Direct FX Review by professional Forex trading experts the “ForexSQ” FX trading team, Finding out everything you need to know about the broker is in this Direct FX Forex Broker Review.
Direct FX Review
The broker offers its clients a choice of two account types. Both of them offer variable spreads and leverage up to 1:400. You can trade micro lots on the commission-free Standard account type, where two platforms are available: the world renown MetaTrader 4 and Tradable. The CQG FX account offers tighter spreads, but involves a commission.
In addition, this broker offers managed accounts solutions on the MT4 platform: MAM & PAMM accounts provide professional traders with multiple accounts, and qualified asset managers the perfect solution for managing trading accounts.
The Company. Security of Funds
DirectFX is an Australian forex broker brand belonging to Direct FX Trading PTY LTD. The company is in business since 2006 and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
The broker provides Straight-Through-Processing trading model, offering more than 40 currency pairs for trade, precious metals (Gold & Silver), and some CFDs on commodities, indices, bonds, equities, as well as binary options . Due to a partnership with investing and financial education provider DriveWealth, DirectFX launched exchange-listed US equities and futures trading in July, 2016
Due to the favorable conditions for both brokers and traders, Australia has become one of the main forex hubs in the world. Scalping and hedging are allowed, the FIFO rule is not applicable, and there is no leverage cap.
ASIC applies certain rules and requirements to license holders, such as clients’ money rule: Client funds must be kept in segregated trust accounts. What is more, ASIC has set a minimum capital requirement and forex brokers must hold at least $ 1 million as a proof of good financial standing.
Australian FX broker regulation, however, does not include any compensation scheme in case a licensed company becomes insolvent or ceases trading.
What is more, DIRECT FX Trading Pty Ltd is a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This is an approved Australian external dispute resolution system that can deal with complaints about all of the financial services the brokerage provides under its AFSL.
Trading Conditions
Minimum Initial Deposit
DirectFX requires its clients to deposit at least $250 in order to open an account with them. This is an average minimum initial deposit, yet leading Australian broker CMC Markets has set no minimum deposit requirement, and XM (holding, among others, also an ASIC license) demands just $5 from its clients as a start.
Average Spreads & Commissions
Spreads offered by DirectFX are variable, starting from 0.2 pips for the EUR/USD pair on CQG account. This is really tight spread, however a commission of $7 per standard lot round turn applies, so the minimum trading costs on this account type for the EUR/USD pair amount to 0.9 pips, commission included, which is average for the forex market. Spreads on the commission-free account are of course higher: averaged around 1.8 pips on EUR/USD, which is a comparatively high amount.
In comparison, AxiTrader (holding licenses from both ASIC and FCA) provides spreads starting from 0.1 pips on its ECN account, and applies a commission of $7 per standard lot round-turn, while spreads on its Standard commission free account start from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD.
For more information, you may check out and compare real-time spreads of 15 leading brokers here.
Maximum Leverage
This broker offers leverage up to 1:400 which is at the upper end of the industry’s standard and is considered a high rate. Nonetheless, most ASIC-regulated brokers offer similar or higher leverage levels: CMC Markets – 1:500 and XM – up to 1:888. Here is a list of FX brokers offering leverage equal to or exceeding 1:500.
Traders, however, should be careful with high leverage, since trading on margin may both multiply their profits on a small deposit and lead to heavy losses exceeding their initial investments.
Trading Platforms
DirectFX offers its clients two trading platforms: the industry’s standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4), as well as CQG. Due to the CQG technology, clients of this broker may also access the Protrader Multi-Connect (PTMC).
Like most FX brokers, DirectFX supports the world’s leading trading platform MetaTrader 4, which is available as desktop and mobile versions. MT4 provides all the tools and resources a trader needs: a number of technical indicators, advanced charting package, one-click trading option, Expert Advisers (EAs) and extensive back-testing environment.
EAs allow full automatization of trades and what is more, DirectFX offers high quality VPS Hosting Service. Access to Beeks remote server ensures that your robots, EAs and scripts function continuously and without interruption, even if your computer is switched off.
What is more, through a partnership with CQG inc., DirectFX has custom built a trading platform for forex traders. CQG FX is designed for the trader seeking an institutional style trading platform. There are 40 FX pairs and spot gold and silver available for trading on this platform. It is fully customizable and equipped with advanced charting and analytics package, however as a STP/ECN platform its key component is the direct inter-bank liquidity. The CQG FX depth of market is available in many different views, across different trading tools in CQG FX, and provides 5 prices deep on both the bid and ask.
As regards automated trading on CQG FX, it is easy with the CQG Common Sense language. Common Sense was designed with simple If, Then, statements and custom CQG language, eliminating the need to know computer programing. An advanced feature of CQG FX allows multiple automated trading systems to run at the same time.
After PTMC launched a gateway to e-trading and charting multi-asset platform CQG, DirectFX clients can also use PTMC to trade in forex, futures, options and equities.
Payment Methods
With DirectFX investors can choose between bank wire transactions, payments via bank wire transfer and e-wallets Skrill, Neteller and UAE Exchange.
DirectFX is a reputable STP Australian broker, which offers attractive conditions for trading in a great variety of financial instruments on two different platforms.
Instead of the forex broker you can use Plus500, XM, eToro, Fxpro or AvaTrade forex brokers.
Direct FX Review Conclusion
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