We offer you a powerful tool that allows you to compare forex brokers by regulation, trading instruments, spreads, leverage, trading platform, deposit amount, payment methods and supported languages.
- 1. AvaTrade ZERO CommissionsMin Deposit$100Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, OptionsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FSC (British Virgin Islands), CBI (Ireland), FSA (Japan), JSDA (Japan), FSA (South Africa)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Ava Trader, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.9 pipsMax Leverage1:400Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AvaTrader is a global online trading platform that was launched in 2006. This company has won a nice series of awards for the excellent services it offers its clients. Its trading instruments are ETF, CFD Stocks, Forex, and Cryptocurrencies.
The European version of the website is operated by AVA Trade EU Ltd. and operates legally under regulation from Central Bank of Ireland. Other regulators are ASIC (Australia), FSA (Japan), JSDA (Japan), FSA (South Africa).
AvaTrade’s platforms are Meta Trader 4, Meta Trader 5, Ava Trader, and Web Trader. Desktop and browser traders can use the in-browser interface, while PC users can download the dedicated software. EU clients will have leverage of 1:30, while non-EU and professional clients will have up to 1:200. The spread is generally quite good but varies depending on the market.
Banking methods are VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, and Web Money. Deposits at AvaTrade start from $100 with all options. There are no fees, and most methods are instant, except MasterCard and VISA (1 day), and Bank Transfer (3-5 days).
- 2. Fusion Markets Lowest Cost Forex BrokerMin Deposit$1Trading InstrumentsForex, Commodities, Stock IndicesRegulatorsASIC (Australia)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, Meta Trader Mobile, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.0 pipsMax Leverage1:500Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsGleneagle Asset Management Limited (ABN 29 103 162 278) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Financial Services Guide (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.
Fusion Markets is a low-cost online trading website that mostly targets traders from the Australian market. The website was launched by the Australian company Gleneagle Asset Management under licenses granted by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).
It provides a vast range of trading instruments, including currency pairs, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Trading on margin is also an option here since Fusion Markets offers CFDs for major equity indices, precious metals, natural gas, and crude oil. Customers can leverage their positions to a maximum ratio of 500:1. Spreads vary based on what you trade and are quite sharp for some of the available instruments.
You can trade at Fusion Markets via MetaTrader 4 or its browser-based version WebTrader. Live accounts can be topped up with Visa or Mastercard. Customers are provided with utmost flexibility since Fusion Market does not have minimum deposit requirements. Traders can start their experience with any initial investment they are comfortable with.
- 3. Global Prime Experience Trading with a #1 Rated Broker*Min Deposit$1Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, Stocks CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Equity Indices CFDs, Precious Metals CFDs, Energies CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MT4 Webtrader, Meta Trader 4 MobileSpreadFrom 0.0 pipsMax Leverage1:100Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsTrading derivatives carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Any Information or advice contained on this website is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Past performance of any product described on this website is not a reliable indication of future performance. You should consider whether you’re part of our target market by reviewing our Target Market Determination, and read our PDS and other legal documents to ensure you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary.
Clients of the brokerage are allowed to leverage their positions of up to 100:1 or 20:1, depending on the license under which they will access Global Prime. Spreads vary between the available account types and what you want to trade, and start from 0.0 pips or 0.9 pips. By the time of writing, MetaTrader 4 is the only trading platform the broker offers, but platforms like TradingView, cTrader, and MetaTrader 5 will be added as well.
The range of accepted banking methods is beyond extensive, and clients of the brokerage can execute their payments using PayPal, Neteller, Mastercard, Visa, bank transfers, Perfect Money, Interac Online, Jeton, and cryptocurrencies. With no minimum deposit requirements and zero extra charges, Global Prime is clearly a broker that deserves the attention of traders.
- 4. XM Group Trade FX with Ultra Low SpreadsMin Deposit$5.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Commodities, Stocks CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Equity Indices CFDs, Precious Metals CFDs, Energies CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), IFSC (Belize), CySEC (Cyprus)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5SpreadFrom 1.80 pipsMax Leverage1:30Deposit MethodsWithdrawal Methods*Deposit and withdrawal methods depend on availability and client’s country of residence.
*Trading bonus are not eligible for clients registered under Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd.
*CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74.07% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please consider our Risk Disclosure.XM Group (XM) is a group of regulated online brokers. Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd was Commission (CySEC 120/10), Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Ltd was established in 2015 and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC 443670) and XM Global Limited was established in 2017 and is regulated by the International Financial Services Commission (000261/158).
This broker has more than 1000 financial instruments which can be traded on the MT4/MT5 platforms and this includes Forex Trading, Stocks CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Equity Indices CFDs, Precious Metals CFDs and Energies CFDs.
Spreads are incredibly tight at XM, starting at zero pips for major currency pairs. More importantly, they are variable which means traders will deal with no trading restrictions during important news releases.
Leverage ranges from 1:1 all the way up to 30:1 (the maximum leverage for clients registered under the EU regulated entity of the Group. Leverage depends on the financial instrument traded), based on what you trade and from where. XM provides a choice from several platforms (MT4, MT5, and WebTrader) and is fully compatible with mobile devices.
Banking is made easy with XM thanks to its nice range of supported payment solutions. You can use bank wire transfers, Skrill, Neteller, credit, and debit cards. Minimum deposits start at as little as $5.
- 5. iQ Option Instant access to investing, anytime and anywhereMin Deposit$10.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, Binary Options, OptionsRegulatorsCySEC (Cyprus)Trading PlatformsWeb Trader, IQ OptionSpreadN/AMax LeverageN/ADeposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IQ Option is a trustworthy online broker, licensed and overseen by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Owned by IQ Option Europe Limited, the website has become the preferred trading destination of millions of investors worldwide. IQ Option is held in high regard by traders around the globe thanks to its rich selection investment instruments, robust trading platform, and excellent support service.
Here you can trade with currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, commodities, and stocks at very competitive spreads. CFD trading is made possible by IQ Option, with maximum leverage restrictions of 30:1 for forex majors, 20:1 for commodities, 5:1 for stocks and ETFs, and 2:1 for cryptos.
Deposits at IQ Option start at $10 only. Customers can conduct instant and commission-free money transfers via trusted methods like Neteller, Mastercard, Skrill, Visa, and bank wire transfers. Novices can build some experience by starting with a free $10,000 demo account.
