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

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

What is GO Markets？

GO Markets is an Australia-based Forex and CFDs broker founded in 2006. The broker provides 1000+ tradable CFD instruments including forex, shares, commodities, indices, metals, and treasuries. GO Markets is regulated by the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC in Cyprus, the FSC in Mauritius, and the FSA (Seychelles).

GO Markets is one of the first Australian MetaTrader 4 brokers, later on, it added MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, cTrader and mobile apps to its suite of services. The broker is well known for its strict compliance and competitive spreads.

Pros and cons of GO Markets

GO Markets has multiple regulations from recognized organizations in the industry, which gives greater credibility and security to its clients.

It offers a wide variety of financial instruments, including more than 1000 instruments, including Forex CFDs, Share CFDs, Index CFDs, Metals CFDs, Cryptocurrency CFDs, Commodity CFDs and Treasury CFDs. It has a market-leading trading platform, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which has numerous technical analysis tools and customizable charts.

It offers excellent customer service, available in multiple languages and through multiple communication channels.

Deposits and withdrawals are processed quickly, with a one business day lead time for withdrawals.

It has an educational section on its website that offers materials for beginners and advanced traders.

As for the cons, we found that the main point is that the conditions are different in each entity. Another point is that the brokers support is not available 24/7.

General Information and Regulation of GO Markets

GO MARKETS is an online forex brokerage company that offers clients access to a wide variety of financial instruments, including Forex CFDs, Share CFDs, Index CFDs, Metals CFDs, Cryptocurrency CFDs, Commodity CFDs and Treasury CFDs. The company is regulated by multiple regulatory bodies including ASIC, CYSEC, FSC and FSA.

• GO Markets Pty Ltd - authorized by ASIC (Australia) registration AFSL: 254963 ABN: 85 081 864 039

• GO Markets Ltd - authorized by CySEC (Cyprus) registration no. 322/17

• GO Markets International Ltd - authorized by the FSA (Seychelles) license no. SD043

  

Market Instruments

With Go Markets, clients can easily trade with over 1,000 products, covering Fore, Shares CFDs, Indices, Metals, Commodities, and Treasury.

GO Markets Leverage

GO Markets Leverage depends on the entity you have an account with since leverage falls under certain regulations. International Traders can access high-leverage ratios. For forex trading, GO Markets Pty Ltd, Mauritius (FSC regulated) offers generous leverage up to 1:500.

GO Markets Account Types

The broker offers two account types Standard and GO Plus Accounts with the flexibility to manage the trading way and choose the best fit. So there is an option between a Standard trading proposal based on spread charges and access to a true ECN environment via GO Plus+ specifically designed through light-fast technology. The Standard account caters to traders seeking accessibility, requiring a minimum deposit of $200 and offering leverage up to 500:1 across forex, metals, commodities, and indices markets. Conversely, the Pro account is geared towards more experienced traders, demanding a higher minimum deposit of $300 while providing the same leverage and instrument range as the Standard account. Notably, the account can be only opened USD.

Notably, The GO Plus+ account supports 9 different base currencies including AUD, GBP, EUR, NZD, USD, SGD, CHF, CAD, HKD.

GO Markets Fees and Spreads

Apart from offering one of the best spreads for the products suite, GO Markets is also the most competitive in terms of holding costs or overnight swaps. GO Markets offers Swap-Free Accounts to traders available on the Standard and GO Plus+ accounts on Meta trader platforms. GO Markets Swap-Free account is available to legitimate holders who are Muslim and cannot use “swaps” due to their religious belief.

Further, the GO Plus Account is already a choice for advanced traders or those whose strategy requires it as spreads from 0.0 pips and trading costs inbuilt in the commission as low as 2.50$ per side.

GO Markets spreads are aggregated from 22+ Tier 1 and 2 liquidity providers making them go as low as 0.0 pips. The GO Markets average spreads for Standard and GO Plus+ accounts are listed on their page. However, the data is provided for general information only and is taken over a one-month period. Prices shown may vary. For instance, see below a comparison of the Standard spread offering, as well as your comparing fees to another popular broker.

Besides, always consider overnight fee as a cost, also known as Rollover rate or interest for holding positions open overnight.

GO Markets Trading Platforms

In terms of trading platform suppored, GO Markets offers a robust suite, which makes it stands tall among most brokers. MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms provide advanced charting tools, expert advisors, and VPS options. The user-friendly cTrader platform enables advanced customization and order capabilities. Copy trading solutions like MetaTrader Copy Trader and cTrader Copy Trading allow following successful traders' strategies. Mobile trading apps for Android and iOS ensure access on-the-go. The GO WebTrader offers a web-based MT4 and MT5 experience without downloads.

