IFC Markets-Overview of Minimum Deposit, Spreads & Leverage

What is IFC Markets?

IFC Markets, established in 2006, is a financial trading platform headquartered in Malaysia. It operates under the regulation of LFSA and FSC, though there are suspicions regarding the authenticity of its FSC license. The platform provides its users a wide range of market instruments to trade, including currency pairs, precious metals, and cryptocurrency CFDs. New users can familiarize themselves with the platform through its available demo account. IFC Markets offers a leverage of up to 1:400, with EUR/USD spreads at 1.8 pips. They have multiple trading platforms for users to choose from, including NetTrade X, MT4, and MT5. For any assistance, customers can reach out to their support team via phone, email, or social media (Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin).

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• 18-year experience in global financial markets: IFC Markets has been in operation for nearly two decades, indicating a deep understanding and expertise in navigating the financial markets.

• 650+ trading instruments: This extensive range offers traders a diverse selection, aiding in portfolio diversification and alignment with individual trading strategies.

• No hidden commission: A transparent pricing structure aids traders in precisely determining their potential costs and profits.

Cons:

• Suspicious regulation by FSC: Doubts surrounding a platform's regulatory status can be concerning. Proper regulation guarantees that the broker adheres to lawful and ethical standards, safeguarding traders from potential malpractices.

• Limited leverage compared to some competitors: While IFC offers up to 1:400 leverage, some competitors might offer even higher leverage, which could appeal to certain risk-seeking traders.

• Restricted access in certain countries: IFC Markets caters to most international traders.Traders from Japan or Russia will not be able to access or use the platform, limiting its global reach.

Is IFC Markets Safe or Scam?

IFC Markets is regulated by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA) in Malaysia with MB/20/0049 license number.

Market Instruments

IFC Markets boasts a comprehensive and diverse array of market instruments, catering to the varied needs of its global clientele. From traditional forex trading to innovative cryptocurrency CFDs, the platform provides multiple avenues for potential investment. Here are some examples of the instruments available:

Currency Pairs Trading

The Forex segment at IFC Markets features traditional instruments for this market, such as currency pairs. These pairs express the value of one currency in terms of another.

Precious Metals CFD Trading

Precious metals, notably gold, have consistently been viewed as reliable assets during market crises and periods of high volatility.

World Indices CFD Trading

Instruments in this category allow traders to engage with indices from leading stock exchanges. The pricing of these instruments is set in the local currency of each specific index.

Online Stock CFD Trading

This segment comprises CFDs on highly liquid stocks from companies listed on major global stock markets.

Online Cryptocurrency Trading - Cryptocurrency CFDs

Cryptocurrency CFDs enable traders to speculate on cryptocurrency values without directly owning the underlying asset. Cryptocurrencies are traded against standard currencies, e.g., ETHUSD for Ethereum. A distinct advantage is that there's no need for a cryptocurrency exchange account or a bitcoin wallet. IFC Markets sources cryptocurrency prices from reputable exchanges and futures prices for assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Accounts

IFC Markets offers three account types—Standard, Beginner, and Demo—with common features such as leverage ranging from 1:1 to 1:400 and spreads starting from 1.8 pips (fixed) or 0.4 pips (floating). All account types have flexible volume requirements, with the Demo and Beginner accounts allowing as low as 0.001 lot. The key difference lies in the minimum deposit: the Standard account requires a higher deposit of 1000 USD/EUR/JPY, while the Beginner account can be opened with just 1 USD/EUR/JPY, and the Demo account requires no deposit at all.

Leverage

By offering leverage as high as 1:400, IFC Markets enables its clients to amplify their exposure to the market and potentially achieve higher returns on their investments.

Spreads & Commissions

In IFC Markets, the spread is the difference between the bid and ask price for a currency pair or asset, and it can be either fixed or floating:

• Fixed Spread: The spread remains constant regardless of market conditions. For instance, it starts from 1.8 pips for most pairs, providing predictability for traders.
• Floating Spread: The spread can fluctuate based on market volatility and liquidity, starting from 0.4 pips.

As for commission, IFC Markets typically does not charge separate commissions on standard accounts, as costs are embedded within the spread. However, for accounts that use floating spreads, the trading cost might be slightly higher due to more frequent market fluctuations. Always check the specific account type for detailed costs.

Trading Platforms

IFC Markets offers three versatile trading platforms:

NetTradeX: A user-friendly platform with advanced tools, accessible on desktop and mobile devices.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Renowned for stability and automated trading using Expert Advisors, with extensive charting and analysis tools.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5): An advanced successor to MT4, featuring expanded timeframes, more technical indicators, and broader asset class support.

Choose the platform that suits your trading style and access a wide range of assets with competitive spreads, all in a secure trading environment.

Deposits & Withdrawals

IFC Markets offers a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods with processing times ranging from instantly (for methods like Bitwallet and MobileMoney) to 2-3 working days (for Bank Transfers). Most deposit methods have no fees, except for Bank Transfers and WebMoney, while withdrawal fees vary by method (e.g., TopChange has a 2% fee, and Bitwallet charges ¥100 per transaction). Minimum deposits start from $1 for methods like TopChange and Bitwallet, while withdrawals range from $1 to $50 depending on the method. Some methods, like Bank Cards, have daily withdrawal limits.

Notes

• Commissions: Withdrawal fees may vary depending on the payment system. For example, WebMoney charges a 0.8% fee (max $50), while Bitwallet charges ¥100 per transaction and ¥824 for bank withdrawals.
• Negative Balance Compensation: IFC Markets reserves the right to charge for accrued negative balance compensations if applicable.
• Bonus Fund Cancellation: If a withdrawal request is made, any accrued bonus funds may be canceled as part of promotional terms.

Customer Service

Customers can visit their office or get in touch with customer service line using the information provided below:

Telephone: +44 2039661649 (English) +1 6136864362 (English) +41 31 528 21 62 (French)

Email: fr@ifcmarkets.com; support@ifcmfx.com; info@ifcmarkets.com; ib@ifcmarkets.com

Moreover, clients could get in touch with this broker through the social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.