Traders should feel free to use the in-browser interface although IQ Option also offers downloadable alternatives for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS devices. Trading on the go is made as hassle-free as possible by the broker’s dedicated Android and iOS applications.
- 6. Easy Markets Reinventing Trading Since 2001Min Deposit$100Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, OptionsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Meta Trader Mobile, Web Trader, easyMarketsSpreadFrom 0.9 pipsMax Leverage1:30Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs and Options are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and Options work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
EasyMarkets is a Cyprus-based online broker that was established back in 2001. It provides trading of Forex, CFDs, Shares, Cryptocurrencies, and Commodities and Metals.
The award-winning broker owned by Easy Forex Trading Ltd., although it is not publicly traded, has proven to be reliable. It is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
EasyMarkets uses a nice selection of platforms that will suit both newbies and seasoned traders. You can use MetaTrader 4, Meta Trader Mobile, Web Trader, or easyMarkets. Leverage can reach up to 1:400, while the generous spreads are fixed for every market are a definite advantage.
The minimum deposit is set at $25, and you can make it using VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Skrill, or WebMoney. There are no fees and processing times are instant for bank cards, can take up to 1 day using e-wallets, and bank transfers can take 3-5 business days.
- 7. Pepperstone Low Spreads. Fast ExecutionMin Deposit$200.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, ETFsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), FSMA (Belgium), IFSC (Belize), FSC (British Virgin Islands), BNB (Bulgaria), DFSA (Dubai), DGCX (Dubai), AMF (France), BaFIN (Germany), CMC (Greece), SEBI (India), CoFTRA (Indonesia), CBI (Ireland), LSC (Lithuania), AFM (Netherlands), CNVMR (Romania), FCA (UK), CFTC (USA)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MT4 Webtrader, cTraderSpreadFrom 0.20 pipsMax Leverage1:30Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The vast majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Pepperstone is owned by the Melbourne-based Pepperstone Group Ltd. The company launched back in in 2010 and has risen to become a leading forex trading platform. Your trading instruments with these guys are Forex, Index CFD, Precious Metals, Energies, and Soft Commodities.
The Australia-based Pepperstone Group Ltd. operates under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates Pepperstone Ltd., which is based in Wales and England. There are also another 16 regulators that provide licenses to the trading platform.
Pepperstone has a nice selection of platforms for its clients. The MetaTrader 4, MT4 WebTrader, and cTrader are your options, allowing you to access the necessary tools from mobile devices as well as desktops, Macs, and PCs. You have a decent spread that varies from about 0.20 to 1.04. Leverage offered to retail clients is 1:30, while professional clients can reach up to 1:500.
The minimum deposit is $200, and you can make it using VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Union Pay, and POLi. Pepperstone doesn’t charge transfer fees and all deposits should be with you if not straight away, within a few hours.
- 8. NSBroker 10 years of online tradingMin Deposit$500Trading InstrumentsForex, Stock Indices, CFDs, ETFs, OptionsRegulatorsMFSA (Malta)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5SpreadFrom 0.3 pipsMax Leverage1:100Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Over the past 12 months 74% of NSFX Limited’s retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with NSFX Limited. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
NSBroker takes pride in its untarnished reputation. The broker has been in business for a decade. It obtained licenses from several reputable financial regulators, including the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and others. The broker offers unbeatable spreads and ultra-thin commissions.
Novice traders are provided with the opportunity to set up a demo account. On the broker’s website, investors will find some useful trading guides that will help them enrich their knowledge. You can also set up a retail or a professional account depending on your skill level.
NSBroker features several tradable assets, and more precisely Forex, precious metals, indices, energy carriers, and cryptocurrencies. Investors can trade CDFs on these assets. At NSBroker, you will have the exclusive opportunity to trade on the innovative MetaTrader 5 platform.
Thanks to the easy-to-use interface, investors can easily trade even on the go. Retail customers can benefit from leverage that reaches up to 1:30. For seasoned traders, the broker offers leverage of up to 1:100.
- 9. T4Trade Trade with an Extra BoostMin Deposit$1Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Commodities CFDs, Precious Metals CFDsRegulatorsN/ATrading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.0 pipsMax Leverage1:500Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsOur products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.
T4Trade is a trading platform launched by Tradeco Limited and is licensed and regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority with license number SD029. The award-winning broker seeks to provide its customers with a second-to-none trading experience and to achieve this, gives them a choice from multiple instruments like futures, indices, commodities, Forex, metals, and shares.
T4Trade ensures that its customers will be able to trade with confidence while using leading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and WebTrader. There are also super light, clean, and lightning-fast mobile trading apps that allow traders to gain direct access to all the instruments wherever they go.
T4Trade’s customers can decide between a number of fast and convenient banking methods, including Mastercard, Neteller, Visa, Paysafecard, Maestro, Sofort Banking, Apple Pay, Perfect Money, cryptocurrencies, and bank transfer. There are no extra fees, and with most of the accepted deposit and withdrawal methods, traders will benefit from lightning-fast processing times.
- 10. Markets.com Where the World Comes to TradeMin Deposit$250Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, CFDs, Binary Options, OptionsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (South Africa), FCA (UK)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Markets.comSpreadFrom 0.6 pipsMax Leverage1:200Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Markets.com is a global trading platform that was launched in 2010. Owned by Playtech, this company offers a nice range of tools with low trading fees, no commission, and a top-of-the-range platform that is user-friendly. Trading instruments available are Index Trading, Forex, Commodities, ETFs, Shares, and Cryptocurrencies.
Markets.com is a safe trading platform that is regulated by different entities around the world. Regulators are ASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), FSMA (Belgium), BNB (Bulgaria), FSC (Bulgaria), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Denmark), ACP (France), BaFIN (Germany), CONSOB (Italy), AFM (Netherlands), CNMV (Spain), and FCA (UK).
The platforms you can use for trading with Markets.com are its flagship one – Markets.com, or the standard Market Trader platform. Market Trader 4 and its updated version, Market Trader 5, are the slightly more pricey options than the flagship one. It is available to desktop (Apple, Mac) and mobile (Android, iOS) devices.
Markets.com is available only to smartphone and tablet devices (Android, iOS). It has generous spreads (EUR/USD 0.6), and its leverage reaches up to 1:30 for clients in the EU or UK, and up to 1:300 for those outside of the EU.
