that reflect their market views,” said Joseph Vietri, Chief Executive Officer of optionsXpress. “The new tool does the baseline screening for traders, drawing on the analytical tools that optionsXpress clients use today. What makes Idea Hub unique is the way it filters and packages those key metrics to uncover ideas that traders can either research further or potentially execute with just a few clicks.”

The phased roll-out of Idea Hub will begin on July 9, 2012, and will be available to all optionsXpress clients in August. To learn more, visit www.optionsxpress.com.

About optionsXpress

optionsXpress Holdings, Inc., specializing in online options and futures trading, offers an innovative suite of online brokerage services for investor education, strategy evaluation, and trade execution. optionsXpress Holdings, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW), a leading provider of financial services, with more than 300 offices and 8.5 million active brokerage accounts, 1.5 million corporate retirement plan participants, 774,000 banking accounts, and $1.68 trillion in client assets. More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com.

Multi-leg option strategies may be subject to multiple commissions. Profits may be eroded by the commission expended to open and close the positions and other risks apply.

Covered call writers maintain the downside risk of stock ownership, less premiums received, and forgo any profitability above the strike price of the call. Writing uncovered put and call options involves potentially unlimited risks.

Options and futures involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read “Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options” and “Risk Disclosure Statement for Futures and Options” available by calling 1-888-280-8020 prior to applying for an account.

optionsXpress, Inc. makes no investment recommendations and does not provide financial, tax or legal advice. Content and tools are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Any stock, options, or futures symbols displayed are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to portray a recommendation to buy or sell a particular security. Products and services intended for U.S. customers and may not be available or offered in other jurisdictions. Supporting documentation for any claims, comparisons, recommendations, statistics, or other technical data will be supplied upon request.

optionsXpress, Inc. (Member SIPC) and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Member SIPC) are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation.

© 2012 optionsXpress, Inc. All rights reserved. Member FINRA, SIPC, AMEX, NOM, CBOE, ISE, ArcaEX, PHLX and NFA.