General Risk Warning: Before deciding to participate in the Forex trading market, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. Most importantly, do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.
There is considerable exposure to risk in any off-exchange foreign exchange transaction, including, but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or currency pair.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
There are risks associated with utilizing an Internet-based trading system including, but not limited to, the failure of hardware, software, and Internet connection. Intro Forex Brokers is not responsible for communication failures or delays when trading via the Internet. Intro Forex Brokers employs backup systems and contingency plans to minimize the possibility of system failure, and trading via telephone is always available.
Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, or other information contained on this website are provided as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. Intro Forex Brokers is not liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information. Intro Forex Brokers Review has taken reasonable measures to ensure the accuracy of the information on the website. The content on this website is subject to change at any time without notice.
Market volatility and rapid changes in price, which may arise outside normal business hours if you are trading international markets, can cause the balance of your account to change quickly. If you do not have sufficient funds in your account to cover these situations, there is a risk that your positions will be automatically closed by the platform if the balance of your account falls below the close-out level (as shown on the platform).
Binary options trading involve risk. Although the risk of executing a binary options open is fixed for each individual trade, it is possible to lose all of the initial investment in a course of several trades or in a single trade if the entire capital is used to place it.
Binary options trading involve risk. Although the risk of executing a binary options open is fixed for each individual trade, it is possible to lose all of the initial investment in a course of several trades or in a single trade if the entire capital is used to place it.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly because of leverage. 71% of the retail investor accounts lose money when they are trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, forex work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
OctaFX does not and cannot guarantee the initial capital of the Clients' portfolio or its value at any time or any money invested in any financial instrument.
The Client should unreservedly acknowledge and accept that the client runs a great risk of incurring losses and damages as a result of the purchase and/or sale of any Financial Instrument and accepts and declares that they are willing to undertake this risk.
ActivTrades is a UK-based broker offering forex and CFD trading plus spread betting on MT4, MT5 and its ActivTrader platform. The brand also posts average execution speeds of 0.004 seconds. Our 2022 review covers the login process, margin requirements, bonuses and more. Find out if ActivTrades is the right broker for your financial goals.
ActivTrades Overview
ActivTrades PLC was founded in 2001 in Switzerland and established its London headquarters in 2005. The broker has a strong client base in Europe across Italy, Germany, France, and Portugal as well as overseas markets, such as Australia.
The company’s number of employees runs in the hundreds and it has offices in Milan, Bahamas, Dubai, Bulgaria (Sofia) and Luxembourg. ActivTrades Corp is a subsidiary of ActivTrades PLC, authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The global brokerage also holds a license with the Securities Commission of the Bahamas.
Trading Platforms
ActivTrader
ActivTrader is a user-friendly platform that combines advanced features with industry-leading technology, perfect for beginning your trading career. The platform is compatible with major web browsers, excluding Internet Explorer.
Features include:
Market sentiment indicators
Instant and pending order types
Support for hedging and scalping strategies
14 chart types and drawing tools to help with pattern recognition
Progressive trailing stop functionality to protect revenue and profit
ActivTrader platform
Additional advanced tools, most of which are also compatible with MT4 and MT5, include:
SmartCalculator – improves risk management by simulating different trade scenarios
SmartPattern – automatically detects chart patterns to highlight investing opportunities
Pivot Points Indicator – provides 3 levels of support and resistance for depicting market trends
SmartTemplate – indicates long and short opportunities based on chart signals relative to trend strength
SmartForecast – brings together market trend analysis and chart retracements for a simplistic view of the markets
SmartOrder 2 – developed by ActivTrades to increase speed and improve integration between the platform and application
SmartLines – sets pre-defined trendlines and when the price of the chosen instrument crosses the trendline, an order is placed
MetaTrader 4
ActivTrades offers MT4, a globally recognized platform, particularly for forex trading. You can download MT4 to desktop devices, major web browsers, and mobile.