Your deposit methods at Markets.com are VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Sofort, and iDeal. Depositing starts at $100 with no fees, and all methods are instant, except for Bank Transfer, which can take up to 24 hours.
- 11. FP Markets Move FirstMin Deposit$100Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Web Trader, IRESS TraderSpreadFrom 0 pipsMax Leverage1:500Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The vast majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FP Markets was launched in 2005 and has since then amassed more than 30 awards for its excellent services. It is owned by First Prudential Markets Ltd. This trading destination is focused primarily, but not only, on the needs of Australian clients. Among its trading tools are Forex, CFD, Equities, Soft and Hard Commodities, Indices, and Cryptocurrencies.
The international operations of FP Markets are regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), enabling the broker to legally provide services to member states of the EU. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) supervise the services provided to Australian clients.
FP Markets provides a nice range of platforms. The MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms are a good choice for both seasoned and beginner traders. You can download and install either or opt for the web-based WebTrader platform. The IressTrader platform is another option with additional advanced functionalities for investors. FP Markets offers generous leverage of 1:500 and is a zero spread company.
Your minimum deposit is $50, and you can use VISA, MasterCard, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, Fasapay, or BPAY. If you are using the MT4/5 platform, there are no fees, while Bank Transfer, Skrill, and Neteller apply a 4% fee for Iress, PayPal applies 2%, and VISA and MasterCard apply 1.6% with AUD or 3.18% international. Processing times are instant for MT4/5 with all methods except BPAY and Bank Transfer (1 day), while Iress accounts will wait up to 24 hours.
- 12. Libertex One of the Best Trading Platforms of the Year 2022Min Deposit$100Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, CFDs, Binary Options, OptionsRegulatorsN/ATrading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, LibertexSpreadN/AMax LeverageN/ADeposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Libertex is a developed international trading platform that was launched in 2015. It is part of the Forex Club group, founded in 1997, and has a lot of valuable experience in the global financial market. Libertex trading instruments are indices, currencies, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, oil and gas, shares, and agriculture.
The company is owned by the Cyprus-based Indication Investments Ltd. The user-friendly Libertex platform enables clients to take advantage of the various trading tools available on both mobile and desktop devices.
Clients can use VISA, MasterCard, Skrill, or Wire Transfer as their banking methods.
- 13. OANDA Solutions for BusinessMin Deposit$1Trading InstrumentsForex, Commodities, Bonds, Commodities CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FSC (British Virgin Islands), IIROC (Canada), FFA (Japan), MAS (Singapore), FCA (UK), NFA (USA), CFTC (USA)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5SpreadFrom 0.6 pipsMax Leverage1:200Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail clients trading CFDs lose money. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
OANDA is known for offering different currency-related services, providing traders with all types of tools and information to successfully trade the Forex and CFD markets. Members of the broker can trade, use a currency converted, make Forex payments, or access Forex data services.
Members of OANDA can choose between opening a standard or premium account and dive into the type of trading they prefer. The broker offers various CFD and spread betting options, allowing traders to choose from a myriad of assets. Along with Forex trading, OANDA also offers its customers to trade indices, metals, bonds, and commodities.
To make trading even more accessible, OANDA provides a fully automated trade platform that can be easily accessed via your desktop or mobile device. The broker also enables trading via the MetaTrader 4 platform, which offers customizable layouts to make one’s trading suitable to their taste.
With tight spreads and trades executed in 0.012 seconds, OANDA is one of the best brokers for traders from different parts of the world. Even if you are new to trading, you can open a demo account and learn how to use OANDA’s trading platforms without risking any of your real money. Whenever you are ready to open a live account, you will be able to choose from several convenient options that will allow you to quickly top up your trading account or request withdrawals.
- 14. InstaForex Instant Forex Trading!Min Deposit$1Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, CFDsRegulatorsCySEC (Cyprus)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 4 Multi Terminal, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.8 pipsMax Leverage1:500Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71.71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
InstaForex is a global broker with more than 12 years of experience in the field. The company provides its customers with Forex and CFD trading using a nice array of trading instruments. Those tools include Forex, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, and Precious Metals and Oils.
Instant Trading Ltd. is the owner of the broker. The trading company is licensed by the Financial Services Commission (British Virgin Islands). The other regulator of InstaForex is the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission that allows the company to legally provide services to clients residing in the EU.
InstaForex platforms are MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 4 Multi Terminal, and Web Trader. The nice selection of options allows clients to access all the perks of the broker from mobile devices, PCs, Macs, and desktops. Spreads at InstaForex are 0.8, while leverage is set at up to 1:00.
Banking methods are VISA, MasterCard, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, Sofort, and Bitcoin. The minimum deposit is set at $1 for all methods except bank transfer, which is $300. There are no fees and all processing times are up to 24 hours.
- 15. IronFX The Global Leader in Online TradingMin Deposit$250Trading InstrumentsForex, Commodities, Stock Indices, CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, Meta Trader Mobile, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.0 pipsMax Leverage1:500Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69.54% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Iron FX is a Forex and CDF broker based in Cyprus. Since its inception in 2010, it has amassed a client base of over 1.2mn retail clients. It has over 200 different trading tools and works in Forex, Indices, Spot Metal, Commodity Features, and Shares trading markets.
The company is owned by Notesco Ltd. and operates in a number of jurisdictions. Its regulators are CySEC, ASIC, and FCA, enabling it to work with EU countries, Australia, and the UK.
Its platforms are MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader Mobile, and WebTrader. The user-friendly platforms allow for clients using mobile devices, PCs, Macs, and desktops. IronFX is a zero spread company with flexible leverage allowing up to 1:1000.
Depositing with IronFX has no fees, and your minimum deposit is set at $250. Your banking options are VISA, MasterCard, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, Union Pay, and Fasapay. All processing times are instant, apart from Bank Transfer, which can take up to 3 business days.
- 16. eToroMin Deposit$50 (starts from)Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, CFDs, ETFsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK)Trading PlatformsWeb Trader, eToroSpreadFrom 3.00 pipsMax Leverage1:30Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Since its inception in 2007, eToro has become a widely-known international trading platform. Trading instruments provided by the platform are Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Indices and, ETFs.
The company is represented by eToro Europe Ltd. for operating in the EU. It runs under the regulations of CySEC. For UK clients, eToro operates legally under a license from the FCA. The other regulators are ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), and FSAS (Seychelles).
