Summary

Markets.com is a global forex and CFD brokerage firm founded in 2008. The company is the brand name of Playtech Limited – an FTSE250 index constituent company listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). With its regional office in the UK, the company serves clients through its five regulated entities worldwide. Besides providing access to multiple trading platforms, the company offers a wide selection of financial instruments. Clients can use the company’s proprietary trading channels or explore trading opportunities using the industry’s most renowned trading platforms like MT4/MT5. Moreover, 2,200+ tradable assets are available to trade across various financial markets, such as forex, indices, stocks, commodities, bonds, ETFs and cryptocurrencies at Markets.com.

The company keeps clients’ investments in segregated bank accounts and employs advanced security protocols to safeguard clients’ information from possible intrusion. Furthermore, risk management tools like Guaranteed Stop Loss (GSLs) are also available to help clients cater to slippage issues under highly volatile market conditions. The firm also offers negative balance protection and indemnity insurance of up to £85,000 per client in the UK if the company becomes insolvent. Similarly, global clients have funds protection of up to 20,000 €. In collaboration with different financial institutions and banks, the company ensures enough liquidity to fulfil clients’ orders round the clock.

Markets.com claims to offer market-beating low spreads and advanced technical and sentimental tools to help clients trade confidently. While the virtually funded demo account helps newbies learn the art of trading, skilled professionals can test various money management strategies without committing their real funds. The broker has minimal trading restrictions and doesn’t prevent clients from employing hedging or scalping trading techniques.

Notably, the company offers leverage up to 1:30 for clients in Europe and the UK. On the other hand, Asian or African clients can use the maximum leverage of up to 1:300. Its signup process is straightforward. Still, it can be time-consuming since the firm asks clients to complete the KYC process before being allowed to trade. There are multiple payment methods available to fund your account, including but not limited to Debit cards, Credit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and Wire transfers. Multilingual customer support is also accessible around the clock. While beginner-friendly trading platforms and rich educational resources seem to be the broker’s strength, the pricey structure makes the company fall short of being the best option for CFD trading. In this piece, we discuss the broker in detail.

Regulations

Operating as part of Finalto Group, the firm has five regulated entities in different jurisdictions around the world, and they include:

Global: Markets.com is authorized to conduct business in the British Virgin Islands by the Financial Services Commission (‘FSC’).

• License number: SIBA/L/14/1067.

Safecap Investments Limited (CY): The company operates under the brand name of Safecap Investments Limited, regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).

• License number: 092/08.

Finalto Trading Ltd (UK): It owns and operates Markets.com in the UK and it’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

• License number: 607305

Finalto (Australia) Pty Ltd: This entity is subject to Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) regulations in Australia.

• Licence number: 424008

Finalto Pty Limited (South Africa): Markets.com is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (often known as ‘FSCA’) and is owned and controlled by Finalto Pty Limited (South Africa).

• Licence number: 46860

Supported Countries

The broker welcomes traders from most countries, including but not limited to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Norway, France, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Denmark, the UK, and more.

Available Assets

The brokerage firm provides access to 2,200+ financial instruments across multiple asset classes, such as forex, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies and ETFs.

Cryptocurrencies

When you trade cryptocurrencies with Markets.com, you can access 20+ different crypto assets with the ability to speculate on ever-changing crypto prices without owning the underlying coins. You don’t need a wallet; all you have to do is choose to go short or long, following your opinion of the market’s trajectory. Clients can trade bitcoin, litecoin, ripple, ether, and other cryptocurrencies, or you can explore the company’s one-of-a-kind CryptoBlend basket for enhanced market exposure.

Stocks

Whether you are an investor with a long-term perspective or looking to trade on a short-term basis, the company provides leveraged trading on 1,800+ CFD stocks, including but not limited to GlaxoSmithKline, Vodafone, Barclays, Jumbo, Titan Cement, etc.

Commodities

Clients can trade 25+ commodities at Markets.com. The company offers integrated analytical and risk management tools and a sophisticated trading environment to trade commodities like Gold, Brent Oil, Crude Oil, etc.

