Gallant Capital Markets

Gallant Capital Markets FX (also known as GCMFX) is an STP Forex broker (straight-through-processor) which offers variable spreads starting at 1 pip and is among the first Forex brokers in the British Virgin Islands to be regulated by the region’s Financial Services Commission under the Securities and Investment Business Act (SIBA). Gallant Capital Markets is also audited by Deloitte and Touche. With 42 available currency pairs, a website redesigned in June 2011 and a wide range of Forex trading services and resources, there’s no question that this broker has a lot to offer. Read our full Gallant Capital Markets review to see if this brokerage is the one you’ve been looking for.
General Information
Founded in: 2007
Headquarters: British Virgin Islands
Maximum leverage: 400:1
Minimum deposit: $100
Minimum deal size: 1,000 lots
Languages available: English, Spanish, Chinese
Regulation: FSC under SIBA
Trading Platform
Like many other Forex brokers, Gallant Capital Markets offers the MetaTrader4 platform for all of its account types, including the free demo account. Although the platform functioned as we expected it to, some things did enhance the experience to set it apart from the standard MT4 trading experience. Specifically, users who take the time to connect the MYFX console will be able to be able to enjoy one-click trade executions, and partial take-profits among other things. The broker’s custom indicators were also helpful in easing the technical complications of the Forex trading process.
Although we don’t usually favor Forex brokers that offer MetaTrader platforms exclusively, we found that Gallant Capital Markets offers a unique balance between this standard platform and a more customized trading platform. 

Features Although this broker’s website looks rather simple, we actually found it to be chock full of helpful Forex resources. Among the most useful features we found during our Gallant Capital Markets review were advanced charting tools, expert advisors and instant scripts that enhance the trading capabilities and speed up the trading process. Of special note is a free VPS which can offer support for traders who wish to maximize the efficiency of their expert advisors.
Traders who deposit the $2,500 required for a standard account will also get free access to the MYFX console, a system we’ve tested and enjoyed immensely.
In addition to its $50,000 demo account, Gallant Capital Markets offers 3 different account types, all of which offer variable spreads. All accounts can be funded in a choice of 6 currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, HKD). Standard account spreads start at 0.5 pip, while the spreads on mini accounts begin at 1 pip. Traders who deposit $50,000 can enjoy spreads starting at 0.2 pip.  

Overall, we found the Forex trading conditions and features to be both competitive and comfortable during our Gallant Capital Markets review.
Customer Service
The customer support center offered by Gallant Capital Markets offers 13 different ways to contact the company, which ensures that help is never far away. Phone support is available in 8 different country codes, and traders can send emails to directed departments for the quickest and most relevant responses. Live chat is also available 24/5, though general inquiries are only answered from 9-5 EST. At all other times, chat support deals with emergency trading questions only. During the course of our Gallant Capital Markets review we had the pleasure to contact the company’s chat center 5 times, and each time we were satisfied with the level of service provided. Of special importance is the ability to email yourself the chat transcript so that you can refer to it later if necessary.
We also emailed the company and received a relevant, courteous response in 6 hours.

Ease of Use
From a technical standpoint, the MT4 platform offered by Gallant Capital Markets worked just as every other MT4 platform works. However, we had a bit of difficulty opening a practice account because the page for this was somewhat hidden on the site. Fortunately, opening a live account was markedly easier. The application was presented in the site’s clean design, which made it easy to follow the steps and to reach the finish line quickly. As all regulated Forex brokers do, Gallant Capital Markets requires the upload of one form of ID, which can be either a valid driver’s license/state ID, passport or voter registration card.
GCMFX also offers a fantastic library of Expert Advisor (EA) scripts. These tools are downloadable directly from the broker’s website and are relatively easy to configure and install. Unlike some other Forex brokers that update their market news sporadically, Gallant Capital Markets does update their news regularly, though all of the news and technical analysis are joined into a singular list, leaving traders to wade through all articles until they find the relevant ones. Still, this can also be advantageous because it forces traders to take a wider look at the markets which can be beneficial.
Traders who are new to trading can also take advantage of the company’s Trading Handbook which offers a thorough explanation of the process.
Final Thoughts
A crisp web interface and straightforward registration process will make traders that visit Gallant Capital Markets comfortable from the outset. Reasonable trading conditions and EA tools make this broker a solid option for traders looking for STP trading combined with the MetaTrader4 platform.    

TradeSmarter

Operated by Market Punter Ltd., TradeSmarter is one of the oldest binary options brokers on the Internet. It is also one of the only regulated binary options brokers, as its parent company is licensed with an Australian Financial Service number. One of the smartest features we encountered in our TradeSmarter review is that the company offers two views of its web-based platform so that traders can choose whichever format they find easier to use. An extensive FAQ section and binary options glossary ensures that each trader can have all the resources he needs to truly trade smarter. Read our full TradeSmarter review to see if this binary options platform is right for you.
General Information
Founded in: 2008
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Minimum Deposit: $100
Maximum Per Option: $2000
Languages available: English, Spanish, French, Turkish, Arabic, Latvian, Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian
Trading Platform
The TradeSmarter trading platform can be viewed in either Box View or List View, depending on the preferences of the trader. While neither of these views is specifically unique, the mere fact that there is a choice is something noteworthy. 
Another thing worth mentioning is that in the TradeSmarter platform, assistance is never far away. You can see in the screenshot above that help is available both on the left side of the screen, on the right side and at the bottom of the screen.
TradeSmarter trades were executed simply and quickly, contributing to a positive overall experience.
Features
Most binary options brokers don’t offer many extra features, but we found that TradeSmarter did offer a few more than the normal. For starters, traders can get alerts when their options are set to expire, which is extremely useful for those who tend to ‘set it and forget it’. We also appreciated the full Binary Options Wiki, which answered all of our questions as they pertained to binary options trading. Similarly, the TradeSmarter blog offers regular market updates for some currencies to give traders a broader understanding of what’s going on in the world.
Traders who deposit a mandatory minimum are also entitled to free trading support and training. Despite repeated attempts to ask what this minimum deposit requirement is, we found it difficult to find out what this mandatory minimum deposit was.  Insistent probing elucidated that free support is offered to anyone who deposits $100 (or more). We were happy to know that this training is widely available to TradeSmarter traders.
Customer Service
During trading hours (Sunday morning through Friday evening GMT), TradeSmarter offers assistance via phone, chat and email. Emails submitted will receive an instant confirm so that traders can rest assured that their inquiry was received. Nevertheless, we found that our email never received a follow up response after this confirmation. This may have been perhaps the only disappointment we encountered during our entire TradeSmarter review. Fortunately, the company’s chat support was extremely helpful, and we were able to find answers immediately via chat.
Ease of Use
The TradeSmarter website claims that registration takes under 1 minute, and we found this claim to be entirely accurate. We were extremely impressed that the confirmation page offered direct links to Gmail, Yahoo! and Hotmail so that traders can quickly access their confirmation code if they aren’t already logged onto their email.
Deposits can be made in four currencies (USD, EUR, GBP and AUD), and traders are lead directly to the appropriate page when they click on the confirmation link. Multiple deposit methods are available including major credit cards, PoLi and MoneyBookers, though PayPal is not currently available. Because wire transfers can be used for withdrawals, we assume that this is also a suitable deposit method. It should be noted, however, that withdrawing to a credit card is free, while withdrawing via wire transfer costs $30.
As we mentioned previously, TradeSmarter offers some of the most comprehensive binary options resources and information on the internet, which is clearly designed to ensure that traders know exactly what they’re doing. Among the standout educational resources is the Binary Options Wiki, which is something not offered by most other binary options brokers. It’s almost a shame that this Wiki is hidden in the footer of the TradeSmarter website. However, the company’s binary options glossary is located in a more centralized position, and does offer a good steppingstone towards a successful trading experience.
Another aspect of the TradeSmarter experience we appreciated is that since we didn’t complete all of our information when opening the account, they provided us a gentle reminder at the top of the screen until it was complete, so that we’d know exactly what we need to do in order to start trading.
Final Thoughts
TradeSmarter clearly makes an effort to cater to new binary options traders, but its clever design and national regulation makes it a smart choice for advanced traders as well. Although we always prefer the availability of a free demo account, we felt that TradeSmarter provided more than ample background information to get traders setup sufficiently before trading. 