Your trading platforms for eToro are Web Trader and eToro. eToro is accessible from your browser, while Web Trader has downloadable software for using on your PC. Your leverage at eToro depends on how much you are investing, and the risk level you are prepared to take. Spreads vary from 2.00 to 5.00, depending on the markets.
Banking methods are VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, JCB, Diners Club International, Wire Transfer, Western Union, and giropay. Your minimum deposit starts from $50 and varies across countries, and there are no fees. All processing times are 1 business day.
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs, only real Cryptocurrencies are available for US users.
- 17. Forex.com Trade with thе Trading SpecialistMin Deposit$100Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, ETFsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), IIROC (Canada), SFC (Hong Kong), FSA (Japan), MAS (Singapore), FCA (UK), NFA (USA), CFTC (USA)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, FOREXTrader PRO, Web TraderSpreadFrom 1.60 pipsMax Leverage1:50Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
*The products and services available to you at FOREX.com will depend on your location, and on which of its regulated entities holds your account. This also includes maximum leverage and deposit/withdrawal methods.Forex.com is an international forex and CFD trading broker that launched back in 2001. It is owned by StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX). The trading instruments it provides to its clients are Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, and Cryptocurrencies.
The products and services available to you at FOREX.com will depend on your location, and on which of its regulated entities holds your account. This also includes maximum leverage and deposit/withdrawal methods.
While the company is based in the US, it has several subsidiaries that are regulated by top-tier regulators. It operates under the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the US’ Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Japanese Financial Services Authority, and SFC (Hong Kong).
The nice range of platforms includes the industry-standard MetaTrader 4. You will also be able to use FOREXTraderPRO or WebTrader. Forex.com offers average spreads, ranging between 1.9 and 0.84 pips, while the leverage can go up to 1:50.
Payment methods are VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Discover, Diners Club International, American Express, or Wire Transfer. The minimum deposit is $100 with no fees and 3 days of processing time.
- 18. City Index Serious about trading success? So are we.Min Deposit$100Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Stock IndicesRegulatorsFCA (UK)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, Web Trader, AT ProSpreadFrom 0.5 pipsMax Leverage1:30Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
City Index, founded back in 1983, is a leading platform with more than 35 years of experience in the trading field. The company was acquired by GAIN Capital in 2014 for $118bn. Trading tools you have access to with City Index are Forex, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Shares, and Other Trading Markets.
The broker operates under the regulations of the UK Financial Conduct Authority. It also services Australian clients under the observation of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Another license City Index has acquired is from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
City Index has a nice range of trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4. Your other options are WebTrader and AT Pro. The competitive spreads start at 0.5 pips, while they may reach 0.9 for major pairs. Leverage in Singapore is set at 1:50, while Australian and UK clients have maximum leverage of 1:200.
VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, and Bank Transfer deposits start at $100 with instant processing times. PayPal allows for deposits of as little as $10, although the processing time reaches 2 business days. There are no transaction fees applied to your deposits.
- 19. FBS The best customer experienceMin Deposit$1.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), FSC (British Virgin Islands), BNB (Bulgaria), FSA (Denmark), DFSA (Dubai), FSA (Estonia), BaFIN (Germany), HFSA (Hungary), CoFTRA (Indonesia)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.00 pipsMax Leverage1:3000Deposit MethodsWithdrawal Methods76% of retail accounts lose money when trading ᏟᖴᎠs with this provider. ᏟᖴᎠ's are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how ᏟᖴᎠ's work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Launched in 2009, FBS is an online broker that dabbles in forex trading available to over 120 countries. The trading tools its customers have access to are Forex, CFD, and Precious Metals.
The broker is owned by FBS Markets Inc, a company based in Belize. The International Financial Services Commission of Belize is the main regulatory body but has another 10 regulators that have authorized its operation.
There are two available platforms for engaging in trades with the company – MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both are available to mobile devices, PCs, desktops, and Macs. FBS is the only broker that offers leverage of up to 1:3000, while there are 3 types of spreads (zero spread, floating spreads, and fixed spreads) depending on the type of account you open.
Your minimum deposit is $1, and you can make payments using VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, or Wire Transfer. None of the methods come with fees and all processing times are instant, except Wire Transfer, which may take 3-4 business days.
- 20. Moneta Markets Experience the Future of Online TradingMin Deposit$50Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, ETFsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FSA (South Africa)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ZuluTradeSpreadFrom 0.1 pipsMax Leverage1:1000Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Trading derivatives is risky. It isn't suitable for everyone; you could lose substantially more than your initial investment.
With a monthly trading volume of over $100 million and over 70,000 clients, Moneta Markets is a leading brokerage that presents traders from a wide array of countries with premium-quality services. The award-winning brokerage operates legally under licenses issued by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa and the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles.
With over a thousand tradable instruments, including bonds, exchange-traded funds, forex currency pairs, stocks, commodities, and stock indices, Moneta Markets clearly seeks to accommodate traders with all styles.
Depending on the account type traders will settle on, they will benefit from spreads from 0.0 pips. Based on the chosen account type, the maximum leverage clients will have will be 1:500 or 1:1,000.
Clients of the broker will have the opportunity to execute their trades using several platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ZuluTrader, and Pro Trader. Traders who create an account at Moneta Trade will also be given access to trading calculators, economic calendars, and daily market updates.
- 21. Admiral Markets Trading for EveryoneMin Deposit$10.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, Binary Options, OptionsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), IFSC (Belize), FSC (British Virgin Islands), FSC (Bulgaria), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Denmark), FSA (Estonia), ACP (France), AMF (France), BaFIN (Germany), CONSOB (Italy), FSC (Jamaica)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Web TraderSpreadFrom 0.50 pipsMax Leverage1:500Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Admiral Markets is a reliable broker that launched in 2001. It provides its services in a range of jurisdictions, including the UK, Cyprus, and Australia. The trading instruments you can use with this company are Forex and Cryptocurrencies, ETF, Commodities, Shares, Bonds, and Index.
The broker is owned by Admiral Markets Group AS has a wide spectrum of regulators, allowing it to operate internationally. Some of the regulators include the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, the Estonia Financial Supervision Authority, and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, among others.
Admiral Markets uses the popular MetaTrader platforms that are MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and Web Trader. Clients enjoy competitive spread varying from 0.50 to 1.10 pips, while the leverage can reach 1:30 for retail customers and 1:500 for seasoned traders.