Indices

The firm lets you speculate on 30+ different indices in cash and futures markets. These indexes include the USA 30, the Germany 30, the USA 100, and the UK 100.

Forex

The company offers access to dozens of major, minor, and exotic currency pairings with a CFD account, enabling you to trade your favourite pair by selecting it from a list of 60+ FX pairs.

ETFs

ETFs, also known as exchange-traded funds, are financial instruments that replicate the performance of other assets, like indices, commodities and stock markets. The company offers 60+ tradable assets in the ETFs category, including but not limited to the All country world Index, Innovation, S&P500, Fintech, etc.

Bonds

Clients can trade the volatility in the prices of government bonds now being offered by Markets.com, such as US Technology, Buffet Blend, E-commerce, and Social Media.

Spreads

Markets.com keeps pricing as transparent as possible, allowing you to judge your trading deals armed with all the relevant facts. Thanks to the upfront information on pricing, you can calculate the entire cost of your trades in advance. However, since the company employs a variable spread charging policy, the trading costs could vary for different financial instruments depending on your chosen account type and entity. You should always consult the broker’s official website to know the actual costs.

Leverage

Markets.com allows clients to use various leverage levels, depending on the country they have registered their account and the subsidiary they have chosen. The company sets a predetermined maximum level of leverage, and it is in line with the instructions of the concerned regulatory body and is not subject to modification. Clients residing in Europe and the UK can trade currencies using a leverage up to 1:30, while major indices and gold can be traded with a leverage up to 1:20. Minor indices and other commodities are available with leverage up to 1:10. They can also access shares and cryptocurrencies for leverage of up to 1:5 and 1:2 as well.

On the other hand, clients from Africa and Asia can trade currencies with a leverage up to 1:300 and trade commodities and indices with a leverage up to 1:200. ETFs and Blends are available at leverage up to 1:33 and 1:10 respectively. They can also trade shares and cryptocurrencies with leverage up to 1:10.

Fees & Commissions

Typically, brokers charge two types of fees: trading fees (spreads, commissions, and rollover fees) and non-trading fees (fees on deposits and withdrawals, inactivity charges). Markets.com’s pricing structure is clear and transparent for each category. You know what fees you will incur for trading a specific asset and what other charges you need to pay.

Trading Fees

Spreads

Spreads refer to the difference in the prices quoted for the purchase or sale of an underlying asset. Brokers receive compensation for their services through spread charging.

Markets.com charges variable spreads starting from 0.80 pips on major currency pairs like EUR/USD.

Commission

The company doesn’t charge any commission from their clients.

Rollover Rate/Swap Fees

The company charges a swap fee from clients for keeping their positions open overnights. The financing charge set by the broker for different asset classes is as follows.

Forex – 3.75%

Indices – 3.75%

Commodities – 6%

Shares – 11%

Non-Trading Fees

Although the company doesn’t charge any fee on deposits and withdrawals, you may still incur an account inactivity fee and currency conversion fee, as discussed below.

Currency Conversion Fee

Currency conversion fees apply when the underlying tradable asset’s quoted currency differs from your account’s base currency. The broker sets the currency conversion fee at 0.6% of the transaction amount.

Inactivity Fee

The company applies a $10 inactivity fee per month on accounts that remain dormant for more than 90 consecutive days. The inactivity fee is charged as a service fee for maintaining your account.

Trading Platforms

Considering the trading needs of individual traders, the company offers a diverse range of trading platforms, which include:

1. Desktop Trading Platform (MarketsX)
2. Mobile Trading Platform

Desktop Trading Platform (MarketsX)

Besides being easy to use, the company’s desktop trading platform provides access to the most extensive collection of fundamental and technical trading tools, available only to members and free of charge.

Charting Tools

The platform comes loaded with multiple features and thousands of tradable assets to explore. 90+ indicators are accessible for technical analysis in MarketsX’s charting options, while a handful of drawing tools are at your disposal for technical analysis.

