What is HFM？

HFM, a trading name of HF Markets Group, founded in 2010, is a financial broker that provides both individual and institutional clients with online trading services. HFM has been headquartered in Cyprus but serves several global offices in Dubai, South Africa, and offshore entities in St Vincent and the Grenadines, all under respective regulatory authorities.

In the following article, we will analyse the characteristics of this broker in all its dimensions, providing you with easy and well-organised information. If you are interested, read on.

What Type of Broker is HFM？

HFM is a Market Making (MM) broker, which means that it acts as a counterparty to its clients in trading operations. That is, instead of connecting directly to the market, HFM acts as an intermediary and takes the opposite position to its clients. As such, it can offer faster order execution speed, tighter spreads and greater flexibility in terms of the leverage offered.

However, this also means that HFM has a certain conflict of interest with their clients, as their profits come from the difference between the bid and ask price of assets, which could lead to them making decisions that are not necessarily in the best interests of their clients. It is important for traders to be aware of this dynamic when trading with HFM or any other MM broker.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• HFM is a well-regulated company by various reputable authorities, providing a high level of security to traders' funds and personal information.

• The company offers a wide range of trading instruments, including forex pairs, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and stocks, with over 3500 instruments to choose from.

• There are multiple account types available, including Premium, Pro, Zero, and Cent, catering to the different needs of traders.

• HFM offers rich educational resources such as webinars, video tutorials, and daily analysis, providing valuable insights for traders.

• The company provides multiple trading platforms including MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, and their proprietary HFM platform, giving traders a wide range of options to choose from.

• HFM offers various customer channels, through multiple channels including email, phone, and live chat.

Cons:

• The maximum leverage offered by HFM is up to 1:2000, which can be risky for inexperienced traders.

• HFM does not provide services to residents of the USA, Canada, Sudan, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Mauritius, Myanmar, Yemen, Afghanistan, Vanuatu and EEA countries.

Is HFM Safe or Scam？

• HF Markets (Europe) Ltd is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission - CySEC, with regulatory license number 183/12, and regulated by CNMV under license number 3427

• HF Markets (UK) Limited, its UK entity, under the regulation of the Financial Conduct Authority - FCA in the UK (license number 801701)

• HF Markets (DIFC) Limited, the Dubai entity under regulation of Dubai Financial Services Authority - DFSA (license number F004885)

• HF Markets (Seychelles) Ltd, authorized and offshore regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA), with Regulatory License No. SD015

HFA appears to be a serious player when it comes to offering protection measures for its clients. They provide market leading insurance, positioning themselves as an industry leader in financial safety.

In addition to this, they maintain their accounts with major banks and ensure the segregation of client funds for added security. They also provide protection against negative balances, helping traders avoid owing more than they've invested.

Along with these measures, HFA implements robust risk management strategies to further safeguard their clients' assets. This shows their commitment to providing a secure and reliable trading environment for their users.

Market Instruments

HFM offers a diverse range of more than 3500 instruments across various asset classes, including forex, commodities, metals, bonds, energies, ETFs, indices, cryptos, and stocks. This extensive offering provides traders with a wide range of investment opportunities and the ability to diversify their portfolio. Traders can access multiple asset classes within a single platform, making it convenient and efficient to trade across various markets.

However, with such a large number of instruments available, it can be overwhelming for beginner traders and may require more in-depth knowledge of multiple asset classes and their underlying factors to create effective trading strategies. Additionally, some instruments may have low liquidity or high volatility, leading to higher risks, and certain instruments may have high spreads or commissions, increasing trading costs.

Account Types

HFM indeed offers a range of accounts to suit various trading styles and levels. They provide the option of Premium, Pro, Zero, and Cent accounts, catering to both novice and experienced traders.

The Pro account requires an initial deposit of $/€100/₦50,000/¥13,000 to get started. Interestingly, HFM does not impose a minimum deposit requirement for its Premium, Zero, and Cent accounts, making them highly accessible options.

Alongside these, they also offer free demo accounts, allowing potential traders to test out their platform and develop their trading strategies before committing real money.

How to Open an Account？

Opening an account with HFM typically involves a few standard steps:

Step 1: Visit the HFM website and click on the “Register” button.

Step 2: Fill out the registration form with your personal information such as country of residence, email address, and password.

Step 3: Once you've completed the registration form, you'll need to submit some documents to verify your identity and address. This generally involves uploading a copy of your passport or national ID for identification and a utility bill or bank statement for proof of address.

