Stocks can also be traded using ZoneTraderPro. However, there are some considerations why you would choose to trade the S&P e-mini over an individual stock.

1. Pattern day trading rules do not apply to futures. You can have a $10,000 futures account instead of a $25,000 stock account.
2. The ZoneTraderPro patterns are not as consistently reliable for a stock than the S&P e-mini. There are fewer people controlling a stock, than there are trading the e-mini. The lower number of traders allows market makers to manipulate the stock price. The price of the S&P futures is tied to all 500 stocks in the index. If the futures price deviates significantly from the cash index, index arbitrage will correct the imbalance. When a computerized program stock trade starts, the futures respond and lead the cash index. The individual stocks you may be trading may not be a significant part of the program, and while the S&P could move several points, your stock could stay stagnant.
3. There are no short selling rules when trading futures. You do need an up-tick to short a futures contract.
4. You should consult your tax advisor about possible advantages trading futures over stocks. Specifically, you may want to ask your advisor to explain the 60/40 rule for handling futures profits which is also known as the 1256 straddle rules.
5. You have no way of reliable way of knowing whether the stock you are trading is under accumulation, distribution, or is consolidating. Would you knowingly sell a stock short if you got a sell signal, but that stock was under accumulation by a large hedge fund.
6. Individual stocks are very news dependant and trading can be stopped for news pending.
7. Sometimes large block trades that are not close to the current price will be reported late in the time and sales or there is a bad tick. If you can not filter out these abnormal or bad ticks, ZoneTraderPro will see a bad tick or late reported sale as a legitimate trade, and the ZoneTraderPro formula will calculate it as a good trade. This why it is important to be looking at the futures contract also, and this is explained later in this chapter.

These are just some of the factors you need to consider when you make a decision on whether or not you are going to trade individual stocks or futures.