Multi-Tasking

With the platform’s trading cube features, it becomes easy for clients to view multiple tradable assets and streamline their trading activities.

Trading Tools

Besides forex signals, the news feed truly helps clients react actively to market developments. The desktop platform also enables clients to interact with knowledgeable individuals and the company’s expert professionals in real time.

How to Open an Account and Trade CFDs on MarketsX?

Trading CFDs on MarketsX is straightforward. You don’t have to download anything. Your PC’s browser is enough to let you trade through the platform. All you need is to follow the steps listed below to sign up for an account with the company and start placing trades.

1. Visit the Markets.com homepage and click on the register button on the top right corner of the page to access the registration form.
2. Enter your details on the registration page. For example, your name, email ID, and password, and click on the continue button. You can also use your existing Facebook, Gmail ID, or Mac account.
3. Select your country of residence from the drop-down list populated with all supported countries, and then click Next.
4. Provide your phone number and confirm your address details, including city name and postal code.
5. Provide personal information such as the amount you wish to deposit, your source of income, etc.
6. Confirm your employment statuses, such as if you are a salaried person or businessman and your position in a relevant role.
7. Confirm your previous market exposure. For example, have you ever traded CFDs before, how many trades have you placed so far, etc?
8. Read the terms and conditions and mark your acceptance. You will get redirected to the company’s dashboard.
9. Click on the ‘Add funds’ and ‘Start trading’ buttons on the dashboard next to the company’s monogram.
10. Select the amount you wish to add to your account from the predefined values or enter it manually.
11. Enter your payment details. For instance, if you’re making payments using cards, you need to enter your full name, card number, expiry date, and the three-pin security code from the back of your card.
12. Authenticate your payment details to complete the transaction.
13. Navigate back to the dashboard and find your prefered tradable instrument using the search field. You can also use the side navigation panel predefined categories for the same.
14. Select your desired tradable instrument, define trade values and click on the buy or sell button to initiate a trade.

Mobile Trading App

Considering the trading needs of on-the-go clients, the broker also offers a custom-built mobile trading app. It offers nearly all of the same functionality accessible through MarketsX, but with a more compact interface. For example, most desktop platform research resources are now available in the mobile app’s Trading Tools section, which is impressive. However, some drawing tools and indicators seem to be missing from the mobile platform’s charting feature, which leaves a noticeable void in the mobile experience. Moreover, the market watch doesn’t synchronise either.

How to Open an Account and Trade CFDs on Markets.com Mobile Trading App?

Since you already know how to open an account and trade on MarketsX, let us check how it works on a mobile device.

1. Visit Google Play Store or App Store to download the respective version of the Markets.com app on your mobile device.
2. Open the app on your mobile phone and enter the email ID and password. Alternatively, use your existing Gmail, Mac or Facebook ID.
3. Select the country of your residence and confirm that you are not a United States resident.
4. Enter your name, date of birth, phone number and residence address.
5. Enter your employment status, confirm your profession and indicate your estimated annual income and savings.
6. Enter your education level, the field of study, and previous market exposure to trading CFDs and Shares.
7. Answer a few questionnaires to let the platform know you are well aware of the risk involved in trading CFDs.
8. Read the terms and conditions and mark your acceptance.
9. Access the dashboard, click on the account menu, and then click on the add funds tab.
10. Select your preferred payment method and indicate the amount you wish to deposit. For card payments, you must enter your name, the card number, the expiry date, and the three-pin security code.
11. Authenticate your payment details to complete the transaction.
12. Return to the dashboard and find your desired tradable asset using the search tab.
13. Click on your selected financial instrument, define trading values and click on the buy or sell button to open a position.

Account Types

Markets.com is an online trading platform that offers a variety of account types to cater to different levels of trading experience and preferences. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trader, there is an account type that suits your needs. Currently, the broker offers three types of accounts listed below.

