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.

It is important to 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.

In this review, if there is a conflict between the image and the text content, the text content should prevail. However, we recommend that you open the official website for further consultation.

Pros and cons of HYCM

Pros:

• - Wide range of financial instruments available for trading.

• - MT4 and MT5 trading platforms available, as well as a proprietary platform called PrimeTrader.

• - A free demo account is available for traders to practice without risking their real money.

• - Multilingual customer service available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

• - HYCM offers an Islamic account for traders who require an interest-free account.

• - Regulation by the FCA of the United Kingdom, CYSEC of Cyprus and CIMA of the Cayman Islands.

Cons:

• - The minimum deposit of $100 may be high for some traders.

• - The company does not accept traders from the United States.

HYCM General Information and Regulation

HYCM is a UK-registered forex broker and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cyprus Securities Commission (CYSEC) and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). With a track record of over 40 years in the market, HYCM has established itself as a leading broker in the foreign exchange trading industry.

In the following article, we will analyze the characteristics of this broker in all its dimensions, offering you easy and well-organized information. If you are interested, read on.

Regulators

HYCM is regulated by three major financial regulatory bodies: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). They are all globally recognized regulators and have a high reputation in the financial industry. The FCA is known to be one of the strictest and most demanding regulators in the world, and its regulation is considered to be one of the most rigorous and reliable in terms of customer protection. On the other hand, CySEC is the financial services regulatory authority in Cyprus, a country known for its attractive regulatory and tax environment for investment firms. And finally, CIMA is the financial regulator for the Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory. Together, these three regulations offer strong customer protection and increased security for financial transactions conducted through HYCM.

What type of broker is HYCM？

HYCM is a Forex and CFD (Contracts for Difference) broker that offers access to a wide variety of financial markets through its online trading platform. As a broker, HYCM acts as an intermediary between its clients and the financial markets, allowing traders to buy and sell financial instruments without having to physically own them.

HYCM operates under a Dealing Desk, which means that bid and ask prices are set by the company itself. This can be beneficial for traders looking for more stable and fixed spreads, but it also means that HYCM may have a conflict of interest with its clients. To mitigate this risk, HYCM offers a Dealing Desk trading account, which allows traders to trade at direct market prices.

Market instruments

HYCM offers its clients a wide variety of trading instruments, which means that traders can trade in different markets and have a greater diversification of their portfolios. In terms of currency pairs, HYCM offers a selection of the major and most popular pairs, such as EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and many others. In addition, traders can also trade a variety of precious metals, such as gold and silver, and commodities such as crude oil. A selection of indices is also offered, including the S&P 500, the FTSE 100 and the Nikkei 225. HYCM also offers its clients the possibility to trade stocks of some of the world's largest companies, such as Apple, Microsoft and Amazon. Finally, HYCM offers the option to trade cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. This means that traders can have access to some of the most volatile and exciting markets in the world, which can provide unique trading opportunities and potential profits.

Spreads and commissions for trading with HYCM

1. HYCM charges variable spreads for its operations, which vary according to the type of account and trading instruments.

2. HYCM charges an inactivity fee of $10 per month after 3 months of account inactivity.

3. HYCM charges a commission of $4 per side for raw account transactions.

Trading accounts available at HYCM

HYCM offers three types of trading accounts, with a minimum deposit of $100 for the classic/fixed account and $200 for the raw account. The available accounts are:

Fixed account: the Fixed account offers floating spreads starting from 1.5 pips, Min. position volume of 0.01 lot and allows trading more than 300 financial instruments, including currencies, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies. In addition, a free demo account is offered for practice and learning, as well as an Islamic account.

Classic account: the classic account offers spreads starting from 1.2 pips and a commission of $0 per lot traded. The min. position volume is 0.01 lot and also allows trading of more than 300 financial instruments.

Raw account: the raw account offers spreads starting from 0.1 pips and a commission of $4 per lot traded. The main difference between the raw account and other accounts is that it has a minimum deposit of $200.

HYCM is also proud to offer a free demo account, allowing traders to practice and familiarize themselves with the trading platform before investing their real money.