Step 4: After identity verification, you can choose your account type. HFM offers Premium, Pro, Zero, and Cent accounts. The Pro account requires a minimum initial deposit of $/€100/₦50,000/¥13,000, while the other three types do not have a minimum deposit requirement.

Step 5: Once you've selected your account type, you can make the necessary deposit using your preferred method of payment.

Step 6: After your deposit is confirmed, your account should be set up and ready for trading.

Remember, HFM also offers a demo account for practicing trading strategies without risking real money. It's recommended to start there if you're new to trading or this platform.

Leverage

HFM offers a maximum leverage of up to 1:2000, which can be an attractive feature for traders looking to maximize their potential profits with a smaller investment. This high leverage also provides greater market exposure and trading opportunities, allowing traders to take advantage of price movements in various markets.

However, it is important to note that high leverage also comes with high risk and potential losses. Traders must exercise proper risk management and discipline to avoid margin calls and account liquidation. While this feature may attract experienced traders, it may not be suitable for all, especially beginners or those with limited capital.

Overall, the maximum leverage offered by HFM can be a valuable tool for traders, but it must be used responsibly and with caution.

Spreads & Commissions

HFM caters to different trading preferences with variable spreads across its account types.

The Premium and Cent accounts offer spreads starting from 1.2 pips. The Pro account has even lower spreads starting from 0.5 pips. The most versatile is the Zero account, which offers spreads from zero pips on forex and gold trading, providing an entry point for cost-effective trading.

However, specific information on the trading commissions is not disclosed directly. You might need to reach out to their customer service or check thoroughly on their website for further details on this.

Trading Platforms

HFM offers multiple trading platforms including the popular MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms as well as their proprietary HFM mobile app.

The MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms are widely used in the industry and provide traders with access to a wide range of trading tools and indicators.

The HFM mobile app is relatively new but has an intuitive user interface and advanced charting features. However, it may have limited customization options and a limited selection of third-party plugins and add-ons.

Some traders may find the platforms too complex to use, but overall, HFM's platform dimension offers a good variety of options for traders of all skill levels.

Deposits & Withdrawals

HFM indeed provides a variety of options to make deposit and withdrawal processes simple and flexible for its customers. They accept bank transfers, major credit/debit cards (Visa & MasterCard), and several electronic payment methods such as crypto, Fasapay, Neteller, PayRedeem, Skrill, and Bitpay.

The minimum deposit or withdrawal limit is quite low, set at $5 for most payment methods, which makes it convenient for traders of all sizes.

HFM minimum deposit vs other brokers

They also ensure cost-effectiveness by not charging for most deposits and withdrawals. The processing times for transactions can vary depending upon the chosen method. Importantly, they have a system in place where withdrawals submitted before 10:00am server time are processed the same business day between 7:00am and 5:00pm.

More details can be found in the below screenshots.

Education

HFM is deeply committed to trader education and offers a comprehensive suite of educational resources for traders at all levels. They provide in-depth trading courses that cover a wide range of topics, aiming to enhance traders' knowledge and trading skills.

Their portfolio of educational resources also includes engaging videos that explain intricate trading concepts in an easy-to-understand format.

They hold webinars and seminars (upcoming), giving both novice and experienced traders the opportunity to learn first-hand from industry experts.

Additionally, HFM provides insightful podcasts featuring discussions on various trading topics.

These educational offerings are designed to help traders better understand the markets and make well-informed trading decisions.

Customer Service

HFM offers multiple avenues of customer support to ensure all client queries and concerns are attended to. The live chat feature on their platform allows for real-time assistance, alongside a contact form for more comprehensive inquiries.

They can also be reached through their phone number: +44-2030978571 or via email at support@hfm.com.

For those who prefer social media interactions, they have an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn where they post regular updates and users can interact with them.

Lastly, for common questions, their FAQ section could be of help as it covers a range of general queries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Risk Warning

Online trading involves significant risk, and you may lose all of your invested capital. It is not suitable for all traders or investors. Please ensure that you understand the risks involved and note that the information provided in this review may be subject to change due to the constant updating of the company's services and policies.

In addition, the date on which this review was generated may also be an important factor to consider, as information may have changed since then. Therefore, readers are advised to always verify updated information directly with the company before making any decision or taking any action. Responsibility for the use of the information provided in this review rests solely with the reader.

General Information & Regulation

Charterprime is a global financial and foreign exchange brokerage group established in 2012, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The company adopts the STP processing system as its business model and is authorized and regulated by the ASIC in Australia, with regulatory license number 421210.