askObid

askObid is a new Forex broker that puts a strong emphasis on user experience. Their site is highly innovative and designed to perfection with all the information a trader would need available to them. AskObid is a feature-packed broker both in terms of their trading features as well as their overall offering.

AskObid's main attraction that separates them from the majority of brokers is their customizable, easy to use, Web-based trading platform. What this means to the trader is easy and flexible access to their trading environment from any Web-enabled computer anywhere in the world.

AskObid claims to recognize the importance of Forex knowledge, which is clearly an accurate statement if I am judging by the amount of resources invested in their Academy section. They offer traders a very informative and thorough education center, which would come in handy to new traders just getting started in Forex.

While I found the information there to be very useful, there were multiple sections in the Academy part of the site that were incomplete or empty, but being a new broker, it is understandable that the site is a work in progress.

AskObid is regulated by the Cyprus Securities Exchange commission and also complies with the MiFID.

In terms of askObid's advantages, the available payment methods are more flexible than any other Forex service I have encountered. The methods include all credit cards, debit cards, and more than twenty other possibilities. In terms of withdrawing funds, askObid makes it very easy to get paid. All you need to do is click Withdraw in the platform and choose one of over twenty payment methods.

AskObid offers the standard 21 day free demo account, which is of course something every trader should take advantage of. The demo account has no limitations and it will enable you to get to know the trading environment as well as your own trading strategy.

The trader can also choose from one of three trading account types depending on trading style and available capital. The options are Silver, Gold or Platinum. The account types differ on various factors such as maximum deposit, spreads, personal trainers, access to webinars, mobile alerts, referral awards, and more.

In terms of the bonuses offered by askObid, they differ based on your trading account. For the Silver account, there is a 10% award on up to a $1,000 deposit. For the Gold account, there is a 15% award on up to a $15,000 deposit, and the Platinum account has a 30% award up to $30,000.

As you can see, askObid is a very impressive broker, but their most impressive feature is definitely their trading platform, which enables you to trade all the majors as well as gold and silver. In the platform, you can see what others are trading, enable one click trades, as well as completely customize the interface of the trading environment.

Once you open a new position, it is listed in your open positions, at which point you can add stop losses or take profits. The one thing I did not like so much was the defined 200:1 leverage, which cannot be adjusted.

In general, the platform is one of the most intuitive interfaces I have ever used. It is very user friendly and does not take long to master.

Additionally, askObid has great customer service in my tests with a highly responsive chat feature that I found to be very helpful and professional. They also have an online form to send them an email or the option to have one of their representatives call you back, all options I found to be effective and timely.

There really is a lot more to be said about askObid's service, such as their trading tools including market analysis and reviews, as well as their advanced financial calendar, but to sum it all up, askObid is a serious contender in the Forex market and one that with minimal work can become a leading force in this multi billion dollar industry.

SunBirdFX

While some Forex traders prefer to trade with colossal brokerage firms, others prefer the accessibility of smaller trading companies. Although Sunbird has been operating on a small scale for five years, it has recently expanded to cater to Forex traders worldwide. If you’re looking for the personal touch of a smaller broker, Sunbird may be just what you need. We’ve tested the Sunbird’s trading platforms, customer service, features and more, and recorded our findings below so that you can make an informed decision.

General Information

Maximum leverage: 100:1
Minimum deposit: $100 on MT4 and $5000 on G-Pro
Minimum deal size: 5,000/limited by margin
Languages available: English, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, French, Russian, Lithuanian.

Trading Platform
Despite its relative youth, Sunbird offers multiple trading platforms that rival those of more established competitors such as Ava FX and FXCM. We were impressed by the breadth of offerings provided by Sunbird, though we wished there was a single page that could help the trader see all of his options at a glance. Still, each designated registration page explains the advantages of that specific trading platform with brief, understandable bullet points, so that with a bit of reading, users can choose the Forex trading that best meets their needs. Sunbird’s autotrading platforms are not currently available, but they should be launched in the coming months.

Traders who can’t decide can enjoy demo accounts of most platforms so that they can see for themselves which platform they like best. Sunbird’s trading platforms include:

Standard Platforms:
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5

Mobile Trading Platforms:
MT4 Mobil

ECN STP Platforms:
MetaTrader 4 ECN
G-Pro
Currenex

MAM (Multiple Account Manager) Platforms:
G-Pro ECN for Fund Managers
Metaquotes Multi Terminal
EA Enabled MAM Proprietary

Features

Sunbird offers a limited range of features, which, though small in number, are suitable for both new and experienced Forex traders. The site also promises new features in the future, and we have every reason to believe that any new features will be equally useful. We were especially impressed by the way that the company caters to new traders who are looking for ways to succeed.

