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IC Markets Review

Based in Sydney, Australia, IC Markets ranks as one of the largest forex CFD providers globally by daily trade volume thanks to over $15 billion in foreign exchange turnover via over 500,000 orders executed daily. Regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, as well as the Financial Services Authority (St Vincent & the Grenadines), the broker currently accepts clients from more than 140 countries around the world and boasts more than 100,000 active clients.

IC Markets offers tight variable spreads to its users, which start from 0.0 pips on major FX pairs. The broker is well-known for its ultra-fast order execution that generally processes trades in under 40 milliseconds, making it a perfect ecosystem for high-frequency trading, algorithmic strategies, and institutional investors.

Although retail traders will find the minimum deposit of $200 a little higher than other major FX brokers, this is still an accessible sum that invites the participation of newcomers and professionals alike. The broker accepts deposits via a wide range of methods including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Union Pay, and Neteller among others. Furthermore, all customer funds are kept in segregated accounts and fully insured to provide an extra layer of security.

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IC Markets Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Phenomenal Order Execution Speeds
  • Support For All Trading Strategies and Styles
  • Intuitive Trading Platforms With Value-Added Tools
  • Ultra-Tight Variable Spreads and Low Commissions
  • 24/7 Customer Service Availability
  • No Fees For Deposits Or Withdrawals

Cons

  • Higher Minimum Deposit
  • Does Not Accept US Clients

Who Is IC Markets Recommended For?

IC Markets is recommended for everyone from discretionary traders to day traders and those deploying automated strategies. Advanced traders and institutional investors who want access to exceptional trading conditions such as ultra-fast order execution. The broker wants to ensure that its users can make the most of price movements and execute orders without any delays. The average latency speeds of the broker are just under 40ms, thereby ensuring that traders can experience extremely quick order execution. Moreover, all strategies are welcome on the platform, including scalping, hedging, and high-frequency algorithms.

Newcomers will also enjoy the educational materials and value-added tools like AutoTrader and ZuluTrade which are designed to aid individuals who prefer a more passive approach towards investing. Besides, the broker also offers a wide range of instruments to choose from. The broker provides access to securities including foreign exchange, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, futures, as well as for cryptocurrencies. This ensures that investors can maximize their portfolio diversification efforts.

Top IC Markets Features

  • Extraordinary Trading Conditions: The focus on trade execution is among the best in the industry. When combined with advanced features such as multiple order types, detachable charts, and market depth along with low latency execution, high-speed order matching, deep liquidity, and narrow spreads, it’s no wonder why IC Markets is such a popular destination.
  • All Strategies Accepted: IC Markets invites traders that practice all manner of strategies including scalping, hedging, and automated algorithmic trading to participate on the platform. Thanks to ultra-fast Equinix server support in both London and New York, platform clients can access superfast colocation execution and even virtual private servers (VPS) that feature superior reliability and security.
  • Strong Range Of Securities Supported: Investors intent on building diversified portfolios will appreciate the range of asset classes and over 230 financial instruments to choose from including less commonly available securities like bonds, futures, and cryptocurrencies.
  • Continuously Accessible Customer Service: The customer support offered by IC Markets is available around the clock to resolve all user queries and troubleshoot any 3rd party tool connectivity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the customer service team can provide support in a wide range of languages via multiple channels.

IC Markets Overview

  • Type of Broker Non-Advisory/Executionary Broker (ECN/STP)
  • Regulation & Licensing Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Financial Services Authority (St Vincent & the Grenadines)
  • Clients Accepted from 140 countries around the world
  • Assets Offered Foreign Exchange, Commodities, Indices, Shares, Bonds, Futures, Cryptocurrencies
  • Platforms Available MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, AutoTrade (Myfxbook), ZuluTrade
  • Mobile Compatibility Android and iOS
  • Payment Types Accepted Credit Card, Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Broker-To-Broker Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Union Pay, Neteller, FasaPay, Poli, Rapid Pay, Klarna, Thai Internet Banking, Vietnamese Internet

IC Markets Compliance & Regulation

The broker is regulated by three bodies at present including the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), as well as the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Financial Services Authority (SVGFSA). IC Markets is also fully compliant with global regulations covering Anti-Money Laundering (AMF) and Counter Financial Terrorism.

Additionally, IC Markets also ensures that all client funds are protected. To achieve this, the broker keeps all client funds in segregated accounts. It also ensures that all funds are fully insured. Finally, the broker has fulfilled all requirements pertaining to internal risk management and sufficient capital while operations are regularly audited by external parties to ensure full compliance. Overall, the broker is well-regulated and emphasizes transparency to ensure that client interests are always protected.

IC Markets Pricing

IC Markets offers some of the tightest spreads in the market. The broker's cTrader Account and Raw Spread Account offer spreads starting from 0.0 pips. The spreads for the Standard Account start at 1.0 pips. In addition to this, the broker also charges commissions depending on the account type. The cTrader Raw Spread Account and the Raw Spread Account come with commissions of $3 per trade and $3.5 per trade, respectively. There are no commissions charged for the Standard Account.

