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Forex.com US

Forex.com US Review
Trader's rating 4.8
Editor's rating 5

 

Trading Accounts & Conditions

 

Account type Min. deposit Min. trade size Max. leverage Average Spreads
Standard $50 0.01 1:50 1.4 pips 

 

Leading US broker Forex.com offers a single account type on several trading platforms. The broker provides commission-free trading with variable spreads and the option to use micro lots.

 

In addition, Forex.com offers swap-free accounts to investors of Islamic belief, as well as free demo ones for 30 days after sign up.

 

 

Forex.com (US) Advantages

 

Regulated in the US and other countries

Forex.com belongs to the Gain Capital group. Gain Capital meets high standards of corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure. The parent company of the major FX brand Forex.com, GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:GCAP)  is a registered Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) and Retail Foreign Exchange Dealer with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA).

 

Besides, its subsidiaries are properly licensed in the countries of their operation: 

 

Company Country Regulation
GAIN Capital Group, LLC USA NFA, CFTC
Forex.com UK Limited UK FCA
GAIN Capital FOREX.com Australia Pty Limited Australia  ASIC
Forex.com Canada Limited Canada  ILLROC
GAIN Capital Group (Hong Kong) Limited  Hong Kong SFC
GAIN Capital Japan Ltd.  Japan FFAJ

 

Apart from Forex.com, Gain Capital Group is operating the brands City Index, GTX, Gain Capital, FinSpreads, and others.

 

The largest broker in the US

Not only that Forex.com is regulated in the United States, but it is actually the largest forex broker in the country. After FXCM has left the US market, Forex.com became the undeniable leading provider of financial services in the US.

 

Actually, a very few brokers have remained active on the strictly regulated US market: Oanda, Interactive Brokers, and TD Ameritrade.

 

Competitive spreads

Forex.com offers commission-free trading with variable spreads, the average ones on EUR/USD amounting to 1.4 pips, which is a rather competitive pricing. By comparison, the cost of trading at Oanda, another US broker, is exactly the same.

 

Low minimum investment required

In order to open an account with Forex.com, one has to invest just $50. Almost everyone can afford such an investment.

 

Several top-notch trading platforms available

Leading US broker Forex.com offers a single account type on several trading platforms. The broker provides commission-free trading with variable spreads and the option to use micro lots.

 

Actually, this piece of trading software is as sophisticated and customizable as the MT4. Its professional-grade trading tools include top-notch interactive charting with more than 100 predefined indicators, as well as the option to create some of your own. There are also a number of Integrated trading strategies, which are also customizable. Besides, users can code their own trading strategies (in C++), there is a back-testing excel tool available, and signals trading. Here is a snapshot of the platform:

 

Click on the image to zoom-in.

 

Some of the new functionalities of the platform after a recent update include powerful charts with integrated one-click trading, smart trade ticket with advanced risk management option, pre-defined and customizable layouts, and more. 

   

Various payment methods, fast withdrawals

Yet another thing we like about Forex.com (US) is the fact that it support several convenient payment methods, and namelY Debit Card, Wire Transfer, ACH and Checks. What is even more important from a client's point of view, withdrawals are processed pretty fast – within 48 hours.

 

Bonuses available

Last but not least, Forex.com (US) offers cash rebates for high volume traders. The latter are able to get rebates up to $10 per million traded. 

 

 

Forex.com (US) Disadvantages

 

Leverage capped to 1:50

Actually, this is not a weak side of the broker itself, but a legal requirement in the US. Brokers operating in the country are not allowed to provide leverage of more than 1:50, and Forex.com simply complies with the regulatory requirements. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Forex.com (US) is the largest US broker and one of the few actively operating in the country. A market leader offering trading in more than 80 forex pairs and CFDs, it has serviced over 200,000 customers globally.

 

The US broker is a part of the Gain Capital group – a leading forex brokerage with global presence. All members of the Gain Capital family are duly regulated by the respective governmental agencies, including Forex.com (US). It is registered with the CFTC and a member of NFA. US regulation is one of the strictest, which is a good thing in terms of investor protection, however some of the rules imposed are considered too restrictive.

 

For example, Brokers registered with the NFA are required to maintain a net capital of at least $20 million to guarantee customers’ positions, which is the highest minimum capital requirement worldwide. Moreover, hedging is not allowed and leverage is limited to 1:50, as we already mentioned above.

 

Now, let’s sum up the strong and weak sides of Forex.com (US):

 

Pros Cons
A global leading broker Leverage capped at 1:50
Solid regulation  
Competitive spreads, commission-free  
Several trading platforms, including MT4  
Low min. deposit required  

 

EXNESS

EXNESS Review
Trader's rating 4
Editor's rating 4

Account types

 

Trading account Min. deposit Max. leverage Spread
Mini  $1  1:30  0.2-1.1 pips
Classic  $2 000 1:30  0.1-0.9 pips
ECN  $300 1:30  0.1-0.4 pips + $ 2.5 per standard lot


This broker offers a choice of three basic account types: Mini, Classic and ECN accounts. The Mini account is targeted at inexperienced traders, as well as such who do not wish to trade in large volumes. The Classic account is targeted at regular and professional traders and offers full range of tools and trading facilities. As its name suggests, the ECN account is designed for clients who wish to trade in Electronic Communication Network environment, which involves a commission fee.

