IC Markets Information

IC Markets Global is an Australian online forex and CFD broker that provides traders access to the global financial markets. The company was founded in 2007 and is regulated by ASIC in Australia and CySEC in Cryprus. IC Markets offers 2,250+ CFDs on 61 currency pairs, 24 commodities, 2,100+ stocks, 25 indexes, 9 bonds, 21 cryptocurrencies, and 4 futures via the advanced trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView. The company also offers 24/7 customer support and a variety of educational resources for traders of all levels.

Is IC Market Legit?

IC Markets Global maintains regulatory compliance in both Australia and Cyprus, adhering to the respective financial regulatory standards in these jurisdictions. Regulatory oversight by Australia Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) and Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC) contribute to a safer trading environment for clients.

Regulated Country	Regulated Authority	Regulated Entity	License Type	License Number
	ASIC	INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS PTY. LTD.	Market Making (MM)	335692
	CySEC	IC Markets (EU) Ltd	Market Making (MM)	362/18

IC Markets' Australian entity, INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS PTY. LTD., regulated by ASIC under license number 335692, holding a license for Market Making (MM).

IC Markets' enropean entity, IC Markets (EU) Ltd, regulated by CYSEC under regulatory number 362/18, holding a license for Maket Making ( MM) as well.

WikiFX's investigation team personally visited the registered address located at Omonoias, 141, The Maritime Centre, Block B, 1st floor, 3045, Limassol, Cyprus. Notably, the IC Markets Global logo was prominently displayed on billboards in the vicinity of the building. Hence, their visit to the location confirmed that IC Markets was indeed operating from the officially designated regulatory address.

Market Instruments

IC Markets Global offers a wide range of over 2250 tradable instruments to trade, including CFDs on 61 currency pairs, 24 commodities, 2,100+ stocks, 25 indexes, 9 bonds, 21 cryptocurrencies, and 4 futures. This provides traders with the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolio and access multiple markets and assets.

Minimum Deposit

IC Markets Global requires a minimum deposit of $200 for traders to open an account. In the industry, many established brokers frequently impose minimum deposit requirements that surpass $500 or even reach $1,000. In contrast, certain major players such as Avatrade and Aixonly mandate minimum deposits of $100 and $0, respectively. So, IC Markets's minimum deposit requirement seems to be in the “middle”.

Here is the comparison of IC Markets Global minimum deposit with Avatrade, Exness, and Axi:

Broker	Minimum Deposit
	$200
	$100
	$10
	$0

Account Type/Fees

IC Markets offers traders a range of account types with different trading platforms, commissions, and spreads. The Raw Spread and Raw Spread (cTrader) accounts charge a commission of $3 and $3.5 respectively but offer spreads from 0.0 pips, while the Standard account has no commission but wider spreads from 0.8 pips.

A demo account and Islamic account are also available. Although the minimum deposit of $200 may be high for some traders, the variety of account types and competitive spreads on some accounts may make up for it. However, traders should note that commissions are charged on all other accounts apart from the Standard account, and there is limited information on account features.

Demo Account

IC Markets Global offers a free advanced demo account for beginner traders to practice on, which lasts for 30 days.

Users who open a demo account can enjoy the following features:

• Access to Raw Pricing
• Spreads Starting at 0.0 pips
• Fast Order Execution
• Available on MT4, MT5 and cTrader platforms

However, demo accounts aim to mimic real markets but function in a simulated environment. This means there are significant differences compared to real accounts, including not relying on real-time market liquidity, encountering price delays, and having access to certain products that may not be tradable on live accounts.

Opening a demo account is simple:

Step 1: Click the “Try a Free DEMO” button on the homepage of IC Markets.

Step 2: Fill in your personal info, including your country of residence, name, email, phone number to get a verification code.

Step 3: Choose to demo accounts on your preferrable trading platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, or TradingView. Then choose your account currency, virtual funds, starting from $200 to $5,000,000, your desired leverage level.

Step 4: Log into your demo account and start trading.

Leverage

IC Markets' maximum leverage offering of up to 1:1000 can be beneficial for experienced traders who know how to manage their risks well. The high leverage can potentially magnify the profits of a successful trade, enabling traders to take advantage of larger positions in the market.

Trading Platform

IC Markets Global offers its clients a variety of trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms as well as the cTrader and TradingView platforms.

The MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms are similar and offer a range of trading tools and indicators, as well as the ability to use Expert Advisors (EAs) and automate trading strategies.

