The forex market has no central marketplace. Traders must choose a broker to help them conduct their trades, but this is no easy task. There is a large and growing number of forex brokers and choosing the right one can be overwhelming.
The following are five essentials to look for when choosing a broker in today’s competitive forex marketplace.
Regulatory compliance
A reputable forex broker will be a member of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) with an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL).
The regulatory authority ensures that members meet all their regulatory responsibilities.
To check if a broker is regulated by the ASIC:
-
Determine the broker AFSL number typically found on the broker’s “About Us” page or at the bottom of each web page.
-
Validate the license number on the ASIC website.
Trading Platform
A good trading platform must be stable and user-friendly. Most brokers will give you a demo account to try out their trading platform. Some things to look for include:
-
A variety of fundamental and/or technical charting and analysis tools.
-
The ease of entering and exiting trades. Are there clear ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ buttons?
-
The availability of Metatrader4 (MT4), a highly customisable platform that was specifically built for forex trading. MT4 is the standard platform for forex traders of all levels.
-
The availability of elements that enhance trading. These include customisation options, automated trading options, web-based and mobile trading, trading alerts and strategy builders.
Account details
Each brokerage has its unique offerings. You should determine the ones that fulfil your trading needs.
Commissions and spreads
Each time you enter a trade you have to pay either a spread or a commission. You need to choose a broker that offers affordable rates without sacrificing reliability.
Note: Wider spreads can make it harder to make a profit. A broker offering tighter spreads is ideal.
Leverage
Brokers have a variety of leverage amounts such as 50:1 or 500:1. Leverage is the borrowed capital extended to traders by brokers. For instance, you can hold a $30,000 position with a $1,000 account size using 30:1 leverage. You must select a broker offering leverage that suits your risk appetite.
Initial deposit
Find a broker that aligns with how much you are willing to initially deposit. Many brokers offer different account types with varying initial deposit requirements.
Currency pairs on offer
Most brokers offer a big selection of forex pairs but it’s important to select one offering the pairs you want to trade.
Execution speed
It’s mandatory to choose a broker with fast execution speeds that allow you to trade at your desired price. Low latency may be a significant contributor to your success in the market.
Ease of deposits and withdrawals
Each broker has specific funding and withdrawal policies. Choose a broker that facilitates the deposit and withdrawal of funds in a hassle-free way.
Data protection
When you open an account with a forex broker, you provide personal and financial information. You need a broker with robust security features that keep this information safe. Other additional features that enhance security include SSL encryption, 2-factor authentication, and a privacy policy outlining how your data is used.
Educational tools
Many brokers provide educational tools but you need to opt for one with quality material that will enhance your trading. For example, FP Markets provides excellent video tutorials, e-Books, and a professional trading course.
Customer service
The forex market operates 24-hours a day. A broker must be readily available to answer your questions and offer technical support when you need it. You need to consider the ease of reaching a broker and its prudent to go with one offering live chat together with phone and email support.
The bottom line
As a minimum, a good broker meets all the five essentials. You can eliminate the brokers that don’t cut the mustard right from the start.
This material on this website is intended for illustrative purposes and general information only. It does not constitute financial advice nor does it take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. Commission, interest, platform fees, dividends, variation margin and other fees and charges may apply to financial products or services available from FP Markets. The information in this website has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the information in light of your objectives, financial situation and needs before making any decision about whether to acquire or dispose of any financial product. Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are derivatives and can be risky; losses can exceed your initial payment and you must be able to meet all margin calls as soon as they are made. When trading CFDs you do not own or have any rights to the CFDs underlying assets.
FP Markets recommends that you seek independent advice from an appropriately qualified person before deciding to invest in or dispose of a derivative. A Product Disclosure Statement for each of the financial products is available from FP Markets can be obtained either from this website or on request from our offices and should be considered before entering into transactions with us. First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd (ABN 16 112 600 281, AFS Licence No. 286354).
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD onsolidates around mid-1.1800s as traders keenly await FOMC Minutes
The EUR/USD pair struggles to capitalize on the previous day's goodish rebound from the 1.1800 neighborhood, or a one-and-a-half-week low, and consolidates in a narrow band during the Asian session on Wednesday. Spot prices currently trade just below mid-1.1800s, nearly unchanged for the day.
