IC Markets is a licensed broker that allows traders from different parts of the world to trade in various asset classes including FX, commodities, stocks, bonds, futures, cryptocurrencies, indices, and precious metals. It has competitive spreads although its commissions are higher than those of its competitors making them expensive. A major downturn is that they lack FCA regulation, and if you visit their main page from the UK you will end up on their offshore entity. Keep on reading our IC Markets review to figure out if this broker is for you.
IC Markets Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free demo account
- Several payment methods
- Has an Islamic account
Cons
- Education offering is limited
- Its VPS is not free
- Does not offer ETF trading
- Has a higher minimum deposit requirement than its competitors
- Not regulated in the UK, and does not have a UK office.
Top IC Markets Features
VPS
IC Markets has a virtual private server (VPS) as a way of enabling its traders to execute automated trading strategies at any time with lightning-fast connectivity to the site’s trading servers. However, unlike some of its competitors, its VPS is not free. The subscription charges depend on the server provider.
Spreads
IC Markets has varying spreads for its trading platforms and financial instruments. Regardless of these differences, the company generally has competitive spreads. For instance, the spreads on its cTrader and MetaTrader start from 0.0 pips. Its instruments also have relatively low spreads. For instance, the EUR/USD has an average spread of 0.1 pips.
Trading Platform
IC Markets have three key trading platforms; MT4, MT5, and cTrader. These platforms are meant to suit the needs of different traders. MT4 and MT5 are somewhat similar although the latter platform has more advanced features. Both the Raw spread account and the standard account are available on either of these trading platforms. On the other hand, the cTrader trading platform is only available on the cTrader account.
Support Channels
One of the ways that you can contact IC Markets is through its international phone number {+61(0)280144280} or that of Australia {+1300600644}. You can also contact them via email ([email protected]) or the live chat option on their website.
Education
In our IC Market Review, we did not find any educational content on their Cyprus entity. However, on their offshore page, they offer resources with helpful details on FX and CFD trading as well as IC Markets’ trading platforms. IC Markets also has Web TV, which is a white-label Trading Central offering. It has numerous videos regarding commodities, currencies, and equities.
IC Markets Overview
| Regulation & Licensing |
|
| Accepted Jurisdictions | Worldwide except for the United States, Iran, Iraq, Canada, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Liberia, Niger, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo |
| Assets offered | Currencies, precious metals, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, futures |
| Platforms available | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Mobile compatibility | Yes, it is mobile compatible. You can access the trading platforms on iOS, Android, and web. |
| Payment types accepted | Credit and debit cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, wire transfer, Bpay, FasaPay, Broker to Broker, POLI, Thai Internet banking, Rapidpay, Klarna, Bitcoin Wallet, and Vietnamese Internet banking |
| Languages | Over 15 languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Deutsch, and Italian |
IC Markets Review: Account Types
IC Markets have three types of accounts that are designed to suit the needs of different traders. The accounts are Raw Spread account, ctrader account, and the Standard account.
| Features | cTrader Account | Raw Spread Account | Standard Account |
| Account currencies | AUD, USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, HKD, CHF | AUD, USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, HKD, CHF | AUD, USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, HKD, CHF |
| Available leverage | 30:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| Starting spreads | 0.0 pips | 0.0 pips | 1.0 pips |
| Commission per trade | $3.0 ($6.0 per lot round-turn) | $3.5 ($7.0 per lot round-turn) | $0.0 |
| Decimal pricing | 4 decimal places | 4 decimal places | 4 decimal places |
| Swaps/rollovers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trading instruments | Currencies, precious metals, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, futures | Currencies, precious metals, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, futures | Currencies, precious metals, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, futures |
| Min. lot size per trade | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Max. lot size per trade | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swap/rollover free | No | No | No |
| Copy-trading support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Islamic account | Yes | Yes | Yes |
IC Markets Regulation
IC Markets is not actively redirecting UK citizens to their Cyprus entity. Instead, they promote their Seychelles company. This entity is authorised and regulated by the Seychelles’ Financial Services Authority (FSA). However, they don’t offer the same features and protection as the UK FCA so UK and Europeans should explore all risk and benefits of opening an account with an offshore broker.