Trading Tools

Additionally, GO Markets offers the following trading tools to enhance trading experience:

1. VPS (Virtual Private Server): A VPS provides continuous access and optimal speed for MT4 and MT5 platforms, ensuring vital speed and uninterrupted trading.

2. Autochartist: Autochartist specializes in real-time price action alerts, volatility analysis, and event impact assessments, allowing traders to easily apply charts and stay informed about market movements.

3. Trading Central: Trading Central offers a collection of programs that provide actionable investment support with 24-hour multi-asset coverage and analysis, empowering traders with comprehensive market insights.

4. MetaTrader Genesis: MetaTrader Genesis is a comprehensive suite of Expert Advisors (EAs) designed to enhance the capabilities of the standard MetaTrader platform, enabling advanced trading automation and strategy implementation.

GO Markets Deposits and Withdrawals

GO Markets offers fee-free deposits through various payment methods, including Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, Neteller, and bank/wire transfers. These options support multiple currencies like AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, and others, serving traders across different regions.

Generally, GO Markets enables fee-free internal withdrawals. However, withdrawals to non-Mauritian banking institutions may incur fees from intermediary banks and the recipient's bank. Withdrawal requests received before 7 AM MUT are processed the same day, while later requests are handled the next business day. All withdrawals are processed back to the original funding source for security. While GO Markets ensures a seamless withdrawal process, external fees from third-party banks may apply in certain cases.

GO Markets Customer Support

GO Markets Customer Service was rated #1, in addition to its great Awards received in other aspects. Successful brokers recognized the need for quality service, but of course, not everyone can have one.

with 14+ language coverage, GO Markets stands ahead in that point too, so you can count on relevant and fast answers from the Customer Support GO Markets. The brokers team is available around the clock and supports international languages accessible via Live Chat, email, and phone lines in Australia, the UK and internationally as well. And although the broker does not provide 24/7 client support, it has highly acclaimed 24/5 client support.

GO Markets Education

And of course, since novice traders always pass through great challenges while exploring trading opportunities, GO Markets provide the educational materials and research resources necessary to perform seamless trading. Eventually, GO Markets educational programs and its GO Markets Academy are numerously award-winning materials that are defined by all levels of traders and available for Free use.

So in GO Markets Academy and Education Centre, you will find Forex trading learning courses, Video Tutorials, also Tutorials and regularly held Seminars and Webinars in various languages. Also, Demo Account is offered for free use with no limits where beginners can place their strategy at the test or see GO Markets environment.

As for the Research tools, besides very comprehensive research inbuilt into Metatrader 4 platform, GO Markets also cooperates with Autochartist and Trading Central providers so you can use its free trading signals and ideas for your benefit. Besides, thousands of MetaTrader 4 & 5 Add-ons remain at your suite which is defined by the instrument and specified criteria, where also you may use the great tool MT4 Genesis.

FAQs

GO Markets knows that knowing where to find the information that you need and having the confidence that you can find the answers to your trading questions could be very helpful with your day-to-day trading.

Use these comprehensive Forex Trading FAQs to learn all the basics as well as the more advanced topics in forex trading. GO Markets has covered the lot from how to open a forex trading account to how to use the MetaTrader trading platform, Forex trading system, and more. Whether you're new to trading FX or you have several years of experience trading currencies, you will find a lot of useful information in these FAQs.

Q: What is the minimum deposit required to open an account with Go Markets？

A: The minimum deposit required varies depending on the account type you choose. The Standard account requires a minimum deposit of $200, while the Pro account requires a minimum deposit of $300.

Q: Does Go Markets offer Islamic (Swap-Free) accounts？

A: Yes, Go Markets offers Islamic accounts, also known as Swap-Free accounts, which comply with Islamic financial principles by avoiding interest charges or swap fees.

Q: What is Go Markets' leverage policy？

A: Go Markets offers leverage up to 500:1 for both Standard and Pro accounts.

Risk Warning

Trading online carries inherent risks, including the potential loss of invested capital. It may not be suitable for all traders or investors. It's essential to understand and acknowledge these risks before engaging in online trading. Additionally, please note that the information provided in this review is subject to change as the company updates its services and policies. The date of this review's generation is also crucial, as information may have evolved since then. Therefore, readers are encouraged to verify updated information directly with the company before making any decisions or taking action. The reader assumes full responsibility for the use of the information provided in this review.