In this Markets.com review, we are going to look at a leading online forex and CFDs trading platform that was formerly owned and managed by SafeCap Investment Ltd. The Markets.com platform comes under the jurisdiction of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and operates with the CIF license number 092/08. The broker is also registered and authorized by several financial regulatory agencies in the European Union (EU) such as BaFin, Banque De France and the FCA to provide investment services. It is especially well known among the online trading community as a leader in quality customer service. In recognition of their achievements, the broker has been a recipient of numerous awards such as “Best Customer Service 2012” at the London Investor Show Forex and “Best Broker in Customer Service Europe 2012” by Global Banking & Finance Review. As of May 2015, it was taken over by a FTSE 250 software and services company called PlayTech Plc (PTEC.L).
To cater to its clients’ trading needs, this operator has provided them with 4 main types of trading platforms: MetaTrader 4, Markets Trader, Markets Mobile Trader and the Sirix WebTrader.
The MT4 is the industry standard platform and is also the most popular trading platform for CFDs and forex trading in the world. The platform is known to be fast and efficient and supports automated trading. It also comes with a comprehensive charting packing and dozens of sophisticated technical indicators which traders can use to analyze the markets. In addition, the platform also has its own built-in programing language which tech savvy trades can use to develop their own Expert Advisors (EAs).
Markets Trader, the in-house trading platform, is a web based platform with its own set of advanced trading tools and features. As it is web based, it provides traders with 24 hours access from any internet ready computer. Some of its key features include a user friendly navigation interface, Trading Cubes, professional charting package and a wide array of technical indicators. Another unique and useful feature is the real time news ticker which provides traders with constant updates about events in the global market.
The Markets Mobile Trader platform is a version of the web based Markets Trader that is optimized for mobile devices. It features all the main functionalities of the web based version but is lighter in programming and is less resources hungry. The trading app is available for download at Google Play store and Apple App Store. As an incentive, by scanning the QR code featured on Markets.com website to download the app, traders can get a free $25 (no deposit required) to help them get started on their mobile trading.
Developed by Leverate, an international service provider to forex brokers, the Sirix WebTrader is a cutting edge social trading platform which offers traders access to the trades made by the peers in real time. Its key attraction is the ability to let a trader imitate the trades made by their more experienced peers.
Traders can choose from 3 different types of trading accounts - Classic, Standard and Premium. Here are their main features:
In addition, traders can open a practice account, where they can trade with virtual money.
The registration is a simple, 4 steps process:
In order to activate the live trading account, the verification process must be completed. The documents needed for verification include an ID such as passport, driver license or any government issued ID. For proof of address, traders can send in a scanned copy of their bank statement or utility bill.
Traders have a diverse range of assets to choose from. For CFDs, the markets.com coverage includes 19 commodities, 263 stocks, 29 indices and 55 currency pairs.
The spreads and leverages depend on the assets and the instruments as well as the trading platform used. For example with crude oil, the spreads are fixed and start from as low as $0.03 when traded through the Markets Web Trader and $0.05 from the MT4 platform. The below are the minimum spreads and leverage for each asset class:
Heating Oil – $0.002 (Floating), Leverage ratio: 100:1
Crude Oil – $0.03 (Fixed), Leverage ratio: 100:1
For aluminum and zinc, the leverage ratio is 10:1
For indices, the minimum spread starts from as low as $0.05 (USDX) with the leverage ratio of 100:1. The lowest applicable leverage ratio for indices is for the MICEX index where the ratio is just 5:1.
For stocks, the minimum spread starts from $0.02 while the minimum leverage ratio starts from 5:1.
With forex, the minimum spreads start from 2 pips while the minimum leverage ratio starts from 25:1
Funding and withdrawal of funds can be done through:
Customer support services at Markets.com are second to none in the industry. Traders can access the support services on a 24/5 basis. In addition, the support services are available in more than 2 dozen major languages. Contact with the support team can be done through email, live chat or through the 36 different localized telephone numbers.