 

Another important thing worth mentioning is that the Mini and Classic account offer market and instant execution option. Most traders prefer instant execution, since it allows greater control on slippage and traders are offered requotes, instead of executing the order at the next best price.

 

Keep in mind that Exness does not provide it services to residents and citizens of the USA and Japan.


The Company. Security of Funds

 

Company

Country

Regulation

Exness (Cy) Limited 

Cyprus

CySEC

Exness (UK) Limited 

UK

FCA

 

The EXNESS group is a global ECN broker, consisting of companies regulated by reputable authorities such as UK's FCA and Cyprus' CySEC a. The broker offers trading in more than 120 forex currency pairs under fairly good conditions through the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms.

 

EXNESS is the trading name of the EXNESS group, set up in 2008 and consisting several companies: Cyprus-based EXNESS (CY) Ltd., (which operates the website www.exness.eu), and EXNESS LTD., (which operates the website www.exness.com) - an International business company in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It also has set up a UK unit, which is licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority.

 

CySEC applies certain rules and procedures to brokerage firms, one of them being the requirement for a minimum capital. Cypriot financial watchdog requires forex brokers to hold at least €730 000 in order to operate legitimately. The same minimum capital requirement applies to brokers licensed in UK.

 

Furthermore, all CySEC-regulated companies are members of the Investor Compensation Fund, which serves to protect and secure the claims of covered clients and provide them with compensation of up to 20,000 EUR per person, where broker is at default. Similar compensation schemes apply in UK: FCA-regulated brokers fall under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, where the maximum compensation cover is £50,000 per person. Such compensation schemes serve as additional guarantee to clients’ funds.
     

Trading Conditions


Minimum initial deposit
Most brokers require a certain amount of money to be deposited in order the client to start trading. Exness, however, requires none (for the Mini account). Cyprus-based XM, for instance, requires a minimum initial deposit, amounting to $5, while FxPro, also CySEC-regulated, demands $ 500 from its clients.


Average Spreads & Commissions
EXNESS offers trading with variable spreads, which are attractively low. Average spreads on the commission-free accounts amount to 0.9 pips on EUR/USD, while ECN account holders are offered average spreads of 0.4 pips on EUR/USD, however a commission amounting to $2.5 per standard lot is charged.

 
You may look up real-time spreads of 15 leading brokers here.

 

Leverage
Leverage levels offered by EXNESS are in line with current ESMA guidelines, up to a maximum of 1:30.

 

 

Leverage may both multiply their profits and lead to heavy losses. Due to investor protection concerns, limitations on leverage rates are set in many jurisdictions: 1:50 in the USA, 1:25 in Japan, and 1:30 throughout the EU and the EEA.


Trading Platform


EXNESS offers its services on two of the most popular platforms among traders - MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. The industry standard MT4 is available as desktop version, mobile apps and there is also a web-based version offered, called MT4 Web terminal. More brokers using the MT4 can be viewed here.

The MT5 was developed and marketed as an improvement on MT4, yet many brokers still prefer the earlier technology, since MT5 does not allow hedging, and what is more, MT4’s indicators and Expert Advisors (EA) are not supported on the MT5 platform.


More brokers offering the MT5 can be viewed here.

 

Promotions

EXNESS has partnered with forex rebate web site PayBackFX, and now offers its clients an option to receive cash back for each trade they make in the amount of 30% of the spread if they use Mini or Classic trading accounts, or $0.75 for each round-turn lot.

 

Methods of Payment


The broker accepts customer deposits and allows withdrawals via Wire Transfer, Neteller, Credit card and Internal transfer (available for withdrawals).


Skrill and PayPal are the only major e-payment systems missing.


Conclusion


EXNESS is a reliable broker with solid regulation, offering its clients a variety of tradeable instruments on two platforms under attractive trading conditions. To sum up the above, here are the advantages and drawbacks in relation to this broker:
 

Pros Cons
Solid regulation No proprietary platform
MT5 and MT4 both available Leverage capped at 1:30 (as required by law)
Attractive spreads  
No initial deposit required  
   

 

Headquarters: 46, Ayiou Athanasiou Avenue, Interlink Hermes Plaza, Office: 301 A, 3rd Floor, 4102, Limassol

Country: Cyprus

Regulated by: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (Cyprus); Center for regulating OTC financial instruments and technologies (Russia). 

The EXNESS brand covers three companies:

 - EXNESS LIMITED (VC), registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

 - EXNESS LLC – a member of Russia's self-regulatory organization CRFIN

 - EXNESS (CY) LIMITED,  Cyprus-regulated, started operations in August 2013.  

The clients of the broker may count on 24/7 support in 23 languages.

 
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