Sunbird’s Forex desktop provides a convenient way to receive market and personal account information directly, and the ability to customize the desktop means that traders can choose the information that they find critical while avoiding unnecessary distractions. Setting up the desktop was extremely easy, though we did have some difficulty removing items that we didn’t want. Still, the initiation process was relatively short, and the convenience of the desktop is undeniable.

Another feature that we found intriguing was the ‘build your own automated strategy’ feature, which suggests that users that contact the company’s R&D department will have access to programming professionals and mathematicians that can help create a personalized tool. Although we didn’t test out this feature, we were impressed that Sunbird was willing to offer such a service – and if our experience with their customer service department is any indication, they will truly be available for this service.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Sunbird also offers an ample guide for beginning traders that offers clear, easy-to-understand information to help new traders get a handle on the Forex world.

Customer Service

Unlike bigger Forex brokers who don’t have enough staff to handle their high customer inquiry volume, Sunbird obviously tries hard to respond quickly to the needs of their users. While Forex brokers such as iForex offered chat windows that kept telling us to try again because no representatives were available, we chatted with the Sunbird team 6 times, and received immediate service.

We had equally pleasant experiences using Sunbird’s phone and email services. We called Sunbird several times and were never on hold for more than 2 minutes. Likewise, we emailed Sunbird on Thursday, February 3rd, and received a response in about an hour and a half.

Ease of Use

Registering for Sunbird was a quick and painless process. Although the confirmation emails weren’t as aesthetically pleasing as those from some more established Forex brokers, we were especially impressed that the company provided us with our username and password both in the confirmation email and on the confirmation web page, so that the information would be easily accessible.

We tested the company’s MT4 account, and were surprised that we were asked to submit our personal details again after the platform was downloaded. We were, however, able to proceed by pressing cancel instead of resubmitting these details. An initial glance at the trading platform, we found that while navigating the system wasn’t entirely obvious for new traders, it was easy to navigate with the help of the support documents and the company’s chat support. 

Another feature that made an impression on us was the strategic placement of information notices at the bottom of the platform, which offered helpful information to supplement the trading platform. Although we were too busy focusing on the platform to pay much attention to the articles, we thought that they could be an asset in the future, once a trader became more familiar with the platform.

ForexCT

ForexCT (short for Forex Capital Trading) is an Australian based Forex broker that was founded by an experienced mix of bankers, venture capitalists, internet experts and specialists in foreign exchange trading. The brokerage prides it on upholding the highest form of ethical behavior when engaging in business transactions. Forex Capital Trading Ltd's Australian subsidiary, Forex Capital Trading Pty Ltd, holds an Australian Financial Services License (License No. 306400). The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) enforces the laws and regulations, which govern the provision of these financial services. Read our full ForexCT review to see if this brokerage is the one you’ve been searching for.
General Information
Founded in: 2006
Headquarters: Australia
Maximum leverage: 1:400
Minimum deposit: $100
Minimum lot size: 2,500
Languages available: English, Chinese
Regulation: ASIC
Trading Platform
ForexCT offers its own trading platform which allows traders to trade the 9 available currency pairs. The broker’s website offers a step-by-step explanation of how the platform works so that traders can understand every visual aspect that is presented. With these clear directions and a clutter-free design, this platform is suitable for first-time traders and those with a bit more experience. 

Features and Account Types
During our ForexCT review, we found that ForexCT offers four account options:
MINI accounts require an initial deposit of $100, with dealing spreads of 5 pips, contract sizes of 2,500 and a maximum leverage of 1:200. GOLD accounts require an initial deposit of $1,000, with dealing spreads of 4 pips, contract sizes of 50,000 and a maximum leverage of 1:300. ForexCT PLATINUM accounts require an initial deposit of $20,000, with dealing spreads of 3 pips, contract sizes of 100,000 and a maximum leverage of 1:400. VIP accounts require an initial deposit of $100,000 with dealing spreads of negotiable, contract sizes of 500,000 and a maximum leverage of 1:400.
ForexCT uses a proprietary trading system that feeds real-time streaming prices to a trade system station. Prices are updated dynamically. They are not simply indications of where the market is trading, but actual executable prices that traders can use to buy or sell a currency pair.
Educational options available with all account types include an online training course, free Forex guidebook and a free 60-minute online tutorial. An extensive FAQ section covers almost anything one might care to know about ForexCT or the basics of Forex trading. Support of some kind appears to be available using a chat option. Technical support of the platform isn’t specifically referenced on the website, but from what we saw during our ForexCT review, you shouldn't anticipate any technical problems.
Ease of Use
Despite a few small glitches, we were generally satisfied with the service we received and experience we had during our ForexCT review. Code of conduct notwithstanding, we found the company’s chat representatives to be especially unfriendly, while email responses took longer but were significantly more appropriate. We were, however, happy to see that chat service is available 7 days/week, while some other brokers only offer chat support during the 5 day trading week.
What ForexCT lacks in finesse, however, it makes up for in simplicity. User guides empower traders to understand every part of the Forex trading process both before they begin and during their trading career. Registration was painless, the learning curve for the platform was relatively short, and trade executions were sufficiently fast.
Final Thoughts
ForexCT may be one of a handful of Australian-based Forex brokers, but that doesn’t mean it limits itself to clients in the southern hemisphere. Instead, ForexCT has proven to be a popular broker throughout the world, likely based on its inimitable trading platform, regular market analyses and thorough Forex articles. 

StockPair

If you’re looking to trade something familiar and exciting from the comfort of your home, Stockpair may be just what you’re looking for. Much like Forex trading which pits one currency against another, Stockpair pits two stocks against each other, and if you choose the one that expires higher, you win. Sound simple? It is! Read our full Stockpair review to see if this is the investment vehicle you’ve been looking for.
General Information
Founded in: 2010
Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
Minimum Deposit: $100
Maximum per Option: $500
Languages Available: English
Trading Platform
The Stockpair trading platform is an entirely unique platform that is so intuitive, it’s almost shocking that it wasn’t invented sooner. In a sense, Stockpair is similar to the binary options trading experience.  Traders can choose stocks from a list of pairs that have both the company icons and their trading symbols to avoid confusion. Once a pair is selected, the trader can choose a position and invest anywhere from $10 to $500. If a fixed position is opened, the trader must remain in the position until the set expiry time. If a floating position is opened, the trader can opt to exit early.
Traders using Stockpair can consider both American stock pairs and European stock pairs. Unlike Forex trading, stock pairs can only be traded when the market is opened in a specific region. Therefore, while stock pair operates nearly around the clock, not all pairs can be traded at all times.
Once a position is open, traders can chart the changes on a live feed, or can pursue other activities while waiting for the expiry time. 