Deposits can be made from $10 up to as much as $10,000 with VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, iDeal, Klarna, Przelewy, SafetyPay, or iBank. All methods are instantaneous except for MasterCard which can take up to 3 business days. Fees are 0.9% when using Skrill or Neteller. All other methods don’t have fees.
- 22. Dukascopy Bank SA Swiss Forex BankMin Deposit$5000.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), FSMA (Belgium), IFSC (Belize), FSC (British Virgin Islands), BNB (Bulgaria), FSA (Denmark), DFSA (Dubai), FSA (Estonia), FSC (Mauritius), AFM (Netherlands), FINMA (Switzerland)Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, JForex, SwissFX WebSpreadFrom 0.40 pipsMax Leverage1:100Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 78.19% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Dukascopy is a foreign exchange broker divided into two main organizations – Dukascopy Europe and Dukascopy Bank SA. This trading broker allows direct access to the Swiss Foreign Exchange Marketplace, the market with the largest pool of ECN spot forex liquidity available for banks, hedge funds, other institutions and professional traders.
The company is permitted to operate in a wide range of jurisdictions by a variety of top-tier regulators. Some of those include the Australian Securities and Exchange Commission, the Estonia Financial Services Authority, the Financial Security Commission (British Virgin Islands), and many others.
Dukascopy uses 3 different platforms to hold its operations – MetaTrader 4, SwissFX Web, and JForex. This allows for trading from all sorts of mobile devices, desktops, PCs, and Macs. Generous spreads vary from 0.40 to 1.20 pips, while leverage reaches up to 1:200.
The minimum deposit for trading is $100 with Dukascopy Europe and $5,000 with Dukascopy SA. Deposits can be made with VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Wire Transfer, Skrill, and Neteller. Fees are 1.2% with all methods except Neteller (2.5%), while your processing times are 1-2 days.
- 23. Plus500 World's Trading MachineMin Deposit$100.0000Trading InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Commodities, Stock Indices, Bonds, CFDs, Binary Options, ETFs, OptionsRegulatorsASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), IFSC (Belize), FSC (British Virgin Islands), BNB (Bulgaria), FSC (Bulgaria), IIROC (Canada), CySEC (Cyprus), CNB (Czech Republic), FSA (Denmark), DFSA (Dubai), DGCX (Dubai), FSA (Estonia), CECEI (France), ACP (France), AMF (France), BaFIN (Germany), CMC (Greece), SFC (Hong Kong), HFSA (Hungary), SEBI (India), CoFTRA (Indonesia), CBI (Ireland), CONSOB (Italy), FSC (Jamaica), FCA (UK)Trading PlatformsPlus500 Software, Plus500 WebTrader, Plus500 MobileSpreadFrom 2.00 pipsMax Leverage1:50Deposit MethodsWithdrawal MethodsCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Plus500 was launched back in 2008. This streamlined broker offers a wide range of over 2,000 trading instruments, including Forex, Soft and Hard Trading, and Options and ETFs. It enables clients to trade in markets with tight spreads and zero commissions globally.
The trading company has numerous subsidiaries around the world, enabling it to operate on an international scale. Some of the key regulators include the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and many others.
Plus500 has a great platform for its customers that allows them to trade from their mobile devices, desktops, PCs, and Macs. The platforms are Plus500 Software, Plus500 WebTrader, and Plus500 Mobile. Spreads vary on the markets but generally tend to be quite generous. Leverage goes up to 1:30 for retail accounts while it reaches 1:300 for professional clients.
Your minimum deposit with Plus500 is $100 and can be made using a wide selection of financial operators. Those include the most popular credit/debit cards, e-wallets, online banking, mobile banking, and bank transfer. There are no deposit fees, and the processing time is 1-3 days for all methods.
Related Topics
What Is Forex?
The place where currencies are traded is called “foreign exchange market”. Currencies are important to most people around the world because the money has to be exchanged in order to conduct the foreign business and trade. For instance, if you are currently living in the United States and you want to go to Italy and buy something, you will have to pay for the stock in euros (EUR). This means that you will have to give a certain amount of dollars in order to receive their equivalent value of euros.
The primary reason why the forex market is the largest and most liquid financial market in the world is because of the need of currency exchange. It is bigger in size than most of the stock market and generates a value of approximately $2000 billion on daily basis. According to the latest information released by Bank for International Settlements the market has increased its profits and goes as high as 5$ trillion per day.
One of the most unique aspects of international market is the fact there is no central marketplace for the foreign exchange. This means you can trade from anywhere. Plus the currency trading is conducted electronically, or as you can also see it – over-the-counter. This means that all transactions occur via computer networks used by traders located all over the world. Another advantage of the market is it is open 24/7, 5 days a week. The biggest financial centers worldwide are Tokyo, New York, Zurich, Hong Kong, Paris, Sydney, Singapore. So, as the logic goes, when the trading day in USA ends, the market opens in Hong Kong and Tokyo – this is why the forex market is extremely active – prices are changing constantly.
The market of currencies is open, just like the market of bonds, stocks, cars, computers and many other services and goods. The value of the currency fluctuates depending on the demand and supply.
- An increase or a decrease of the supply/demand for a currency can cause the value of a certain currency to fall.
- A decrease or a decrease of the supply/demand for a currency can cause the value of a certain currency to rise.
One of the biggest benefit of forex trading is you can buy/sell any currency pair at any time. For instance, if you think that the Eurozone is going to break apart, you can sell EUR and buy USD. On the contrary, if you think that the Eurozone is going to do just fine, you can sell USD and buy EUR. It all comes to your senses.
In the traditional sense, there is no such thing as luck in the forex market. It is all up to you – you are the one that will decide whether or not you just buy/sell or just watch – the market is always on the move.
How to trade currencies and the major currency pairs?
The forex exchange market is one of the fast-paced and most exciting markets all over the globe. It is the domain of large financial corporations, institutions, hedge funds, central banks and really wealthy people. All this has been taken to a whole new level with the help of internet, and now it is possible for every average investor to sell or buy currencies easily just by making a few mouse clicks.
The daily fluctuations are usually really small because most of the currency pairs are moving less than a cent on a daily basis. This means that the change is usually less than 1% and due to this fact the foreign exchange is known as one of the least volatile financial markets. If you are more of a risky player, then you can rely on big leverages in order to increase the value of your potential wins. In the sphere of forex market, leverage can go as high as 250;1. Remember – the higher the leverage – the bigger the risk. Due to the 24/5 trading and liquidity of the market, forex brokers were able to make the enormous leverage value a standard for this industry.
