Well the minimum amount needed to be deposited with MF Global is $5000.
I personally am trading with both FP Markets and IG Markets.
I use FP Markets and the WebIress system for shares and ASX CFD's (not enough liquidity) and for regular OTC CFD's I use IG Markets (I know they arent a DMA provider, but the interface is nice).
Being a first year cadet, I don't have time to swing trade and have to trade for the mid term.
The share market is very volatile at the moment and as with a lot of shares TA & FA are contradicting each other. I just hope BHP can recover from its indecision and that the head and shoulders pattern does not go through.