Highlights of MT4 include:
Price alerts
21 languages
9 time frames
One-click trading
Advanced frame view
Extensive historical data
Advanced stop-out levels
50 pre-installed indicators
Automated trading through APIs
ActivTrades MT4 platform
MetaTrader 5
ActivTrades also offer the MT5 platform, suited to more experienced investors. In addition to trading on forex, indices and shares, MT5 provides access to ETFs and over 500 CFDs. You can download MT5 to your desktop, use the WebTrader, or trade from your mobile.
Key benefits of the MT5 solution include:
Historical data and strategy tester
Price alerts and trailing stops
Integrated trading statements
Economic news headlines
One-click trading
21 time frames
8 order types
ActivTrades MT5 platform
Assets & Markets
Tradable assets at the online broker include:
1,000+ company shares, including stocks in the UK, US, German and Japanese markets
15+ large indices such as the Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Euronext, UK100 and Ger30
5 bonds – EUBBL, EUBTP, EUBUND, EUSTZ and USATB
16 commodity CFDs like gold, silver, energies and grains
16 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin
50+ forex pairs such as USD/BRL
A variety of ETFs and spread betting is also provided for UK clients. Binary options are not available.
ActivTrades offers more company shares than the likes of Pepperstone and XTB. However other brokers, including eToro and Admiral Markets, offer a broader range of CFDs and cryptocurrencies.
Spreads & Commissions
ActivTrades offers competitive forex spreads as low as 0.5 pips on the EUR/USD and USD/JPY and 0.8 pips on the GBP/USD. The broker charges no commission on forex trades.
On CFDs and indices, financial spreads are as low as 0.01 pips. Shares are available at 0-0.1% commission of the transaction value, with minimums ranging between 1 USD to 5 EUR.
For UK-based clients, there is a low commission of 0.5 pips on spread betting.
The broker also charges swap rate fees for positions held overnight, further details of which can be found on the company website.
Leverage
Leverage rates are capped at 1:30 in countries that fall under ESMA regulations, including the UK. However, international traders can access up to 1:200 maximum leverage depending on lot size.
Margin ranges:
Indices & financials: 1:5 – 1:200
Commodities: 1:10 – 1:200
Forex: 1:20 – 1:200
Shares: 2% – 60%
The highest available margin for cryptocurrency is 1:10.
Note that professional accounts can unlock up to 1:400 leverage.
Mobile App
The ActivTrader, MT4 and MT5 platforms are all available for mobile trading. The applications allow for complete account management and price analysis from your mobile or tablet device. In addition, payments, bonuses and customer support are all available.
Head to the mobile trading section located underneath each platform page on the broker’s website for instructions on how to invest from your iPhone, iPad or Android device.
ActivTrades mobile trading
Payment Methods
Deposits
The minimum deposit at ActivTrades is fairly high at $500. Several payment methods are available offering prompt processing:
Sofort – 30 minutes (only available for clients of ActivTrades PLC and ActivTrades Europe SA)
PayPal – 30 minutes (only available for clients of ActivTrades PLC and ActivTrades Europe SA)
Withdrawals
Select ‘request a withdrawal’ from the client area to retrieve profits and revenue via the following options:
Credit/debit card – same day if requested by 12.30 GMT
Bank transfer – same day if requested by 12.30 GMT (£9 fee)
Neteller – same day if requested by 12.30 GMT
PayPal – same day if requested by 12.30 GMT
Skrill – same day if requested by 12.30 GMT
All withdrawals are free unless transferring to Citibank or Moneycorp which incur a £9 charge.
For withdrawal problems, the customer support email address or live chat are the best forums to discuss any issues.
Demo Account
ActivTrades offers a demo account where users can test their skills with £10,000 in virtual funds. All three platforms are available in the paper trading environment. However, with the MT5 solution, market data on CFD shares are shown with a 15-minute delay.