The rapid growth of the market has been helped by great liquidity and availability of big leverage. Positions can be held for moths or opened/closed within minutes. The price of the currencies is based on considerations of demand and supply, and is impossible to be easily manipulated because of the size of the market – it will just not allow this to happen. The foreign exchange market provides plenty of opportunities for investors, but if you want to be really good at what you do, you have to know the basics behind currency movements.
The goal of the next few lines is to provide a foundation for traders or investors who are new to those markets. Keep reading and you will learn a couple of things regarding the basics of the exchange rates and the market itself.
You can find tens of different currencies used for trade all over the world, but only few of them are handful when it comes to forex trading. In this market only the most politically/economically stable and liquid currencies are demanded. As you can guess, due to the strength of the US economy, the American dollar is the most traded currency all over the world.
Naturally, the 8 most traded currencies (no specific order) are the US dollar (USD), the Swiss franc (CHF), the New Zealand dollar (NZD), the British pound(GBP), the euro (EUR), the Japanese yen (JPY), the Canadian dollar (CAD) and the Australian dollar (AUD).
Currencies must be traded in pairs and this is why there are 18 pairs that can be derived from the above mentioned. They have been classified as a result of their liquidity. Here is the list of the major currency pairs;
- USD/CAD EUR/JPY
- EUR/USD EUR/CHF
- USD/CHF EUR/GBP
- GBP/USD AUD/CAD
- NZD/USD GBP/CHF
- AUD/USD GBP/JPY
- USD/JPY CHF/JPY
- EUR/CAD AUD/JPY
- EUR/AUD AUD/NZD
How to trade stocks and most popular ones?
There are many different strategies when it comes to trading of stocks, but before we proceed and let you know about them, there are also certain specific things you need to know about stocks. Many brokerages allow online trading and this can be considered as one of the biggest advantages of trading with stocks – every person start right now. However, trading with stocks is a highly risky investment, especially if you don’t know the basics.
High Liquidity and Volatility
Speaking of financial markets, liquidity refers to the ease with which a security is obtained, as well as the degree by which the price of the security is affected due to its trading. Naturally, stocks that are considered to be more liquid are easier to be traded and in many cases have bigger discounts than other stocks. On the other hand, the equity offered by some corporations with higher capitalization is more liquid than those offered by lower market caps.
Stocks that have more volatility are better for day trading strategies. Here is a brief example – any stock can be volatile if the corporation which is issuing it is experiencing more variance in its cash flows. Therefore, markets will be ready for the changes, so in order to be successful trader you have to watch the market closely.
The volume of the traded stock represents how many times a stock is being sold and bought in a given time period. Depending on the strategy, this time period can represent day or week. Naturally, more volume indicates interest in the stock and whether the interest has positive or negative impact. Often, an increase of the volume of the stock shows that the price movement is about to transpire. One really useful index that you can take advantage of is the Trade Volume Index – it will help you determine whether or not to buy a stock by measuring the money flow in and out of the asset.
The financial services corporations provide different stocks. For instance, Bank of America is one of the most preferred stocks for trading. It is a leading candidate for day trading strategies despite the fact that the banking systems are often viewed with great skepticism.
Forex Brokers and Regulations by Country
All trading activities conducted on British soil are supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Financial Services Act of 2012. This is an independent entity that oversees the conduct of over 58,000 businesses from the UK financial industry. All FCA-licensed brokerages are required to provide negative balance protection, standardized risk warnings, and leverage that ranges from 30:1 to 2:1 based on the underlying assets’ volatility.
Forex trading in the United States falls under the scope of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the National Futures Association. To legally operate on the US market, brokers must register with the NFA and the CFTC. The sector is currently regulated under the Dodd-Frank Act introduced by President Barack Obama back in 2010. US citizens cannot trade with CFDs since they are illegal in the country.
Trading on the foreign exchange markets is completely legal on Canadian soil. The forex market is overseen on a national level by the local Investment Industry Regulatory Organization (IIRO). Canadians can trade currency pairs on margin but the regulator restricts the maximum allowed leverage to 50:1 for majors.
Australia is home to one of the most highly developed financial markets in the entire world. The foreign exchange market is under the superintendence of the well-known Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The regulatory agency was established in the summer of 1998 and functions under the provisions of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act of 2001. As of March 2021, ASIC allows maximum leverage of 30:1 for retail accounts.
Irish citizens who seek to invest in the forex markets can have their peace of mind where legalities are concerned. Such activities are legal in the country and fall under the regulatory scope of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (CBFSAI). Head over to the official CBFSAI website for a full list of all locally approved and overseen forex brokerages.
The financial markets on Dutch soil, foreign exchange included, are regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Created in the spring of 2002, AFM succeeded the previous financial regulator, the Securities Board of the Netherlands. The AFM is an independent administrative entity although it is still responsible to the Ministry of Finance.
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) regulates forex dealing in South Africa under a set of laws outlined by the South African Reserves Bank. South African citizens are not prosecuted by the local authorities for trading with offshore-licensed brokerages. Nevertheless, going for an FSCA-regulated broker is still considered the better option. The local watchdog might assist you in the occasion of misconduct.
Trading with currency pairs is extremely popular with Swiss nationals. They can trade forex safely at brokerages that have received authorization from the Financial Market Supervisory Authority of Switzerland (FINMA). The latter was founded back in 2009 and reports directly to the government of Switzerland. Brokers regulated by ESMA can also legally service Swiss forex traders.
Retail forex trading in France is subject to the strict regulatory policies of the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers, or AMF. Forex trading is legal on French territory but the same cannot be said about advertising it. The AMF prohibited digital advertisements of forex and binary options, especially by brokerages that allow for leverage greater than 20:1.
As is the case in many member states of the EU, foreign exchange trading in Germany is overseen both on a national and EU level. Germany’s national regulator is the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) but the local market is also subject to the rules outlined in the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. MiFID prohibits EU-licensed brokerages from offering leverage of over 30:1 to German retail traders.
The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA), called Finanstilsynet by the locals, is mandated with the supervision of foreign exchange trading on the territory of Denmark. Brokerages that service the Danish market are also subjected to the oversight of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Both DFSA and ESMA are known for their unwavering strictness toward the forex brokers they regulate.