Demo Account

The company also offers a virtually funded demo account. Clients can practise different money management and trading skills using the demo account without fearing the risk of loss. Markets.com’s demo accounts come with a $10,000 balance and three months expiry time.  

Standard Account

Markets.com combines its offerings under one CFD account, eliminating the hassle of switching between different versions. Clients can trade 2,200+ tradable instruments using the standard account. The minimum amount to get started with the broker is $100 or equivalent across all its subsidiaries.

However, clients need to complete the KYC process before being allowed to add funds to their accounts. You can use a copy of your National ID Card, Passport, or Driving licence to verify your identity. The company will also need your bank statement and a copy of your utility bill to confirm your address.

Professional Account

Though the company also has an option of a professional account, it is reserved only for eligible clients. If you wish to sign up for a professional account, you must meet at least two conditions per the following criteria.

1. Your portfolio size, including cash deposits, exceeds 500,000 €.
2. You have at least one year of experience working as a professional in the financial sector.
3. You have sufficiently traded the financial markets over the last four quarters with an average frequency exceeding 10 trades each quarter.

Note: Professional accounts are only available for UK and European clients. Clients in Australia and British Virgin Islands can only access the classic account type.

Account’s Base Currency

Markets.com supports multiple currencies for account opening, including EUR, GBP, NOK, AUD, DKK PLN, ZAR, SEK, USD, and CHF.

Payment Methods

Markets.com offers several payment methods to fund your trading account and withdraw your profits. Let’s review both deposits and withdrawals method below.

Deposit Methods

The broker accepts multiple payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, including Debit Cards, Credit Cards, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and Wire transfers. Clients can also make payments using Fast Bank Transfers, iDeal, and Sofort. The minimum deposit amount for each payment method is $100 or the equivalent. Clients can fund their accounts in EUR, NOK, GBP, DKK, CZK, SEK, PLN, AED, and USD.

The table below shows the deposit transfer time for each payment method.

The company doesn’t accept third-party payments for either depositing or withdrawing money from your account in compliance with AML directives. Therefore, the source of funding should be in your name only.

Withdrawal Methods

Markets.com processes withdrawals via the same methods clients used while depositing funds to their accounts. While the company processes card payments instantaneously, the bank transfers could take three working days to reach your account.

Please be informed that the company doesn’t process withdrawal requests for unverified accounts. Therefore, clients must complete the KYC process before making a withdrawal request.

The minimum withdrawal amount also varies depending on your selected payment method and jurisdiction. Below is the minimum limit for each payment method.

Credit Cards and Debits Cards: $10/£10/10 €

Skrill & Neteller: $5/£5/5 €

Wire Transfers: $100/£100/100 €

PayPal: $10/£10/10 €

Note: European clients can withdraw even lower amounts via wire transfers (i-e, 20 €).

How to withdraw funds from Markets.com?

To request a withdrawal, click on the Menu icon by the top right corner and choose the “Withdrawal.” Select the withdrawal method, enter the amount you want to withdraw and confirm the transaction. Your withdrawal will be processed in 3-5 working days.

Education

Markets.com offers a solid infrastructure for conducting research besides providing excellent educational resources. Despite this, there is an opportunity for additional improvement since the company is still behind market giants. The broker may consider improving its research offering by including the company’s in-house experts-created content, such as forex news videos or heatmap tools.

Investigating the several sections available under the Sentiment tab is also satisfying. For instance, the Insider Trades, Hedge Fund Confidence, Bloggers’ Opinions and Analyst Recommendations. The fundamental section contains a wealth of tools, one of which is the Events & Trade section, which provides insightful event-related analysis in addition to economic news and market commentary.

Customer Support

Markets.com offers excellent customer support round the clock except for weekends. Although the broker has compiled an extensive collection of common questions under its dedicated FAQs section, clients can reach the company for further assistance anytime. The multilingual customer support staff is friendly to talk to and empathetic to help. We raised queries with the broker to check its efficiency via all available channels, including telephone, email and live chat.

