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IC Markets is a respected and well-regulated broker, providing a wide range of trading instruments, including over 2250 options, with competitive spreads starting at 0.0 pips. You can start with a demo account to gain experience, and opening a live account only requires a $200 deposit. They offer advanced trading platforms like MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Let's now delve into this IC Markets review.

What is IC Markets？

IC Markets 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 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). IC Markets offers a range of trading instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, and provides traders with advanced trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. The company also offers 24/7 customer support and a variety of educational resources for traders of all levels.

In the IC Markets review, 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 IC Markets？

IC Markets 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, IC Markets 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 IC Markets 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.

Is IC Market Legit？

IC Markets maintains regulatory compliance in both Australia and Cyprus, adhering to the respective financial regulatory standards in these jurisdictions. Regulatory oversight by ASIC and CYSEC helps ensure transparency and accountability in the broker's operations, contributing 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 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 offers a wide range of over 2250 tradable instruments to trade, including forex pairs, commodities, stocks, cryptocurrencies, indices, bonds, and futures. This provides traders with the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolio and access multiple markets and assets. The company offers competitive spreads and low commissions on all instruments, making it a popular choice among traders.

Minimum Deposit

IC Markets 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 Aixtrader only 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 minimum deposit with Avatrade, Exness, and Axitrader:

Broker	Minimum Deposit
	$200
	$100
	$1 USD
	$100

Account Type

C Markets offers traders a range of account types with different trading platforms, commissions, and spreads. The CTrader and Raw spread 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 0.6 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 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, or cTrader. 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 1:500 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. However, it is crucial for traders to exercise caution when using high leverage as it also increases the potential for significant losses. Inexperienced traders may not be suited for high leverage as it requires a thorough understanding of risk management. It is important to note that certain jurisdictions may have regulatory restrictions on high leverage, and traders should comply with the relevant regulations.

Spreads & Commissions

IC Markets is known for its tight spreads and low commissions, making it a popular choice among traders. The broker offers a variety of account types to choose from, including the Raw Spread account with spreads starting from 0.0 pips and a $3.5 commission per lot traded, and the Standard account with spreads starting from 0.6 pips and no commission. The cTrader account also offers low spreads starting from 0.0 pips, with a $3 commission per lot traded.

Trading Platforms

IC Markets offers its clients a variety of trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms as well as the cTrader platform. Each platform offers unique advantages and disadvantages, and traders can choose the platform that best suits their needs.

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 offers a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, including Neteller, Skrill, bank transfer, VISA, Mastercard, Paypal, credit/debit cards, Poli, wire transfer, rapidpay, and klarna. IC Markets 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.

Educational Resources

IC Markets offers a comprehensive range of educational resources that cater to traders of all levels. These resources include an economic calendar, market reports, video tutorials, a glossary, blogs, and calculators. The educational resources are updated regularly to ensure the information is relevant and up-to-date. The glossary is particularly useful for understanding forex terms and concepts, while the video tutorials cover a wide range of topics, from basic concepts to advanced strategies. The blogs provide insights into the forex market, which can be useful for making informed trading decisions. The calculators are also helpful tools for calculating risk, margin, and position size. You can also watch videos on their official YouTube channel. For example, this is a video named 7 Common Mistakes New Traders Make, which would be useful for newbies.

Customer Service

IC Markets provides a strong customer care dimension with 24/7 availability for customer support. Clients can reach out to the support team via phone or email, and can expect prompt response times to email inquiries. However, there is no live chat option available for immediate assistance, and phone support may have international charges, which could be a disadvantage for some clients.

Conclusion

IC Markets is a regulated forex broker that offers traders a wide range of instruments, account types, and trading platforms to choose from. With low spreads, competitive commissions, and high leverage options of up to 1:500, traders can enjoy a flexible and customizable trading experience. The company's educational resources, including market reports, video tutorials, and a glossary, are extensive and informative, providing traders with valuable insights into the forex market. Additionally, IC Markets' customer support is available 24/7, ensuring that traders can always receive timely assistance. The company's variety of deposit and withdrawal methods also makes it easy for traders to manage their accounts efficiently. Overall, IC Markets is a reliable and trustworthy broker for both novice and experienced traders alike.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Question 1: What is the minimum deposit required to open an account with IC Markets？

• Answer 1: $200.

• Question 2: What are the available deposit and withdrawal methods on IC Markets？

• Answer 2: Neteller, Skrill, bank transfer, VISA, Mastercard, Paypal, credit/debit cards, Poli, wire transfer, rapidpay, and klarna.

• Question 3: What trading platforms are available on IC Markets？

• Answer 3: MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, and cTrader.

• Question 4: What is the maximum leverage offered by IC Markets？

• Answer 4: 1:500.

• Question 5: Does IC Markets charge any fees for deposits and withdrawals？

• Answer 5: IC Markets does not charge any fees for deposits and withdrawals. However, additional fees may occur at some banking institutions.

What is Windsor Brokers？

Windsor Broker Ltd, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, is an European brokerage firm that has been providing financial services to retail, corporate and institutional investors worldwide for many years, offering a wide range of financial instruments, including Forex, commodities, indices, and shares, as well as a variety of trading platforms and trading tools. Windsor Brokers Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC, No. 030/04).

In the following article, we will analyze the characteristics of this broker from various aspects, providing you with simple and organized information. If you are interested, please read on. At the end of the article, we will also briefly make a conclusion so that you can understand the broker's characteristics at a glance.

Pros & Cons

Is Windsor Brokers Safe or Scam？

Regulation by a reputable authority like Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is a positive factor indicating that Windsor Brokers is a legitimate broker. Additionally, the fact that they offer negative balance protection is also a plus for traders.