Foreign exchange trading is fully legal and safe for Swedish nationals. The financial markets in the Nordic country are subject to the regulations of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, or Finansinspektionen. Founded in 1991, this financial regulator issues permits to brokers operating on Swedish soil. Swedes can also trade on websites licensed by CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) as Sweden is part of the European Union.
The oversight of forex brokers in Mexico, including those offering contracts for difference, is a responsibility of the Central Bank of Mexico (Banxico). Nonetheless, Mexican investors are in no way hindered from trading currency pairs on offshore websites that operate with licenses, issued by foreign regulatory authorities.
In the UAE, all non-banking financial operations, including trading with currency pairs and contracts for difference, is a mandate of the local Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). To offer their services in the country, forex brokers must have registered offices in the mainland part of the UAE or in one of the two financial free zones, i.e. Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) or the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).
Forex in China is regulated by the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange (est. 1978), or SAFE. Its parent agency is the People’s Bank of China. The entity is tasked with multiple responsibilities, including the drafting of legislation and policies regarding the foreign exchange administration system.
It was an independent body until the late 1990s when it fell under the umbrella of the Chinese government. According to SAFE, the provision and participation in forex margin trading via unauthorized brokers are in violation of local laws. Brokerages licensed in Hong Kong cannot legally service customers from mainland China.
Thai traders can have their peace of mind knowing foreign exchange trading is completely legal in Thailand. Their best interests are protected by two entities tasked with the regulation of the financial markets, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). BOT relaxed its policies regarding forex in the fall of 2019 to facilitate the outflow of capital and strengthen the local currency, the THB.
The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) is the regulatory entity mandated with the supervision of the financial markets in the country. Traders of Kuwaiti descent typically profess the Muslim faith so Kuwait-friendly brokerages give them the opportunity to set up swap-free accounts. These function in full compliance with the Shariah principles which prohibit paying and receiving interest.
Indonesians can invest in the forex markets legally and securely. This sector of the financial industry is regulated locally by the Commodity and Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (BAPPEBTI). The agency began operations in 2005 under the supervision of the local Ministry of Finance. BAPPEBTI-licensed brokers tend to focus on the provision of commodity and futures contracts trading but some of them also cater to the increasing demand for foreign exchange trading.
Forex brokers in Norway are regulated by the Financial Supervisory Authority, locally known as Finanstilsynet. The agency was established in 1986 after the merger of the Norwegian Insurance Council, the Broker Control Agency, and the Bank Inspection Agency. The main objectives of Finanstilsynet are ensuring the stability of the local financial markets and protecting the funds of local investors.
Foreign exchange trading in Greece is legal and regulated by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC). This regulatory entity was founded after the passage of Law 1969/91, which was later amended by Greek Law 23224/1995. HCMC is part of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) since Greece is a member of the European Union. The EU membership enables Greek nationals to confidently trade with brokers licensed in other member states as well.
The Russian forex market is supervised by the Financial Market Relations Regulation Center (FMRRC). Under the new regulations that came into effect in 2019, forex brokers who seek to operate legally in Russia are required to gain membership in the Association of Forex Dealers (AFD), a self-regulating organization approved by the Central Bank of Russia.
Although Oman is normally associated with hard commodities like crude oil and gold, an increasing number of locals prefer to take advantage of investing in the forex markets. Foreign exchange trading is legal in Oman, with many brokers servicing the local market via licenses issued in other jurisdictions like Cyprus. Omanis can trade with confidence via interest-free Islamic accounts that operate in full compliance with the Shariah laws.
Romania was granted EU membership in 2007 and therefore falls under the scope of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). Romanian traders enjoy access to a wealth of regulated brokerages, many of whom are licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Non-bank financial entities operating in the country are locally overseen by the Romanian Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiara (ASF).
Foreign exchange traders based in Japan should look for brokers licensed by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). This governmental entity is part of the Ministry of Finance and has the mandate to regulate all financial operations in the country, including securities, exchanges, and banking. The maximum leverage brokers are allowed to offer to Japanese customers should not exceed 25:1 in line with the local regulatory requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil is responsible for the supervision of all stock and over-the-counter (OTC) trading activities, including the foreign exchange market. The Commission strives to ensure fair trading practices and protects local investors from fraud and manipulation. Local laws generally prohibit contracts for difference (CFDs) although many offshore-licensed brokers do offer leveraged forex trading to Brazilian customers.
The entity that governs the financial markets on Turkish soil is the Capital Markets Board of Turkey (CMB), abbreviated as CMB. Brokers operating in the country are faced with some of the toughest regulatory policies in the whole of Europe. Under the regulatory changes of 2017, the maximum allowed leverage was cut down to 10:1 while minimum deposits surged to ₺50,000, a very high amount for most retail traders. The websites of many unauthorized offshore brokers are blocked by the Turkish government.
Polish foreign exchange brokers are licensed and supervised by Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego, or the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (PFSA), established back in 2006. The Polish regulator opts to ignore ESMA’s maximum leverage recommendation of 30:1. Instead, it permits brokers operating on the local market to offer Polish traders leverage of up to 100:1. However, this is an option only for the so-called “experienced retail customers”.
Malaysian traders have a choice from a range of well-regulated forex sites that provide a safe trading experience. The country has a well-developed financial industry that is controlled and supervised by the Securities Commission of Malaysia (SCM). With that said, foreign exchange brokerages registered in the island territory of Labuan are subject to the regulations of the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA).
Foreign exchange brokers in Qatar are regulated by the Qatari Financial Markets Authority, abbreviated as QFMA. The country has very lenient regulatory policies where offshore brokers are concerned. This enables Qatari traders to invest in foreign-licensed brokerages without legal repercussions. Most websites that accept trades from the country offer accounts compliant with the Shariah principles.
The Financial Market Authority is in charge of the regulations of the New Zealand forex markets. The regulator focuses on ensuring high levels of consumer protection for all local forex traders. The FMA maintains an online registry where New Zealanders can check whether or not a given broker holds a local permit. The Authority advises local traders to refrain from using the services of overseas brokers although New Zealanders are not legally prosecuted for trading on such websites.