Surprisingly, the company reverted to us within no time and with a proper resolution to our concerns. The average response time on the chat window is under 2 minutes, while the company answers telephone calls within a minute. Email correspondence can, however, take 24 hours. The company also has representation on different social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Reviews

What do Reddit Users say About Markets.com?

Markets.com has mixed opinions among Reddit users. Although there were not many threads discussing the broker, we came across several posts where some people seemed to be appreciating the platform while others criticised it for various issues.

A Reddit member shared his father’s experience with the company amid account setup. According to him, his dad was thoroughly guided until the issue was resolved. Moreover, he also said that his father had been using the company for quite some time but never had any issues with the broker.

However, it doesn’t mean nobody was unhappy with the company’s services. For instance, another anonymous member denounced the company for its pricey fee structure.

What Quora Users Say About Markets.com?

There isn’t much information available about Markets.com on Quora. We tried many keywords to find as much information as possible, but our search came empty-handed every time. However, we still managed to find a couple of threads where people seemed to compare Markets.com with other brokers. Unfortunately, Markets.com wasn’t the one people voted for. It seems the Quora community didn’t like the platform.

What Trustpilot Users Say About Markets.com?

Markets.com holds an excellent rating of 4.4 out of 5 at Trustpilot. While 76% of clients have shown extreme satisfaction with the company and rated it a perfect option to trade forex and CFDs, only 11% of investors found it a wrong choice.

According to 8% of customers, the company offers great services, while the rest think the company falls in the average category compared to other brokers available in the industry. Overall, the Trustpilot community seems to be supporting the platform wholeheartedly. Image 20

What Forexpeacearmy Users Say About Markets.com?

With a rating of 1.946 out of 5 after 52 reviews, Markets.com doesn’t look like the prefered choice of investors. While most users have reported account closure issues with the company, some clients also accused the broker of its malpractices amid trade execution. Clients believe that the broker manipulates their positions.

People also seemed unhappy with the company’s account registration and verification process. Many reported withdrawal issues as well. Although a few of them cast their vote in favour of the broker, the majority still don’t recommend signing up with it.

Is Markets.com safe?

Yes! Markets.com is a global broker heavily regulated in various jurisdictions worldwide. The company is well-compliant with all AML directives. Besides keeping clients’ investments in segregated bank accounts, the broker employs advanced level protection, such as two-step authentication and SSL web encryption, to protect clients’ confidential information from intruders. Other safety tools, including negative balance protection and Guaranteed Stop Loss (GSLs), are also available to limit clients’ risk exposure.

However, the risk of loss while trading in such a highly volatile market remains unavoidable. Moreover, CFD trading involves leverage products which carry even further risk exposure. Therefore, signing up with the company is at the client’s sole discretion.

Other Products and services

Markets.com provides users with access to various supplementary research tools and information.

X-Ray

XRay gives you privileged access to the global trading community. It functions as your own individualised and customised live-streaming solution for financial information. The analysis team gives important news, thoughts, and commentary that helps you make critical trading decisions. They provide expert perspectives on everything significant in the markets. You can watch it as it’s happening live, or you can record it and watch it later.

Thomson Reuters Stock Report

The downloadable stock report that Thomson Reuters has compiled comes with valuable information and unique perspectives. It involves a study specific to the company and contains a rating for the stock backed by various indicators and essential data. It provides a comprehensive look at equities and is updated every day.

Bottom Line

Markets.com offers a user-friendly trading environment besides providing a balanced selection of tradable assets. The broker’s commission-free pricing structure continues to be competitive for day traders. On the other hand, swap rates on leveraged overnight positions are relatively expensive for traders holding positions for the long term. Being a CFD broker, the company offers instant trade execution with low latency and minimal slippage issues.

The company holds regulations from top-tier regulators around the world. While a diverse range of trading platforms, a rich product portfolio and excellent research and educational tools appear to be the company’s strengths, the pricey fee structure could outclass them all, and clients might start looking for a budgeted trading option instead.