Operating platform offered by HYCM

HYCM's MT4 platform is one of the most popular and widely used in the world of online trading, with a large user base worldwide. With this platform, traders can access multiple technical analysis tools, customizable charts, technical indicators and expert advisors (EAs). In addition, traders can use the backtesting function to evaluate the effectiveness of their trading strategies and adjust them as needed.

On the other hand, HYCM also offers the MT5 platform for those who are looking for a more advanced trading platform. The MT5 platform is an enhanced version of MT4, with more advanced tools and features. The MT5 platform also offers the hedging function, which means that traders can simultaneously open long and short positions on the same instrument, which can be useful in certain trading strategies. In addition, MT5 also allows traders to access more markets and types of financial assets, including futures and options.

HYCM maximum leverage

HYCM offers a maximum leverage of 1:500 for currencies, which means that traders can trade with a position of up to 500 times their initial capital. This can significantly increase potential profits, but also increases the risk of losses.

Deposit and Withdrawal: methods and fees

HYCM offers a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options, making it easy and convenient for traders to deposit and withdraw funds. Traders can make deposits using a variety of methods, including bank transfers, credit and debit cards, popular e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill, and other online payment methods such as Perfect Money.

The minimum deposit amount is only $20, which is an advantage for those who wish to try HYCM without having to deposit large sums of money. In addition, HYCM does not charge any deposit fees, which means that traders can deposit any amount they wish without worrying about additional charges.

When it comes to withdrawals, HYCM processes withdrawal requests within 24 hours for some payment methods, which is a fast processing time compared to other brokers. Traders can withdraw funds using the same payment methods used to make deposits. There are no withdrawal fees at HYCM, which means that traders can withdraw their profits without having to worry about additional costs.

It is important to note that withdrawal processing times may vary depending on the payment method and the trader's banking institution. HYCM strives to process all withdrawal requests as quickly as possible, but there are factors beyond its control that may affect processing time. Overall, HYCM offers a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options, as well as fast processing times and no additional fees, making it an excellent choice for traders looking for a reliable and convenient broker.

Education at HYCM

One of the additional advantages of HYCM is that it offers a wide range of educational tools to help traders improve their trading knowledge and skills. This includes live webinars, online seminars, trading guides, video tutorials and much more. HYCM is committed to helping its traders achieve their trading goals and maximize their earning potential.

HYCM Customer Service

HYCM offers 24/5 customer support in several languages, including English, Spanish, German, French and several other languages. Traders can contact the support team by phone, email and live chat. They also have a FAQ section on their website to help traders find answers to common questions.

E-mail: support@hycm.com

Conclusion

Overall, HYCM is a reliable and well-regulated forex broker that offers a wide range of trading instruments and trading platforms. With its focus on transparency and security of client funds, HYCM is an excellent choice for traders of all experience levels. In addition, its wide range of educational resources and exceptional customer service make HYCM an excellent choice for traders looking to improve their skills and knowledge in the Forex market.

Frequently asked questions about HYCM

Question: Does HYCM offer a demo account？

Answer: Yes, HYCM offers a free demo account for traders to test the platform and practice their trading strategies without risking their own money.

Question: What is the minimum deposit to open an account in HYCM？

Answer: The minimum deposit to open an account in HYCM is $100 USD.

Question: What trading platforms does HYCM offer？

Answer: HYCM offers a variety of trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms.

Question: Does HYCM offer leverage？

Answer: Yes, HYCM offers leverage for traders. The maximum leverage offered depends on the trading instrument and country regulation.

Question: Does HYCM charge transaction fees？

Answer: On classic and fixed accounts, HYCM charges a spread fee for its trades, which means that it does not charge commissions per trade. But on the raw account there is a commission.

Question: Does HYCM offer educational resources for traders？

Answer: Yes, HYCM offers a wide range of educational resources for traders, including trading courses, live webinars, educational articles and trading strategies on its website.

Question: Is HYCM regulated？

Answer: Yes, HYCM is regulated by several financial authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC) and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).