Category: 3. Broker for Intermediate

Founded in 2002 as Poland’s first leveraged foreign exchange brokerage house, X-Trade morphed into X-Trade Brokers in 2004 to comply with new Polish regulations. It then rebranded to its current incarnation, XTB Online Trading (XTB), in 2009 and went public, listing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2016 under the ticker symbol, XTB. The firm does not accept U.S. traders.

XTB is a solid choice for traders that want to minimize their costs, whether it be the inherent cost of placing a trade (bid/ask spread) or not having to be burdened with extraneous costs, such as wire fees. XTB offers maximum leverage of up to 500:1 for non-U.K. accounts while U.K. accounts get up to 30:1 leverage. The firm places an emphasis on customer support and offers relevant educational tools and research amenities that would be well-suited to a novice trader. This company is ranked as the winner of Investopedia’s Best Forex Broker for Low Costs in 2020.Pros

• Lowest FX spreads
• Regulated by FCA (U.K.)
• Offers protection for client accounts
• Emphasis on customer service

Cons

• Does not accept U.S. clients
• Non-FX spread costs are high
• No guaranteed stop loss
• No back-testing or automated trading capabilities

Denmark’s Saxo Bank Group (Saxo Bank), founded in 1992, classifies itself as “a leading Fintech specialist focused on multi-asset trading and investment and delivering ‘Banking-as-a-Service’ to wholesale clients.” The company embraced the technological advancements of the late 90’s in launching one of the first online trading platforms in 1998. Saxo Bank has operated in the United Kingdom since 2006 through its subsidiary Saxo Capital Markets U.K. Ltd (SCML) and, like many forex brokers, it doesn’t accept U.S. traders.

Saxo Capital Markets is for the advanced trader. It offers a broad variety of brokerage services geared towards sophisticated active traders, investors, professionals, and institutions. Smaller account holders will encounter a number of unusual obstacles that include higher account minimums, a variety of fees, and fewer customer support options. Tiered accounts lower trading costs and add benefits as equity grows, but the majority of retail traders will have a tough time reaching the higher customer tiers. The company is ranked as the winner for Investopedia’s Best Forex Broker for Advanced Traders in 2020.Pros

• Extensive range of offerings
• Regulated by FCA (U.K.)
• Industry’s best research
• Superior user interface
• Offers protection for client accounts

Cons

• Lack of emphasis on customer service
• Confusing instrument fee structures
• Does not accept U.S. clients
• No MT4

London Capital Group (LCG), founded in 1996, has continued to keep pace in the highly competitive online brokerage space. The company’s latest rebranding effort occurred in 2016 with the launch of LCG Trader. This, coupled with the ubiquitous MT4 (downloadable) platform and a functional mobile application, comprises LCG’s entire online offering to the consumer. LCG provides access to a broad selection of CFDs and spread betting instruments across several different asset classes. Like most others on this list, LCG does not accept U.S. traders.

As one of the major U.K.-based forex brokers, LCG offers a wide range of asset classes and a seamless trading experience. The firm’s fees are competitive within the industry and it ranks high on our list for customer service. With these positive attributes along with its apparent focus on functional simplicity, LCG is well-suited to beginning traders. Aside from rating highly overall, the company is ranked as the winner for Investopedia’s Best Forex Broker for Beginners in 2020. Although you certainly don’t have to be a beginner to benefit from its offerings, LCG is hard to beat if you are just starting out.Pros

• Emphasis on customer service
• Regulated by FCA (U.K.)
• Offers protection for client accounts
• Account and trading incentives available

Cons

• Website maintenance substandard
• Does not accept U.S. clients
• Differences between LCG trader and MT4
• No back-testing or automated trading capabilities

CMC Markets (CMC), founded in 1989, is a well-established, publicly traded, and highly regarded U.K. forex broker that has successfully adapted to the ever-changing online brokerage landscape. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker symbol, CMCX. Like many forex brokers, CMC does not accept U.S. traders.

CMC Markets is for all types of traders, from the novice retail trader looking to dip their toes into the online trading arenas of forex, CFDs, and spread betting, to the experienced veteran seeking exposure to a broad array of products. The firm’s fees are competitive within the industry and it ranks high on several of our lists. The company is ranked as the winner for Investopedia’s Best Overall Forex Broker as well as Best Forex Broker for Range of Offerings in 2020.Pros

• Extensive range of offerings
• Regulated by FCA (U.K.)
• Emphasis on education & customer service
• Research amenities are industry leading
• Offers protection for client accounts

Cons

• Does not accept U.S. clients
• Differences between Next Generation and MT4
• High CFD spreads for certain indices
• No back-testing or automated trading capabilities