Features
To help make the trading experience as profitable and comfortable as possible, Stockpair offers both a free practice account and a trading simulator for new users. In addition, the company has an understandable Risk Management section that explains the basics to prevent traders from losing unnecessarily.
Customer Service
In addition to offering an excellent platform design, Stockpair offers reliable customer service. It should be noted, however, that customer support is available during trading hours only. During the course of our Stockpair review we chatted with a representative several times, and always received top quality service. Not only did the representative answer our questions, but oftentimes she went beyond the scope of the query to offer practical advice for streamlining the trading process.

Phone inquiries are available in 10 countries. Assistance is also available via email. We emailed Stockpair and received a response in slightly over an hour.

Ease of Use
Although we haven’t traded in this way before, using Stockpair was both easy and pleasant from start to finish. Registration was simple and considerably shorter than registration for most Forex trading accounts, and while depositing is available only via credit card and wire, we weren’t overly disturbed by the lack of alternatives.
The trading platform is available in a web-based version only, which means that there are no heavy or time consuming downloads. It also means that you can trade from any computer, as long as you remember your username and password. The platform itself is notably uncluttered as compared with the complex, chart-filled Forex trading platforms. Similarly, each stock pair is displayed in a new window, eliminating the clutter commonly associated with binary options trading.
It should be noted that the fixed trading option requires you to place a position and then wait, potentially for hours, which is both oddly relaxing and somewhat stressful.
Final Thoughts
Stockpair brings a new dimension to the world of online trading by allowing traders to make deals based on familiar products and trading strategies that are relatively easy to comprehend. Low minimum deposits, a low minimum trade amount and a maximum of $500 per option help to limit risk while making this form of trading possible for people with every budget. 

Forex Club

It’s no secret that all Forex brokers are not created equal, but Forex Club illuminates this supposition by offering three distinct trading platforms that cater to both novice traders and those who consider themselves as Forex experts. As industry veterans for over ten years, it’s no surprise that Forex Club has a keen understanding of the global Forex trader. For this Forex Club review, we’ve tested the features, ease of use, customer support and other aspects of Forex Club to help you determine if this broker is right for you. Traders from the United States can check out our FX Club review, to learn more about Forex Club’s US counterpart which is regulated by the NFA. 

General Information

Founded in: 1997
Headquarters: British Virgin Islands
Maximum leverage: 1:100
Minimum deposit: $200 (with Rumus and StartFX platforms)
Minimum deal size: 10,000
Languages available: English, Chinese (Simplified), Russian

Trading Platform

In a market flooded with hundreds of Forex brokers, Forex Club distinguishes itself by offering three unique trading platforms. During the course of our Forex Club review, we came to appreciate the StartFX platform the most, because it directly addresses the needs of new traders who are often neglected by respected Forex brokers who would rather cater to experienced traders. Specifically, StartFX offers Forex trading of 11 currency pairs without the distraction of Forex analysis that is found in most trading platforms. StartFX explains the trading process from start to finish in a gentle, informative way that makes traders feel empowered and comfortable with their decisions. StartFX also has a demo account which can be used for free for 14 days. 

Traders with minimal experience and those with vast experience can both enjoy Forex Club’s second platform, ActTrader, which is available with the company’s ActiveFX account. ActTrader is available in downloadable and web-based versions, as well as in a mobile version. It integrates market analysis with a straightforward user interface, which creates a comfortable trading experience. ActTrader is the only one of Forex Club’s platforms that offers no dealing desk executions, which can be a significant advantage for all Forex traders. ActTrader trades 22 different currency pairs and includes an autotrader. The practice version of ActTrader can be used for 30 days.

The Rumus platform is Forex Club’s third trading platform, and with 77 trailing indicators and 17 charting tools, it’s obvious that Rumus provides an unparalleled trading experience for advanced traders who rely heavily on technical analysis. Like the ActTrader platform, Rumus trades 22 currency pairs, and is available in a mobile version. It also has a 30 day demo account version available. However, while the ActTrader platform has different applications for iPhone and Android phones, Rumus’s mobile integration is geared for all types of phones and does not cater specifically to higher-end phones.

Features

In the scope of our Forex Club review, we came across several useful features offered by the broker, as well as several which we felt were underutilized. We were most impressed by the Autochartist, service that deciphers charts and trends in understandable way and which we found to reduce the stress associated with understanding technical analysis. We were also intrigued by the TradingCentral service, which serves as a free signal provider for traders who deposit $1500 or more into their account.

On the other hand, we were disappointed with Forex Club’s user forums and news services, which were clearly neglected parts of the site. The user forums, which should have been a tremendous resources for users looking for peer advice, were crowded with irrelevant and inappropriate information, and the news section seems to be updated about once a week, which is not often enough to let traders get a sufficient understanding of factors that can affect the market.

Customer Service

Like most Forex brokers, Forex Club offers customer support via phone, email and online chat. One addition that Forex Club offers is the ability to request a callback, which can be convenient for traders who don’t want to pay for a long distance call to the company’s American-based phone number. We found, however, that Forex Club’s phone support team answered calls within 2 minutes, and that the phone operators were able to answer our questions accurately and politely.

We were equally impressed with Forex Club’s chat service, which offered quick responses to our questions on multiple occasions. 

We were slightly disappointed to see that Forex Club doesn’t offer the same trading education that other brokers such as eToro offer. Noticeably missing from Forex Club’s website were the webinars, e-courses and even articles that are so abundant on other broker sites. We did find FAQs and a glossary on the company’s website, which were well-organized and somewhat useful.

Nevertheless, we were glad to see that Forex Club’s website has a search feature, which was instrumental in helping us find answers to our questions independently. While you might think this is a standard offering, it’s worth noting that many top Forex brokers like Plus500, do not offer this means of finding information.

Ease of Use

Forex Club has a neat, organized website that is clearly designed with the user in mind. With a singular top navigation, users should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily. Clear comparisons of account types and trading platforms enable prospective users to see at a glance which platforms offer the features they’re looking for.

Once a user chooses the right type of account, registration is straightforward and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Depositing money into your account is simple because Forex Club accepts several payment methods including most major credit cards, wire transfer and payment via MoneyBookers, and online payment portal.

Forex Club’s trading platforms are just as intuitive as their website. Large buttons that combine text and images make it easy for users to find the action they’re looking for, and amply-sized boxes provide a plethora of information on the platforms’ main pages without being overly crowded or difficult to read. Overall, we found that Forex Club was easy to use from start to finish. 
 

UFXMarkets

UFX Markets may be counted among the newest Forex brokers on the market, but when it comes to creating an enjoyable trading experience, there’s no question that the UFX Markets team is comprised of veteran traders. UFX Markets is operated by ReliantCo Investments Limited, which is regulated by CySEC and authorized by MiFid, regulations which should allow Forex traders to trade with peace of mind.  With a specially-built trading platform and a wide range of account options to choose from, UFX Markets tries to offer something for every type of trader. Read our full UFX Markets review to see if this brokerage offers something for you.

General Information

Founded in: 2011
Headquarters: Cyprus
Maximum leverage: 1:200
Minimum deposit: $100
Minimum deal size: 500 (with a micro mini account)
Languages available: English, French, Arabic

Trading Platform

Although many Forex brokers try to repackage the standard MetaTrader4 platform as their own, UFX Markets has its own unique platform, which we found to be a refreshing change. The platform was rather easy to use, with a list of instructions at the top of the screen, and a straightforward left navigation where traders can switch easily between Forex trading, commodities, indices and other options. Unlike the MetaTrader4 which has multiple screens for different currencies and charting tools, the UFX Markets trading platform offers a singular window through which traders can focus only on the execution at hand, without unnecessary distractions.

Throughout our UFX Markets review we found the trade execution to be adequately fast, with a few exceptions of slower executions, which, while frustrating, are common with even the top Forex brokers such as AvaFX and eToro.

Features

If you’re looking for a Forex brokerage that offers more than just a straight up trading platform, UFX Markets should be high on your list. One of our favorite features was a daily Forex news video, which we could listen to while completing other tasks, without wasting the time necessary to read a news article. UFX Markets also offers a range of other Forex learning tools for new traders.

More experienced traders can take advantage of other offerings that are geared for advanced traders. Examples include Forex trading signals which are available with any Advanced Account (and, presumably, more expensive accounts), and charting tools which are available with any Platinum Account (minimum initial deposit of $10,000). Although it was surprising that only Platinum traders could use the charting tools, there are so many free options available that we were willing to overlook this inconvenience.

Finally, we appreciated that UFX Markets offers referral benefits for Forex traders who suggest the platform to other traders. Although we found the minimum deposit for this service to be on the high side for new traders, experienced traders who know other traders may have no problem making this type of referral, and we appreciated the gesture, as most other brokerages don’t offer any appreciation for referrals.

Customer Service

UFX Markets offers phone support in 4 countries (England, Egypt, Singapore and Hong Kong), as well as round the clock chat and email support. Throughout our UFX Markets review, we chatted with the support team 3 times, and were satisfied by the speed and accuracy of the responses. When we emailed the company, however, we were distressed to see that we did not receive a response within 24 hours. Interestingly, we also did not receive an email confirmation, though we did receive a confirmation on the website itself when the email was submitted.

Unlike most other Forex brokers such FxPro which offers different email addresses for each different department, or those such as FXPRIMUS which offer a singular contact email, UFX Markets supplies only an online contact form, which may be disconcerting for some traders.

Ease of Use

One of the first things we noted upon visiting UFX Markets is that they offer various different accounts, each of which is explained clearly, so that traders can easily determine which account they want to begin with.
UFX Markets account types are as follows:
Micro Account – Available for deposits from $100-$499, these accounts have the lowest minimum trade size ($500), and are a good place for novice traders to hone their skills.

Mini Account – For traders looking to invest $500-$999, Mini Accounts require a minimum deal size of $1000. As an advantage over a Micro Account, Mini Accounts offer regular market updates.

Standard Account – Traders depositing a minimum of $1000 qualify for a standard account, which offers better spreads than smaller accounts, and additional support for traders.

Advanced Account – As its name suggests, Advanced Accounts are suitable for the most experienced traders since they require a minimum deposit of $5000 or more. However, these accounts offer the lowest spreads and the advantage of a dealing room where traders can benefit from other trader’s knowledge. Some Advanced Accounts even offer personal trading assistance from the experts at UFX Markets, though we found this rather ironic, since traders using such expensive accounts aren’t as likely to need the help as those opening smaller accounts.

Islamic Account – Traders who require an Islamic Forex account can find what they’re looking for at UFX Markets. While these accounts function similarly to standard Forex accounts, they require a $1,000 minimum deposit.

We were surprised to see that we did not need to provide any personal details in order to open an account. We did not need to submit an address nor mention our current income, and we did not need to state whether we had any trading experience, as most other brokers ask. For this reason, the registration process was completed in seconds, rather than minutes, which was most enjoyable.

Deposits can be made via wire transfer, credit card, MoneyBookers or cashU. Withdrawals take slightly longer than withdrawals with other Forex brokers, and the wait time can range from 48 hours to 5 days depending on the method of withdrawal. Identification is required to make a withdrawal.

Final Thoughts

UFX Markets clearly put thought into the design of their website and the usability of their trading platform. The brokerage offers competitive spreads which, though not the lowest we’ve seen, are certainly reasonable. Fast execution and one-click trading make UFX Markets a good choice for short-term traders who enjoy making quick trading decisions.

DeltaStock

Many Forex brokers offer low fixed spreads, multiple trading platforms and dozens of currency pairs, but few offer the user-friendly interface that is the hallmark of Deltastock.  With a low minimum deposit for both ECN trading and standard accounts and multiple regulations to secure the utmost in client safety, Deltastock makes every effort to serve the needs of both new and experienced traders.  We’ve tested the ins and outs of Deltastock and recorded our findings in the Deltastock review below. 

General Information
Founded in: 1998
Headquarters: Sofia, Bulgaria
Maximum leverage: 1:200
Minimum deposit: $100
Minimum lot size: 0.01 lot
Languages available: English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian
Regulation: FSC, BNB, MiFID

Trading Platform
Deltastock offers traders a choice between Delta Trading, the company's own proprietary trading platform, and the internationally acclaimed MetaTrader4.  For the purposes of this Deltastock review, we tested the Delta Trading platform over the standard MT4, for a fuller understanding of exactly how Deltastock functions.

The first thing we noticed about the Delta Trading platform is that it is comprised of no fewer than four disjointed panes, each of which can be controlled independently.  Although this style took a bit of adjustment as most Forex trading platforms offer the entire platform in one fixed screen, we actually found it to be quite useful once we became accustomed to it, because we were able to keep only the most critical panes present on the screen while focusing on other tasks, both trading-related and otherwise.  