Besides, its entity in Belize, Windsor Brokers (BZ) Ltd, is regulated by the Financial Services Commissions (FSC).

Its global entity, Windsor Brokers International Ltd, operates under the regulation of the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA), with license no. SD072.

Market Instruments

CFDs on forex, spot metals, spot commodities, spot indices, shares, ETFs are all available at Windsor Brokers. The broker allows clients to access a huge range of trading markets. Therefore, both beginners and experienced traders can find what they want to trade with Windsor Brokers.

Accounts

Demo Account: Windsor Brokers provides a demo account that allows you to try out the financial markets without the risk of losing money.

Live Account: Windsor Brokers offers two types of real trading accounts: the Prime Account and the Zero Account. The Prime Account, geared towards support-oriented traders, has a lower $50 minimum deposit and spreads starting from 1.0 pips on major pairs. It provides zero commission on forex CFDs, an $8 commission per lot for crypto CFDs, and includes training resources.The Zero Account targets heavy traders with a $1,000 minimum deposit, zero spreads on major currency pairs, and a maximum leverage of 1:1000. It charges an $8 commission per lot for forex, metals, and crypto CFDs, with no commission on other CFDs. Both accounts offer negative balance protection, personal account managers, a 0.01 minimum trade volume, a 50 lot restriction per ticket, hedging allowance, and a 20% stop-out level with a 100% margin call. Notably, the Zero Account does not support Islamic/swap-free accounts.

Leverage

The maximum leverage offered by Windsor Brokers is only 1:30, which may seem too low to you. Margin requirements for professional clients based on 1:100 leveraged accounts. Other leverages are available to Professional Clients only.

In reality, those leverage of up to 1:500 or even 1:1000 are all from unregulated or offshore regulated brokers, and as we know, offshore regulation is much less strict regulation. For brokers that are formally regulated by the major regulatory bodies, they can only offer leverage of 1:30 or 1:50 at best, which is sufficient for the novice Forex trader. Lower leverage reduces the potential gains on trades, but more importantly, it reduces much of the risk. We recommend that you always keep your account risk at 2% or less.

Spreads & Commissions

It is commendable that in the trading instruments interface, Windsor Brokers provides a detailed table showing the spreads, margin requirement, pip value, and stop levels of various instruments in various accounts in detail, which greatly facilitates customers' inquiries and comparisons.

Below is a comparison table about spreads and commissions charged by different brokers:

Note: Spreads can vary depending on market conditions and volatility.

Trading Platforms

Windsor Brokers offers traders the popular MT4 trading platform for PC, Mac, WebTrader, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet and iPad, which is ideal for all traders, whether they are professional traders or beginners. MT4 trading platform features powerful charting capabilities, a large number of indicators and algorithmic trading features, a user-friendly interface, a dynamic security system, and multi-terminal functionality.

See the trading platform comparison table below:

Trading Tools

Windsor Brokers provides a variety of trading tools to its clients to help them make informed trading decisions. These tools include market analysis and commentary, an economic calendar, and information on market holidays. Additionally, the broker offers several Forex calculators, such as Profit, Margin, Pip, Fibonacci, and Pivots calculators, which can be useful in managing risk and determining potential profits. By providing these trading tools, Windsor Brokers aims to empower traders with the necessary knowledge and resources to navigate the financial markets.

Deposits & Withdrawals

In terms of deposits and withdrawals, Windsor Brokers offers these payment methods: Credit/debit cards (Visa/MasterCard), WebMoney, Wire Transfer, Neteller and Skrill.

Windsor Brokers minimum deposit vs other brokers

The broker does charges fees for deposits and withdrawals, which vary on the payment method. All deposits are processed on the same day, while most withdrawals can be processed on the same day with the exception of wire transfer withdrawal.

More details concerning deposit/withdrawal fees and processing time can be found in the table below:

See the deposit & withdrawal fee comparison table below:

Note: Fees may vary based on the payment method and currency used. Please refer to the broker's website for the most up-to-date information.

Customer Service

Below are the details about the customer service.

Service Hour: 24/5

Live Chat/Fill in Contact Form

Email: support@windsorbrokers.eu

Phone: +357 25 500 700

Fax: +357 25 500 555

Address: Spyrou Kyprianou 53, Windsor Business Center, 3rd Floor, Mesa Geitonia, 4003 Limassol, Cyprus,

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

Overall, Windsor Brokers' customer service is considered reliable and responsive, with various options available for traders to seek assistance.

Note: These pros and cons are subjective and may vary depending on the individual's experience with Windsor Brokers' customer service.

Education

Windsor Brokers offers a variety of educational resources to help traders improve their skills and knowledge. They have a video library that covers topics such as technical analysis, risk management, and trading strategies. They also have a glossary of trading terms and an ebook library that covers a range of topics such as trading psychology, fundamental analysis, and more. These educational resources are available for free to all clients of Windsor Brokers.

User Exposure on WikiFX

On our website, you can see that some users have reported unable to withdraw. Please be aware and exercise caution when investing. You can check our platform for information before trading. If you find such fraudulent brokers or have been a victim of one, please let us know in the Exposure section, we would appreciate it and our team of experts will do everything possible to solve the problem for you.

Conclusion

Windsor Brokers is a regulated broker that offers access to multiple markets and trading platforms, as well as a range of trading tools and educational resources. The broker's negative balance protection is a positive feature that helps protect traders from incurring losses beyond their deposited funds.

However, some users have reported difficulties with withdrawals, which may raise concerns about the broker's reliability. Overall, Windsor Brokers appears to be a reputable broker that offers a good range of services, but potential traders should carefully consider the reported withdrawal issues before deciding to open an account.

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 contained in this article is for general information purposes only.