Overall, the pricing and fee schedule offered by the broker is among the best in the industry. The spreads offered are fairly tight, and the commissions are also very affordable given the exceptionally narrow raw spreads available in two of the account types. Furthermore, the broker supports leverage of 500:1, which can help users magnify the capital used to fund their accounts. Moreover, there are no fees charged by IC Markets for any client deposits or withdrawals. Better still, there are no inactivity fees.

IC Markets Reliability & Security

IC Markets offers three major trading platforms to its users. These include cTrader, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. All three platforms can be accessed via desktops as well as web-browsers and internet-connected mobile devices. The broker also offers mobile apps for both Android and iOS.

Furthermore, the broker's platforms are well-known for their ultra-low latency order execution. IC Markets is connected to two Equinix data centers in London and New York, delivering exceptionally reliable and secure connectivity for its traders. Both these data centers use dedicated fiber-optic networks to ensure that orders are executed instantly with minimal slippage.

Overall, the broker's trading platforms are highly reliable and intuitive. These platforms also offer certain advanced features including built-in spread monitoring, automated close of trades with custom order templates, and ladder trading. In addition, the platforms also offer real-time pricing updates to users. We did not encounter any issues with the trading platforms during our testing.

For their noteworthy efforts to deliver stellar trading conditions, IC Markets has been awarded several titles over the years including the following:

  • ADVFN International Financial Awards Best ECN Broker 2019
  • Forex Magnates Awards Best Retail Broker Execution 2013 Winner
  • Asia-Pacific Financial Investment Association Financial Institution of the Year 2012

IC Markets User Experience

Beyond the emphasis on superior trading conditions, IC Markets offers an excellent experience for users. Some of the features offered by the broker include alarm managers, correlation metrics, as well as sentiment maps. Users can leverage these resources and tools to make more informed trading decisions. Additionally, the broker also ensures that it is fully focused on user education between advanced trading support including web TV and video tutorials.

To give users the utmost support, the broker also ensures that it’s customer services representatives are well-trained and versed in many different subjects related to trading, 3rd-party integrations, and much more. The broker's customer service team is active 24/7, thereby ensuring that all queries can be handled expediently if issues or questions arise.

The customer service team can provide support in a wide range of languages and can be contacted via various channels, including phone, email, as well as webchat. The FAQ section of the broker's website is also extremely helpful, providing detailed answers to relevant questions. It’s even searchable so that clients comfortable seeking out their answers can identify the right information quickly.

Overall, the user experience delivered by IC Markets ranks among the best in the business. The broker has placed great emphasis on meeting the needs of all its users. The broker's platforms are excellent, and the trading support offered by it is also extremely helpful. IC Markets offers a host of benefits, including quick trade execution and advanced charting tools, thereby adding to the advantages that traders are entitled to.

Final Thoughts on IC Markets

It’s no wonder that IC Markets is a market leader when it comes to order execution and foreign exchange trading volumes. Given the excellent benefits that clients receive such as rapid order execution, tight spreads, deep liquidity, value-added tools, and a wide range of assets, the ecosystem is very inviting for investors, especially professionals, who seek top-tier trading conditions.

Adding to its reliable and secure trading conditions, the broker is also fully regulated in three jurisdictions, proving once again its commitment to transparency and placing client interests first. Finally, IC Markets places great emphasis on customer service, providing 24/7 support to its users. Altogether, the value proposition is one of a kind and ensures that all manner of traders maximize their investing experience with advanced tools, breathtaking speed, and optimal support.

Trading Platform Screenshots

Contact Info

laptop Website: www.icmarkets.com

IC Markets FAQs

Q: Can I register for a demo account?
A: Yes, IC Markets users can readily register for a demo account with a few simple details including country of residence, first name, last name, email, and phone number. The demo account is available for all three account types and allows users to test every trading platforms’ features.

Q: Are US citizens permitted to register for IC Markets?
A: At present, US citizens are not permitted to register for IC Markets. This is because the broker is not regulated in the US. Nevertheless, the broker does accept clients from 140 other countries and territories around the world.

Q: What are the different account types offered by IC Markets?
A: As of now, IC Markets offers three major account types. These include the cTrader Account, the Raw Spread Account, and the Standard Account. Moreover, there is a Shariah-compliant Islamic option. Each account type delivers unique features and attributes depending on user preferences.

Q: Does IC Markets offer mobile trading?
A: Clients of the IC Markets ecosystem can trade using their mobile phones and other internet-connected mobile devices. The broker's platforms are fully compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems and there are also browser-based versions available to maximize accessibility. 

Q: Will my funds be secure with IC Markets?
A: IC Markets ensures that all customer funds are held in segregated accounts. Furthermore, all customer funds are also fully insured, thereby providing an extra layer of security.

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