Another aspect of the Delta Trading platform that we truly enjoyed was the clear, concise way the platform summarized each trade, which can be illustrated in the screenshot below.   

The Delta Trading platform offers both ECN conditions and standard trading conditions in a single platform.  The platform’s Level 2 Module is the destination for traders looking for ECN trading, which can be done with FXCM, Interactive Brokers, Dukascopy Bank, Citibank and Deltastock, from which traders can choose their counterparty independently. 

After a short learning curve that was supplemented, we appreciated the versatility of the platform and the ability to complete manual and automated trades and to schedule SMS messages when limits are reached. 

It should be noted that the Delta Trading platform is available in both downloadable and web-based versions, and that mobile trading is available as well.

Features
In addition to the features mentioned above, Deltastock offers several features that are worth mentioning.  For starters, the brokerage offers constant trading competitions which are great for those who enjoy the fun side of trading.  Yet it was the charting tools and hedging abilities that really impressed us.  New traders who aren’t quite comfortable with the technical aspects of Forex trading can take advantage of Deltastock’s thorough educational center.  During our Deltastock review we were happy to see that the brokerage offers not only articles pertaining to Forex trading basics, but also those specifically designed to provide useful information about technical strategies and understanding critical charting strategies and tools. 

The ability to get updates via email or SMS also demonstrated Deltastock’s supreme flexibility and understanding of different traders’ needs. 

Customer Service
Deltastock customer service can be reached via email, live chat or phone.  In our tests of the brokerage we found their chat service to be the fastest and most reliable form of contact, though the others offered satisfactory service.  Phone calls can be placed locally in England, Romania and Bulgaria, between the hours of 9am and 5pm local time.  

We emailed Deltastock with an extremely straightforward question and received an answer in about 16 hours which we found to be entirely satisfactory, considering that we sent our email during what is evening time in the Eurozone.

Ease of Use
Unlike some brokers whose strong marketing ploys mask their underlying value, Deltastock makes an effort to provide straightforward information about its trading conditions, so that traders can choose the brokerage for all the right reasons.  Navigating around the site before registration is both simple and easy, as is registration.  Deposits and withdrawals can be made via Visa and Mastercard, debit cards, wire transfer and MoneyBookers. 

A PDF document outlining the spreads and commissions imposed by Deltastock is offered publicly in the My Account section of the website, so that there are no surprises or aggravation once trading begins.  Likewise, traders who prefer fixed spreads can find a list of the company’s fixed spreads plainly on the site. 
As mentioned previously, we did experience a bit of a learning curve when using the Delta Trading platform, though this is not uncommon when using a new platform.  In fact, once we discovered all of the unique features of the platform, we were intrigued by the incredibly easy to use platform and the wide range of executions that were easy to perform.

Final Thoughts
Deltastock does not currently accept traders from the USA, Japan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Myanmar, Palestine, Somalia, Belarus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan, which we found to be a shame because of their quality services.  Multiple regulations gave us confidence in the brokerage from the start, and an ample choice of trading platforms and conditions solidified our positive trading experience. 

 

Tadawul FX

Tadawul FX, also known as TDFX, if a Forex brokerage that presents the opportunity to trade Forex, gold, oil and indices all with one trading account. Tadawul FX wishes to differentiate itself from other brokers through its corporate values of honesty, clarity and integrity. To that end, the firm is audited by Deloitte Ltd, a top tier international auditing and consultancy firm, and is partnered with double and triple A rated banks where traders’ funds are held in secure, segregated accounts.  Read our full Tadawul FX review to see if this Forex broker will meet your needs. 

General Information

Founded in: 2006
Headquarters: Limassol, Cyprus
Maximum leverage: 1:500
Minimum deposit: $500
Minimum lot size: 0.05 lot
Languages available: English, Arabic, French, Hungarian, Russian
Regulation: CySec, FSA, BaFin

Trading Platform

Tadawul FX presents traders with the MetaTrader 4 platform and its comparable mobile trading platforms.  Traders who wish to manage several Forex accounts simultaneously can also use the broker’s MT4 MAM (multi account manager) software, which allows for multiple trade executions simultaneously, the use of expert advisors, and the partial close of trades, among other benefits.  

Though we had technical problems when downloading the MT4 platform offered by FOREXYARD, we had absolutely no problems downloading the software offered by Tadawul FX.  Although we read some reviews of traders complaining that the platform froze or was slow, we didn’t find any freezing of the platform, and we judged some slower executions as normal when compared to the delays of most other Forex brokers.  We also appreciated that TDFX offers a good range of trading instruments within its platform. 

Tadawul FX has also recently begun to offer mobile trading for users of iPads and iPhones, Androids, Blackberry devices and Windows-based smartphones.  In the few months since the launch of its mobile application, the company's mobile trading volumes have increased by a remarkably 175%.  This increase adds to an increase in trading volume which the brokerage has seen in its desktop applications as well, indicating the continued popularity of Tadawul FX's Forex trading services.  

Features

One of the features offered by Tadawul FX that we appreciated the most was the company’s daily technical analysis, which is delivered daily by email for traders who opt into this service.  We’ve tested many other brokers that simply send the analysis, which, while helpful for some, can also clog up a trader’s inbox.  Consequently, with Tadawul FX, we were relieved to have a choice about opting in for these useful market updates. 

Other features we appreciated included the ability to deposit in one of five base currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, CHF and JPY), and to choose your leverage when opening an account, instead of being assigned a default leverage.  Similarly, traders taking advantage of the broker’s practice account can also choose their own leverage and base currency, which makes the experience much more realistic. 

Tadawul FX has fixed spreads starting at 2 pips in standard accounts, and 3 pips in mini accounts.  Premium account holders who deposit over $150,000 can enjoy spreads starting at 1 pip.   The broker also offers other account types, so that traders with all preferences can find what they’re looking for.  Among the options are a Mini Forex Account, a Standard Forex Account, a Premium Forex Account, a Managed Forex Account, an Islamic Forex Account and a Corporate Forex Account.

Perhaps the most important feature we encountered is quick withdrawals without withdrawal fees.  This is an extreme advantage over most other Forex brokers who usually charge fees for withdrawing the funds you’ve earned.  Although the website claims that withdrawals are processed in a day, we emailed the customer service team and was told that they are often processed within 1-2 hours, which can be quite advantageous for traders eager for cash. 