The company also has an Australian financial services licence (AFSL No.: 335692), however, the Australian regulator has started to crack down on Europeans opening accounts with Aussie brokers, to mitigate leverage restrictions set by the European regulators.
IC Markets Spreads and Costs
IC Markets offers different spreads for its trading platforms. Through its 25+ liquidity providers, the company has been able to maintain low spreads. For instance, the spreads on its cTrader and MetaTrader can reduce to 0.0 pips. As for the commissions, different account types have different rates as shown in the figure below.
Additionally, the spreads of different trading instruments are subject to change. As such, you should rely on the details displayed on your trading account. What’s more, commissions only apply to precious metals and Forex. As for cryptocurrencies, futures, bonds, and indices traded on all the firm’s account types, the client is not subjected to any commission. For detailed information about their spreads and commission rates, you can head on to the company site.
As for the swap rates, they are applied for positions held overnight. One can find these rates at either the company’s cTrader or MetaTrader trading platform.
Non-trading Fees
Just like its trading fees, IC Markets’ non-trading fees are rather low. To start with, it does not charge its clients any inactivity fee (this is the charges incurred for not executing any trading activity for a specific period of time).
Moreover, the broker does not have any deposit or withdrawal fees. However, for an international bank wire transfer, its banking institution will charge you a processing fee of 20 AUD.
IC Markets Customer Service
IC Markets has a well-established customer care structure that is geared towards enhanced customer satisfaction. To begin with, its representatives are ready to respond to your calls at any time including during the weekends. The company’s international phone number is +61(0)280144280 while that of Australia is +1300600644. You can also contact the company via email ([email protected]) or the live chat option on their website.
IC Markets Account Opening Process
The process of opening an account with IC Markets is rather easy. If you are a beginner, it is beneficial to increase your skills and knowledge on trading by opening a demo account. To do so, go to the company’s website and click on ‘Try a Free Demo’. You will be asked to input your personal details including your official name, email address, and phone number. The next and final step in this process is the trading account configuration, after which you can start trading on your demo account.
For the experienced traders, open a live account by going to the homepage and clicking on ‘start trading’. Just like the demo account, you will be requested to fill in your personal details. The subsequent steps involve providing certain information about yourself, trading account configuration, declaration, and funding your account.
Once you successfully register for a live trading account, you will have access to the firm’s Client Portal. However, to fully access the services offered by this broker, you will have to upload the relevant documents for proof of identity and proof of address.
Minimum Deposit
The minimum deposit when trading with IC Markets is $200. This figure applies to all its account types; cTrader account, Raw Spread account, and Standard account.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
IC Markets does not charge its clients any deposit or withdrawal fees. However, it is important to note that you may be charged by your bank (especially if it is an international financial institution) when transferring funds to or from your trading account.
IC Markets Education Offering
IC Markets’ educational resources are designed for traders of all levels of experience. Video tutorials are one of the educational tools for the firm’s clients. The availed videos offer detailed information on FX and CFD trading as well as IC Markets’ trading platforms. The company also has Web TV; an educational resource created in collaboration with Trading Central. These short videos offer extensive coverage on commodities, currencies, and equities at a global scale.
Conclusions
While the IC Markets’ commissions are a bit high compared to those of its competitors, it has competitive spreads. Additionally, it offers high leverage and a wide array of financial instruments that traders can trade. However, as a UK based trader, it is disappointing that they don’t have offices here or are UK FCA regulated.
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IC Markets Review: FAQs
Q: What is the minimum amount needed to start trading with IC Markets?
A: you can open a trading account with a minimum deposit of $200
Q: What account types are available?
A: In addition to its free demo account, IC Markets has the raw spread, Islamic, and standard accounts.
Q: Is IC Markets regulated?
A: Yes, IC Markets is regulated by the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles.