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:
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Determine the broker AFSL number typically found on the broker’s “About Us” page or at the bottom of each web page.
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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:
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A variety of fundamental and/or technical charting and analysis tools.
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The ease of entering and exiting trades. Are there clear ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ buttons?
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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.
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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
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USD/JPY rallies to near 157.00 as Yen plunges after BoJ’s policy outcome
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Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD rebounds after falling toward 1.1700
EUR/USD gains traction and trades above 1.1730 in the American session, looking to end the week virtually unchanged. The bullish opening in Wall Street makes it difficult for the US Dollar to preserve its recovery momentum and helps the pair rebound heading into the weekend.
USD/JPY rallies to near 157.00 as Yen plunges after BoJ’s policy outcome
The USD/JPY is up 0.85% to near 156.90 during the European trading session. The pair surges as the Japanese Yen underperforms across the board, following the Bank of Japan monetary policy announcement. In the policy meeting, the BoJ raised interest rates by 25 bps to 0.75%, as expected, the highest level seen in three decades.
Gold stays below $4,350, looks to post small weekly gains
Gold struggles to gather recovery momentum and stays below $4,350 in the second half of the day on Friday, as the benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield edges higher. Nevertheless, the precious metal remains on track to end the week with modest gains as markets gear up for the holiday season.
Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid bearish market conditions
Bitcoin (BTC) is edging higher, trading above $88,000 at the time of writing on Monday. Altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP), are following in BTC’s footsteps, experiencing relief rebounds following a volatile week.
How much can one month of soft inflation change the Fed’s mind?
One month of softer inflation data is rarely enough to shift Federal Reserve policy on its own, but in a market highly sensitive to every data point, even a single reading can reshape expectations. November’s inflation report offered a welcome sign of cooling price pressures.
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