Customer Service

Much like Tadawul FX offers multiple trading instruments, it also offers several modes of customer service.  Traders can choose between email, phone or chat support.  Within each of these means, traders have additional options.  Those who prefer phone support can call into the broker’s offices in Hungary or Cyprus, or they can request a call back from a representative.  Email inquiries can be sent to seven different departments so they will find their way to the proper place.  We emailed the Tadawul FX team several times, and received a response in an average of 11 hours.

Chat support is also available, and is conveniently located on every page of the website.  In our test of the company’s chat support we found that we received helpful support with a very minimal wait time for assistance.  

Ease of Use

We examined the ins and outs of Tadawul FX’s website and service, and found few things to complain about.  Registration really was around 5 minutes long, as the broker claimed, which was a pleasure.  Deposits can be made via wire transfer, credit card, MoneyBookers, and PayPal (one of our favorite methods that is absent from many brokers).  As with all MT4 platforms, we always wish for chat assistance in the platform itself, but this is nothing unusual.

In November 2011 TDFX finalized a partnership with global bank Commerzbank so that traders can now deposit and withdraw funds via a bank that is recognized for the safety and security of its funds.  We are confident that this is just one of many steps that Tadawul FX will take to ensure the comfort and security of its traders, and we look forward to seeing their future changes in our next update of this Tadawul FX review.

We were specifically impressed by the speed in which we were contacted by the TDFX team once we opened our live account.  We truly felt as though we had someone accompanying us during the process, a real person to contact in the case of an emergency.  And, while every brokerage gives traders an account manager, they aren’t all as responsive as our Tadawul FX account manager was. 

Final Thoughts

Tadawul FX has won several awards for its service of traders in the Middle East, but we see no reason why this brokerage shouldn’t be appreciated throughout the world.  Although they don’t accept US clients for live accounts, traders located elsewhere will likely enjoy this brokerage thoroughly.

 

Forex Place

4XP, also known as Forex Place, is one of the more impressive brokers I have reviewed. They clearly invest time and money on your first impression when accessing their website. It is clean, fast, straight forward, visually appealing, and simple to use. It is available in 10 languages, so people from around the world can benefit from its ease of use. I was so impressed with the site that I was convinced I would be disappointed when reviewing their service. However, that was not the case. They offer all the basic and common services offered by many other Forex brokers, but 4XP definitely includes services that separates them from the pack in a major way.

When it comes to depositing money, there is no reason Forex brokers should not make this process easy for the trader, unless of course they do not want your money. Well, 4XP enables you to deposit money in every possible way, including some options most people have never even heard of. The options available to you are bank wire, credit card, direct ebanking, money bookers, and much more. The only option that seems to be missing is Paypal, but with so many different payment methods to choose from, any trader can find their own preference with 4XP.

While most brokers make the deposit process relatively easy seeing as they want your money, it is not a rare occurrence for brokers to make the withdrawal process a painful one. With Forex Place, you send one fax and you have your money after 3-4 business days - it's that simple.

4XP offers both a web-based platform and a downloadable option. Not surprisingly, it offers the MetaTrader 4, an industry standard platform that is popular for traders at all levels.  In addition, 4XP offers a mobile trading platform enabling you to trade on the go. This is a huge advantage, as the mobile industry is a billion dollar arena and it shows no signs of weakening any time soon. The fact that Forex Place offers a mobile platform, is an indication that they really do strive to be a top Forex broker, and not just another one to add to the long list.

Forex Place supports Forex trading of over 50 different pairs, with the typical spread of the majors being 3 pips. Their spreads are also fixed and not dependent on anything. As I mentioned earlier, they do not disappoint when it comes to the market standards, and they offer a free $50,000 demo account, as well as a mini account in which the minimum deposit is $500. Another aspect in which Forex Place stands out is their leverage. It is not the highest you have ever encountered, but 300:1 is definitely above average. Without getting into the debate regarding high leverage, that is for the trader to decide and not the brokers, so offering the option is always a good initiative on the part of the broker.

At this point of the Forex Place review, I figured there has to be a catch. They must charge high commission or some sort of hidden fees. So when it became apparent that Forex Place charges no commission or fees of any kind, not on deposit, not on withdrawal, and not during trading, I kept looking for that catch.

4XP offers 24/6 support via phone, email, or live chat, and they proved to be highly responsive, patient, and helpful. Contrary to many other brokers, the company does not focus solely on getting your money, they spend a lot of resources on educating traders as well. They offer an entire platform of educational courses, as well as live training. In addition, 4XP offers daily market analysis, an economic calendar, and what they refer to as a Live Dealing Room. This is for all intents and purposes a forum-like experience in which you can ask questions and offer solutions, while communicating with other Forex experts and traders. Throughout our 4XP review, we were impressed with the service. 

Forex Place claims to offer their customers “Honesty, integrity and service par excellence”, and based on my thorough Forex Place review, this claim is entirely accurate.

Easy Forex

Easy Forex was developed by a group of bankers and foreign exchange experts. Their goal was to establish an FX trading platform that will be easy to use by any end user. Easy Forex assumes the position of a market maker, with its liquidity providers being UBS (in Switzerland) and The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

The company’s headquarters are in Cyprus with offices, FX trading rooms and customer support centers around the world.

Easy Forex Trading Platform

Easy Forex offers its traders proprietary software that was the first to support a no-download platform. It is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Polish, Greek, and German.  In addition, Easy Forex is pushing the envelope of technology with its one of a kind iPhone app that allows iPhone users to have access to all Easy Forex services on the phone itself. It is not a full trading platform as you can not execute trades with it, but you can see the status of your Easy Forex account, as well as the status of the market.

Ease of Use

The registration process is quick and simple and it is easy to make a deposit of funds. Deposits are accepted via the major credit cards as well as PayPal. Withdrawal process is as easy, however the first withdrawal requires speaking to the company over phone and presenting them with an ID and with legitimate bank account details, in means of protection from any money laundering attempts.
Executing deals in the Easy Forex system requires only a few simple steps, however an understanding of the basic terminology of the Forex market is necessary.

The site offers a guided tutorial of dealing in the Forex market using Easy Forex, and upon registration each user is contacted by an account manager who will walk them through the initial stages of dealing. This personal account manager is available during the local business hours, and the dealing room is open 24/7 for technical support.

Generally speaking, Easy Forex puts a strong emphasis on customer service, and the fact that every trader gets their own account manager is a perfect example of that.

In addition, Easy Forex offers its more prominent clients advanced training for using the system and trading the market. When first setting up an account with Easy Forex, you may define the type of account you wish to use according to the level of risk you are willing to take. You may open a mini-account with a margin of as little as $12.5. Additional account types are Gold, Platinum and a tailor made Import-Export account. The type of the account will also determine the spread offered to the client, ranging from 10 pips for a mini-account, 7 pips for gold accounts, 5 pips for platinum accounts and 3 pips for tailor made accounts.