Markets Instruments

Financial instruments can be traded online with Charterprime include forex, precious metals, indices CFDs, and spot commodities.

Charterprime Account Types

Three account types are offered by Charterprime: the Variable account, the ECN account and the Swap-free account. The minimum initial deposit for three account is $100, the reasonable amount for most regular traders to get started.

Charterprime Leverage

CharterPrime as an Australia and New Zealand broker together with its obligations to local regulation still allows high leverage. The maximum trading leverage available by this broker is up to 1:500 for forex instruments and major currency pairs available for retail traders.

Spreads & Commissions

The average spread of the EURUSD for the Floating Spread Account is 2.0, the average spread of the EURGBP 1.9, and the average spread of the AUDUSD is 2.2. The average spread of ECN accounts for the EURUSD is 0.5, the average spread for the EURGBP 0.8, and the average spread for the AUDUSD is 0.7. The average spread of Gold Price in US dollar for Floating Spread Accounts is 3.8, and the average spread for Silver Price in US dollar is 3.4. The average spread of Gold Price in US dollar for ECN accounts is 1.5, and the spread for Silver Price in US dollar is 3.6. See the following swap chart:

Trading Platform

The MT4 trading platform used by Charter has powerful trading functions and analytical capabilities. Apart from Multiple order execution, it enables traders to conduct complete and flexible tradings. At the same time, it also integrates market charts, technical analysis, and order transactions. Three functions are integrated, allowing users to quickly determine trends and determine the best entry and exit time. Besides, the company also provides a multi-account management model, which refers to a practical and convenient way to manage accounts on behalf of clients and manage multiple accounts simultaneously from a single interface. It can quickly execute a large number of customer orders as long as the management account clicks a button, and a large number of transactions can be automatically allocated to their respective customer accounts.

Virtual Private Server (VPS)

VPS, also known as Virtual Private Server, is a stand-alone server that runs 24 hours per day. Traders can log into a VPS with a computer or mobile device, without any pullback issues caused by network failure or any other factor that can affect their trading progress. A VPS is suitable for and mainly used by traders who employ automated strategies which require uninterrupted access to the market 24 hours a day.

Deposit & Withdrawal

Deposit and withdrawal methods support Bitcoin (deposit time taking 1 day, and the withdrawal time taking 3 days, and the minimum withdrawal amount is 100 US dollars), USDT (the stable value currency U.S. dollar (USD) token Tether USD launched by the Ether company, USDTfor short, 1USDT equals 1 U.S. dollar, deposit taking 1 day, withdrawal taking 3 days, deposit and withdrawal fees are both 5%), UnionPay (no charge for deposit and withdrawal, deposit time taking 1 day, withdrawal taking 3 days , the minimum amount of gold withdrawal is US$100), wire transfer (the deposit and withdrawal taking 3-5 days, the withdrawal fee is 40 US dollars, and the minimum amount of withdrawal is 100 US dollars), Skrill (deposit taking 1 day, the withdrawal taking 3 Day, no deposit fee, withdrawal fee is 1%, the minimum amount for withdrawal is 100 USD), Neteller (Deposit time taking 1 day, withdrawal taking 3 days, no deposit fee, withdrawal fee is 2%, the maximum is 30 USD , The minimum withdrawal amount is US$100), and Local Gateway (currently supported currencies are Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, deposit taking 1 day, withdrawal time taking 3 days, no deposit and withdrawal fees, and the minimum withdrawal amount is 100 US dollars).

Educational & Research Tools

There are no other educational resources provided by the broker apart from a baic glossary, FAQ, user and installation guiders fro the MT4 trading platform.

Additional research tools offered by CharterPrime consist of market news, updates and an economic calendar of featured events and data releases.

Customer Support

CharterPrime Customer Support team can be contacted within working hours through Live Chat, email or contact form.

Here are some contact details:

Telephone: +852 8175 6090

Email: enquiry@charterprime.com

Or you can also follow this broker on some social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin.

Pros & Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charterprime regulated？

Charterprime is authorized and regulated by the ASIC in Asutralia under regulatory license number 421210.

Does Charterprime offer a demo account？

Yes, demo accounts are available with Charterprime.

What trading platform does CharterPrime provide？

CharterPrime makes the popular trading platform MT4 available.

What are CharterPrime's customer service hours？

The CharterPrime customer service team is available 24/5 from Monday to Friday.

Can I change my leverage with Charterprime？

Yes, leverage can be changed by contacting the Charterprime customer support team.