GBP/USD seems vulnerable near mid-1.3500s; UK CPI/FOMC Minutes awaited
The GBP/USD pair struggles to capitalize on the previous day's late rebound from an over one-week low – levels below the 1.3500 psychological mark – and trades with a negative bias for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. The downside, however, remains cushioned as investors seem reluctant to place aggressive directional bets ahead of the release of the latest UK consumer inflation figures and FOMC Minutes.
USD/JPY is looking for direction around 153.00 with key US data in focus
USD/JPY reversal from 153.70 has been contained above 152.70 on Tuesday. Major currencies are trading within narrow ranges amid thin trading volumes. Investors await the release of the US GDP and PCE Inflation figures to make decisions.
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD holds lower ground below 0.7100, awaits FOMC Minutes
AUD/USD holds lower ground below 0.7100 in Wednesday's Asian session. Traders await more cues about the US Fed's rate-cut path before placing fresh directional bets. Hence, the focus will be on the FOMC Minutes, due for release later today, which will drive the US Dollar and the currency pair. In the meantime, the RBA's hawkish stance and a generally positive risk tone might continue to cap the Aussie's downside amid hopes for additional stimulus from China.
NZD/USD remains heavy near 0.6000 after dovish RBNZ hold
NZD/USD is attacking 0.6000, under heavy selling pressure early Wednesday, responding to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) dovish interest rate on hold decision. The RBNZ kept the OCR unchanged at 2.25%. Gowernor Anna Breman reinforced the dovish outlook at her debut press conference.
Gold regains positive traction after Tuesday's over 2% slump as traders await FOMC Minutes
Gold gains some positive traction during the Asian session on Wednesday and recovers a part of the previous day's heavy losses more than 2%, to the $4,843-4,842 region or a nearly two-week low. The intraday move higher could be attributed to repositioning trade ahead of the release of the FOMC Minutes.
Top Crypto Gainers: Jito drops, Morpho holds steady, Convex Finance climbs
Decentralized Finance tokens, including Jito, Morpho, and Convex Finance, rank among the top-performing crypto assets over the last 24 hours. Jito dips on Wednesday after rallying 22% the previous day on the launch of a new mainnet node.
UK jobs market weakens, bolstering rate cut hopes
In the UK, the latest jobs report made for difficult reading. Nonetheless, this represents yet another reminder for the Bank of England that they need to act swiftly given the collapse in inflation expected over the coming months.
RECOMMENDED LESSONS
Making money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
I’m often mystified in my educational forex articles why so many traders struggle to make consistent money out of forex trading. The answer has more to do with what they don’t know than what they do know. After working in investment banks for 20 years many of which were as a Chief trader its second knowledge how to extract cash out of the market.
5 Forex News Events You Need To Know
In the fast moving world of currency markets where huge moves can seemingly come from nowhere, it is extremely important for new traders to learn about the various economic indicators and forex news events and releases that shape the markets. Indeed, quickly getting a handle on which data to look out for, what it means, and how to trade it can see new traders quickly become far more profitable and sets up the road to long term success.
Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know
Chart patterns are one of the most effective trading tools for a trader. They are pure price-action, and form on the basis of underlying buying and selling pressure. Chart patterns have a proven track-record, and traders use them to identify continuation or reversal signals, to open positions and identify price targets.
7 Ways to Avoid Forex Scams
The forex industry is recently seeing more and more scams. Here are 7 ways to avoid losing your money in such scams: Forex scams are becoming frequent. Michael Greenberg reports on luxurious expenses, including a submarine bought from the money taken from forex traders. Here’s another report of a forex fraud. So, how can we avoid falling in such forex scams?
What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make
Trading is exciting. Trading is hard. Trading is extremely hard. Some say that it takes more than 10,000 hours to master. Others believe that trading is the way to quick riches. They might be both wrong. What is important to know that no matter how experienced you are, mistakes will be part of the trading process.
The challenge: Timing the market and trader psychology
Successful trading often comes down to timing – entering and exiting trades at the right moments. Yet timing the market is notoriously difficult, largely because human psychology can derail even the best plans. Two powerful emotions in particular – fear and greed – tend to drive trading decisions off course.