The spreads are the source of earning for Easy Forex and there are no other commissions for deals performed on their system, with one exception being a renewal fee for rolling over positions on Day Trading to the next day.

Tips for Trading with Easy Forex

Every deal that is set using any of the products Easy Forex offers, can easily be adjusted to the trends in the markets. These adjustments are possible under the “My Position” section where the trader can monitor and control each of his deals.
Every action is recorded in the system, as well as confirmed by an automatic email.
Additional activity logs can be found in the following sections:

“My Account” tracks your balance, showing all deposits, credit card charges and withdrawals; The “History” section shows the outcome of all closed deals.
In order for the trader to best carry out decisions Easy-Forex provides Reuter’s world news that may affect the Forex market, a financial calendar and a set of charts and analytical tools that are quite easy to comprehend.

With a good understanding of the Forex market and guidance provided by Easy Forex representatives it is actually easy to trade using this system. All the tools needed for executing deals, monitoring them and making the best decisions about them are highly accessible and user-friendly. Based on our Easy Forex review, this broker is a solid contender for the best of the market’s brokers.

Final Thoughts

The Easy Forex site is different than other brokers’ sites you will encounter. It is almost completely empty on the home page, which is reassuring in terms of its simplicity. As soon as you dig a little deeper, you discover all the information you will ever need available in a user friendly and easy to understand fashion.

The site is a clear indicaton of the type of broker Easy Forex is. Just like the site itself, the platform and service is simple, straight forward, and easy to use. Trading with Easy Forex is sure to provide a very solid experience.

Forexyard

FOREXYARD is a retail Forex broker that was established in 2004, and was acquired by the CySec regulated firm Safecap Investments Ltd. in March 2011. The broker offers online trading of seventy different currency pairs as well as stock indices and 3 commodities: gold, silver, and oil. FOREXYARD offers fixed spreads, including 3 pips on EUR/USD, and 3-5 pips on other major currency pairs. We tested the trading platforms, customer service and other aspects of this brokerage during our FOREXYARD review to help you determine whether this is the right Forex broker for you.

 

General Information
Founded in: 2004
Headquarters: Nicosia, Cyprus
Maximum leverage: 200:1
Minimum deposit: $100
Minimum lot size: 1,000 lots
Languages available: English, Arabic, Danish, German, Finnish, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese, Taiwanese
Regulation: CySec

 

Trading Platform
FOREXYARD offers several trading platforms including the MetaTrader4 platform in downloadable and web-based versions and their proprietary FX Trader. They do not offer any feed for MetaTrader4 or eSignal charts. But trading with their proprietary platform and charts is fine for intraday or swing trading. They offer all the usual order types including trailing stops. What we found interesting is that FOREXYARD has both guided tours and virtual tours of its platform, but no mention is made on the site as to which platform these tours focus on. We could only find that out once we watched the tutorials that they focus on the FX webtrader. Once we made this determination, however, we did find the tutorials useful.

For the purposes of our FOREXYARD review, we focused primarily on the FX Trader, though we did also take a look at the MT4 option. For some reason, we had significant difficulties logging in to the downloadable MT4 platform, and when we chatted with the support team about this issue, the representative solved the problem by directing us to use the web version instead of the downloadable version.

We don’t regularly encounter the MT4 web trader, but we actually found this platform to be more enjoyable than the popular downloadable version because of its lighter, less crowded design. We did find that it timed out more quickly than the downloadable version, but this is a small price to pay for a more pleasant user experience. The MT4 web trader works in harmony with Adobe Flash Player and offers the same trading functionality and platform customization abilities as the downloadable version. 

The FX Trader web-based platform requires Java to run and we found it to be a perfectly ample platform. Trade executions were relatively quick and the interface is sufficiently intuitive (though the tutorials definitely helped us find our footing).  

 

Features
A range of features are available across the FOREXYARD platforms including charting tools, customizable platforms and three different types of autotrading, namely, API trading, Algorithmic trading and trading via the Forex Strategy Automator. Traders can also take advantage of the broker’s mobile trading which is available for over 50 of today’s most popular smartphones.

 

Customer Service
Available 24/5, FOREXYARD customer service is pretty good. The company can be contacted via telephone in 11 countries, email, or live chat on the website. During our tests, the live chat team responded immediately, and we received an email response in only 13 minutes, which was impressively fast. However, the email response did not sufficiently answer our question and we were left wondering what to do next. We found the support team to be helpful and transparent, except in regards to their policies about withdrawing funds, for which they representatives were a bit tight-lipped. We were especially pleased that the team was able to help us patiently with some seemingly-complex technical problems. 

 

Ease of Use
The FOREXYARD website is easy to understand and navigate and opening a demo or live account is mostly straightforward. The brokerage accepts major credit cards or bank wire transfers for depositing into live accounts, as well as Western Union Money Transfers. Credit card deposits are immediate to start trading live, while wire transfers can take up to 3 days to process. They also offer a free trading course upon registration that is actually pretty good and goes over the basics of trading the Forex market. Beyond the free course FOERXYARD also features several well-written tutorials for their trading platform and also for explaining several commonly used technical indicators. FOREXYARD is very strict about not allowing scalping trades.

The brokerage offers either a super mini account (for accounts smaller than $1000) or a standard account which requires a minimum deposit of $1000. Commodities trading is available only with a standard account. The super mini account is ideal for a beginning trader to put the minimum amount of risk on but still get the feel and practice of trading a live account. It is important to note that standard accounts have no withdrawal fees, but smaller accounts demand a $25 fee wire or Western Union withdrawals and a $10 fee for credit card withdrawals. Withdrawals require a form to be filled out and faxed along with proof of account holder and address. Process time is questionable: the website states that “withdrawal process time will take no less than 3 days” but does not state a maximum time for processing. Deposits can be made safely to several reputable banks including RBS UK, Barclays UK and National Bank of Dubai.

Finally, it is worth noting that FOREXYARD also offers institutional trading for traders wishing to deposit $50,000 or more can register for an Institutional Account which offers ECN trading with spreads usually from 0-1.5 pips.

 

Final Thoughts
FOREXYARD appears to be a solid Forex broker that offers fair trading conditions and is generally pleasant to use. Recent regulation certainly worked well to increase our confidence in the brand, and we definitely appreciated the choice of stable platforms and available customer support.