The cTrader platform, on the other hand, offers advanced charting capabilities and a variety of order types. However, it has a steeper learning curve and limited customization options compared to the MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms.

Deposit & Withdrawal

IC Markets Global offers a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, including MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, Wire Transfer, Bpay, Broker to Broker, POLi, Thai Internet Banking, Rapidpay, Klarna, and Vietnamese Internet Banking.

IC Markets Global does not charge any fees for deposits and withdrawals. However, additional fees may occur at some banking institutions.

Withdrawal requests have a cut off time at 12:00 AEST/AEDT, and take up to 10 business days to process depending on the bank.

International bank wire transfers take up to 14 days and incur additional intermediary and/or beneficiary fees.

Credit/debit card withdrawals are processed free of charge and take 3-5 business days to reach your credit card.

Paypal/Neteller/Skrill withdrawals are processed instantly and free of charge, but must be made from the same account as the initial funds were sent from.

FXCM Information

FXCM is a retail forex broker that was founded in 1999. The company is headquartered in London, UK, but has offices and affiliates in a number of other countries, including Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, and the United States.

The company provides online trading services in forex, contracts for difference (CFDs), and other financial instruments. FXCM offers various trading platforms including Trading Station, TradingView Pro, MT4, and Capitalise AI.

Pros & Cons

Is FXCM Legit?

FXCM is a legitimate broker with a long-standing reputation in the industry. The company is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, such as the FCA in the UK, the ASIC in Australia, CYSEC in Cyprus, and ISA in Israel, which ensures that it operates under strict financial and ethical guidelines. FXCM also has a solid track record of handling client funds in a secure and responsible manner.

Regulated Country	Regulated by	Regulated Entity	License Type	License Number
	Australia Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC)	STRATOS TRADING PTY. LIMITED	Market Making (MM)	000309763
	Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)	Stratos Markets Limited	Market Making (MM)	217689
	Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)	Stratos Europe Ltd	Market Making (MM)	392/20
	The Israel Securities Authority (ISA)	STRATOS LIGHT LTD	Retail Forex License	515234623

How are you protected?

FXCM provides negative balance protection and offers its clients access to segregated accounts, providing additional security measures. More details can be found in the table below:

Our Conclusion on FXCM Reliability:

FXCM is a well-regulated and reputable broker with a long-standing history in the industry. The company is regulated by top-tier financial authorities and has multiple licenses, demonstrating a commitment to client protection.

Market Instruments

FXCM offers trading in five major classes of tradable assest, including forex, shares, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, which provides traders with varying interests and strategies a broader portfolio.

Accounts

FXCM seems to only offer a single live account type. Their website does not reveal specific info on account types.

However, it offers demo account options. FXCM's demo account, elaborately, provides a realistic trading experience with access to live market prices across multiple asset classes. Traders can receive $20,000 in virtual funds to practice executing buy and sell orders on FXCM's user-friendly trading platform, available 24/5. This risk-free environment enables traders to hone their strategies and gain confidence before transitioning to a live funded account.

Leverage

FXCM offers several leverage options for trading Forex (FX) and Contracts for Difference (CFDs), depending on the account equity.

For equity less than $5,000, traders can access up to 1000:1 leverage for both FX and CFDs.

Accounts with equity between $5,000 and $50,000 are eligible for up to 400:1 leverage on both FX and CFDs.

Accounts with equity greater than $50,000 can leverage up to 100:1 for FX and up to 200:1 for CFDs.

Trading Platforms

FXCM offers four different trading platforms for traders to choose from, Trading Station, MT4, Capitalise AI, and TradingView Pro. All are available on desktop, web and mobile devices.

Deposits & Withdrawals

FXCM welcomes several payment methods, including Bank Transfer, Visa, MasterCard, Google Pay, Neteller, and Skrill.

FXCM minimum deposit vs other brokers

Conclusion

In conclusion, FXCM is a well-established and reputable broker that offers a range of trading instruments and account types with competitive spreads and commissions. The broker's trading platforms are user-friendly and offer advanced features for traders of all levels. Additionally, FXCM provides educational resources and excellent customer support, including 24/5 live chat support.

However, FXCM is not available in all countries, clients from the USA, Canada, UK, European Union, Hong Kong, Australia, Israel and Japan are not accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Risk Warning

Trading online carries inherent risks, including the potential loss of your entire investment. It's essential to recognize that online trading may not be suitable for everyone, and individuals should carefully consider their risk tolerance before participating.