Bonuses & Promotions
You can earn cashback on every trade you place once you reach $50m notional value traded. While a good promotion, the volume requirements in the promotional terms and conditions are high. The broker does not offer a no deposit bonus.
This offer is only available to international clients that don’t fall under ESMA laws which prohibit bonuses.
Regulation & Licensing
ActivTrades Corp is regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas and is a subsidiary of ActivTrades PLC which is regulated and authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Under this regulation, the company must follow a pillar 1, 2 and 3 system in order to secure clients’ funds. As such, ActivTrades has a robust Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP).
The FCA is a respectable regulatory body and means the broker receives a good trust rating in this review.
Note that clients from the USA are not accepted.
Additional Features
The firm has extensive training and education courses via webinars. Free content is available at all levels from fundamental principles to advanced trading theories. The broker also offers one-to-one training with industry experts on how best to use the ActivTrades platforms and tools.
In addition, the company offers bridging loans and alternative investment options. Speak to the customer support team for more information.
Account Types
ActivTrades offers several trading account options:
Individual
Islamic (swap-free trading)
Professional (for those eligible under ESMA regulations)
Both individual and professional accounts share similar features such as negative balance protection, FSCS protection, segregated accounts, and best execution. However, the standard individual account includes features such as rewards, risk alerts, and leverage warnings. It also allows for trading in mini and microlots.
Required compliance documents to open an account include passports, utility bills and bank statements.
Benefits
If you take ActivTrades vs IC Markets, NinjaTrader, ZuluTrade, or TradingView, the broker scores well in the following areas:
Over 93.60% of orders are executed at the requested price
ActivTrader Smart Order 2 increases investing efficiency
Choice of platforms, including MT4 & MT5
Negative balance protection
24/5 customer support
Generous margins
Free webinars
VPS
Drawbacks
Downsides of trading with ActivTrades include:
£10 monthly inactivity fee after a year of no trading
Not available to residents in the USA and Canada
Trading Hours
ActivTrades follows standard market hours. Times vary slightly depending on the instrument but typically are open Monday to Friday. Server times on the platform may vary depending on your location. Cryptos are available between Sunday 23:00 GMT and Friday 23:00 GMT.
ActivTrades runs a reduced schedule on bank holidays in line with global financial markets. More information regarding specific changes is available on the broker’s website.
Customer Support
ActivTrades offer customer support in multiple languages, 24/5. A live chat channel, a free call back hotline, plus email support are available from the respective logos and icons on the right-hand side of the official webpage. Users can also head to the FAQ section for answers to common issues. The live chat function is particularly useful with efficient and informative agents to cover most queries.
ActivTrades have a 95% customer satisfaction rating for their support service.
Security
ActivTrades Corp has fund protection insurance up to $1 million. The broker uses secure encryption protocols to protect platforms, servers and payments. The MetaTrader platforms also offer strong user security with additional authentication options at login.
ActivTrades Verdict
ActivTrades offers a broad range of accounts and tools where users can trade forex, indices, commodities, cryptos and shares. Access to the globally recognized MT4 and MT5 platforms as well as the broker’s ActivTrader solution, means investors of all ability levels are catered for.
Accepted Countries
ActivTrades accepts traders from Australia, Thailand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Qatar and most other countries.
Traders can not use ActivTrades from United States, Canada.
Before starting to trade, never invest too much money in one trade and always follow the rules of risk management. Focus on long-term profits instead of short-term trading. To make the right decisions, always follow financial news and events. It is necessary to create a clear trading plan and strategy and stick to it. Use technical analysis tools to support decision making. Focus on the difference between return and risk instead of just focusing on profit.
Avoid emotional pressure when trading and stay relaxed and patient. In addition, learn and constantly improve your skills and knowledge of Forex trading to achieve success in the field.
The above notes will help you get the best results when participating in forex trading and ensure that you minimize your risks and maximize your profits.