Brokers that cater to the Israeli market must operate in line with the requirements of the Israel Securities Authority. In 2015, ISA released a tighter set of rules that imposed restrictions on the maximum leverage Israelis can use. Margin trading is now possible with leverage of no more than 100:1 for currency pairs and gold. Stock indices of developed countries carry leverage restrictions of 40:1 while high-risk instruments are restricted to 20:1.
The National Commission for Companies and Stock Exchange (CONSOB) is mandated with the supervision of the forex markets in Italy. CONSOB is tough on brokers that operate without authorization or violate its regulatory policies. The regulator is known to block the websites of offshore brokers that target the local market without local licenses. As of the summer of 2019, CONSOB has blocked over 220 such websites.
The financial markets in Argentina are under the oversight of several entities, and more specifically of the Central Bank of Argentina, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the National Securities Commission. Unfortunately, there are no locally authorized forex brokerages for the time being. In fact, Argentinian authorities forbid offering foreign exchange trading to locals. Trading with offshore brokers is very tough due to restrictions imposed on the transfer of funds outside the country.
Singapore authorities embrace and welcome trading activities while at the same time being incredibly strict when it comes to the prevention of corruption and shady practices. The entire financial industry in the country, including forex trading, is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). According to the regulator, Singapore is the biggest forex center in the Asia Pacific region. In 2019, MAS put forward a new set of regulatory rules that decreased the maximum retail leverage from 50:1 to 20:1.
Foreign exchange trading in India is regulated under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999. The Reserve Bank of India is the highest financial regulatory authority in the country although the forex markets are also overseen by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. SEBI is mandated with the supervision of the activities of both brokerages and individual traders to preserve the probity and transparency of the local market.
Trading commodities and their specifications
Commodities markets have always had enormous economic impact on people and nations. Actually, it is known that the commodity trades were overspread in the past. It is suggested that rice futures may have been traded way back in China. And of course, when a certain commodity was short , even wars were sparked . On the other hand, oversupply can mean only one thing – devaluation of the prices of the commodity.
There are 4 major categories of commodities and they include;
Energy (heating oil, including crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, natural gas)
Metals (including silver, gold, copper and platinum)
Livestock and Meat (pork bellies, lean hogs, feeder cattle , live cattle)
Agricultural (rice, cotton, sugar, corn, soybeans, wheat, cocoa, coffee)
Investment Characteristics
Exchange commodity trading may require agreed-upon standards, meaning that trades can be executed without visual inspection. Naturally, you don’t want to buy 100 units of “something” only to find out that this something is not good, or discover that the money you paid is unacceptable for such quality.
There are many other ways in which investing and trading in commodities can be very different from the traditional securities as bonds and stocks. The technological advances and global economic development and market demands for commodities have a very strong influence on the prices of staples like copper, corn, sugar, oil, aluminum.
The Gold Standard
Keep in mind that direct investment in specific commodities can be very risky. However, there are some plays that are more sensible and popular in nature. Bearish or volatile markets usually find investors trying to transfer money to precious metals like silver which are known as dependable with conveyable value. On the other hand, investors losing money in this market can create good returns by trading precious metals, which can be used as a hedge against high inflation.
Energizing the Market
Energy plays are also really important when it comes to commodities. The reduced oil outputs in global aspect can lead to upward prices of the oil. However, according to the optimistic outlooks the price of the oil should be tempered with some considerations. The economic changes made by OPEC, and the technological advance aim to supplant crude oil, as the main source of energy, so this might be a good idea to invest in.
Exchanges
Since commodities are playing extremely significant and sometimes critical role in the global economic markets and in our lives, there are multitudes of futures and commodity exchanges in global aspect. Each of the exchanges carries a few commodities, or, in other cases, is specialized in a single commodity. For example, the US Futures exchange holds only energy commodities. The most popular exchanges include CME Group, Intercontinental Exchange, Kansas City Board of Trade, London Metal Exchange
Choosing the best forex broker
According to one of the latest researches, the foreign exchange market accounts approximately $4 trillion on daily basis – this makes it the largest financial market in global aspect. And since there is no central marketplace for the forex market, traders are free to select a forex broker that will help them with the trading activity. However, many people will face the dilemma what kind of broker to choose and how to be sure that the one he has chosen is reliable. Choosing the proper one requires sifting through a big number of internet advertisements. Here are some of the things you need to take care of;
Regulatory Compliance
Every reputable forex broker in the US will be a honorable member of NFA (National Futures Association) and will be registered with the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission). The first abbreviation – NFA – is self-regulatory and industry-wide organization for the futures industry in the USA. It develops and creates programs, rules and services which have one aim – to protect the integrity of the traders, investors and market and to help members. The second abbreviation – CFTC represents an independent government agency that regulates the commodity options and futures markets. Its main mission is to protect the market users from fraud.
Leverage and Margin
Forex traders have access to diversity of leverage amounts that depend on the broker – the numbers start from 50;1 and can go as high as 250;1. Basically the leverage is a loan extended to margin account holders by the brokers. If this sounds too complicated to you, here is a practical example – if you are using 50;1 leverage and you have 2000$ in your account, then this means you can hold a position that is valued at 100 000$. Leverage works in favor of the trader, but you have to be careful because it can destroy you as fast as it gets you winning.
Commissions and Spreads
Every broker has to win a certain amount of money for the services he offers. This happens via spreads and commissions. Every broker that uses commissions may charge a certain percentage of the spread. However, there are lots of brokers advertising that they do not any commissions and this is why they are making their money with bigger spreads. For instance, the spread could be fixed to 3 pips (what pip represent is the minimum unit of price change in the forex market), or the spread could be variable and tied to the volatility of the market.
Initial Deposit
Good thing is most forex accounts can be funded with really small sums, so it doesn’t take you to be a millionaire to start with this activity. As a matter of fact all you need is 50$ (this depends on the broker, every broker has declared a minimum starting sum). With strong helper like leverage, the buying power of your money will be multiplied and you will be able to make greater bids – this is why forex trading is so attractive – so take care of the initial deposit.
Customer Service
The customer service is also something that you should not underestimate. Make sure that the broker you choose has a good 24/7 support, because if problems occur during trading, the first thing you would want to do is to call the customer service.
Trading Platform
Last but not least – take care of the trading platform. Most of the platforms these days are really user-friendly, so it will not take you lots of time to master it and use all tools effectively. However, the forex platform vary in style and functionality so it might be a good idea to try at least 2-3 until you find the best that meet you needs.