Founded in 2001, ActivTrades PLC has eventually made its way to the top as a global forex broker. Initially, the firm started operating from Switzerland but in 2005 it was relocated to UK, where it currently resides. After this, the firm began to expand and became recognized as an international brokerage with ties to some of the most top-tier regulatory bodies such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), which are responsible for ensuring that the firm operates within the legal boundaries and clients are offered some sort of protection on their investment and trading activity.
In this review, we will be going through all the aspects of forex and CFDs dealing via Active Traders PLC including trading tools, their platforms, rules and regulations, pros and cons, channels of transaction, pricing and various other factors that need to considered before opting for a broker.
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC OVERVIEW:
- Globally recognized and highly regulated broker
- Offers over 1000 CFDs and spread betting instruments
- Has its own trading platform
- Offers fast execution
- Exceptional and highly effective customer support
- Innovation and development
- Free and fast deposits and withdrawal
COMPANY PROFILEACTIVE TRADERS PLC:
The firm was founded in 2001 in Switzerland but was eventually move to the UK in 2005 from where it started working on its expansion policy which led to the firm being recognized on international platforms. Currently, the firm offers services in over 140 countries and offers more than 1,000 CFDs across the six major asset classes. The firm’s ability to keep up with the technological trends plays a huge part in its success. The firm’s development team in Bulgaria ensures that there is sufficient investment and development in the technological sector of the firm.
2017 proved to be a good year for the firm as it was recognized as the 90th fastest growing company in UK by the UK Sunday times, reinforcing the credibility of the firm. The firm offers a leverage of 1:30 to its clients and has low fees with zero commission charges. The withdrawal and deposit charges are also zero.
The firm has been registered by the FCA under the number 434413 and 19667 B by the SCB. Due to its excellent marketing strategy and trading tactics, the firm has become one of the leading brokers in Italy, Germany, France, Australia, South America and in various other parts of the world.
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC REGULATIONS:
ActivTrades PLC is being regulated by one of the most top-tier regulatory bodies, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that administers in UK and regulates UK-based traders. As part of its expansion process, ActivTrades PLC set up an office in Milan which was registered by Italy’s regulatory authority i.e., the Italian Companies and Exchange Commission Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB).
The Security Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) has approved ActivTrades Corp to operate as a broker in the Bahamas. In order to further enhance the security and minimize the risk that is involved, money is kept in segregated accounts in various banks. Similar to a few other brokers, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) offers security of up to £85,000 for clients associated with Active Traders PLC. The firm also offers insurance coverage of up to £1,000,000 for accounts based in UK and $1,000,000 for all other accounts. Furthermore, negative balance protection is also provided to all clients.
On the other hand, Active Traders PLC does have its downsides as the firm doesn’t operate in a transparent manner and there is no banking license that has been issued to the firm.
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC TRADING PLATFORMS:
Active Traders PLC supports a total of three platforms, all of which are highly convenient and extremely customizable. Clients have the option to choose the platform that suits their needs and continue with a seamless trading experience.
1. METATRADER 4 AND 5
The MetaTrader 4 and 5 are used to support Active Traders PLC’s desktop platforms. The MT4 and MT5 platforms can also be used as alternatives to the ActivTrades mobile platform. The industry standard MetaTrader 4 and 5 are the industry-standard platforms for trading and therefore the more preferred choice by clients.
MT5 has evolved through the years and now offers an in-depth trading experience, incorporating a variety of tools in its analysis and operations. MT5 also offers the option of auto trading and exposes a larger market to the clients. Both MT4 and MT5 have customizable features and produce analysis of the financial markets and prevailing trends that can help clients in making more informed decisions. Furthermore, both these platforms are compatible with android and iOS gadgets and have a long list of custom metrics to facilitate clients.
2. ACTIVTRADES
The ActivTrades platform is a custom-built platform by Active Traders PLC themselves and aims to provide clients with a user-friendly and well-designed platform that supports their trading needs. The search bar and portfolios offered on the site are fixed whereas other features can be tweaked and customized by clients.
The search bar however is very convenient as it divides everything into categories and makes it easier for clients to find the thing they are looking for. Clients can choose from either a market order, limit order or a stop order. The platform offers detailed and relevant fee reports and a comprehensive portfolio.
However, the platform has its drawbacks as it only requires a single step authentication process which is not as secure as a two-factor login method. There are no price alerts and all relevant notifications aren’t always issued to clients. The ActivTrades platform is compatible with mobiles and the mobile version has the added advantage of offering price alerts.
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC DEMO ACCOUNT
Active Traders PLC does offer a demo account for its clients. This account has the added advantage of one-on-one training with an expert as well as a 24/7 chat feature available. The demo account comes with $10,000 virtual funds deposited in the account. These virtual funds can be used to practice trading and learn the ins and outs of the financial market. The demo account supports both, the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platform as well as its own ActivTrades platform.
This demo account supports multiple charting and graphing tools, financial indicators, educational videos and other tools that can facilitate and speed up the client’s learning experience. Once clients have familiarized themselves with Active Traders PLC and have formulated an opinion about the platform, they can opt for a live account and trade with real capital.
ActiveTrades – Open Trading Account
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC DEPOSITS AND WITHDRAWALS:
Active Traders PLC offers various methods of depositing and withdrawing money for its client with no charges. These methods include the following:
- Credit card
- Debit Card
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paypal (only for UK based entity)
- Sofort (only for UK based entity)
- Bank transfer
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Moestro
ACCOUNT CURRENCIES SUPPORTED BY ACTIVE TRADERS PLC:
Active Traders PLC supports 4 base currencies for you to choose from and no minor currencies are supported. Here are all of them:
- EUR
- USD
- GBP
- CHF
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC FEES AND COMISSION:
Active Traders PLC charges relatively low forex fees and spreads as compared to its competitors. Non-trading fees are also a bare minimum thus making the entire trading process affordable and relatively cheap. The overall fee structure is dependent on the instrument that is being traded.
1. TRADING FEE:
When it comes to trading with currency pairs, Active Traders PLC charges no commission regardless of the currency pair that is being dealt with. The EUR/USD pair has an average spread of about 0.72 pips, CAD/CHF has 1.89 pips, GBP/CAD has the highest of 3.30 pips and so on.
Commissions, however, are charged on CFDs; US equity CFDs have a commission of $1 or $0.02 per share, European shares have a commission of €1 or 0.01% and UK CFDs have a commission of £1 or 0.1%.
2. NON-TRADING FEE:
Keeping in line with its low-cost policy, Active Traders PLC has no non-trading fee except the €1 that the broker charges its clients every month for providing them with data. All withdrawals and deposits are free except in instances when the financial intermediary charges its clients for the transactions.
3. INACTIVITY FEE:
Active Traders PLC does have an inactivity fee that is automatically enforced after an inactivity period of 1 year. Though this fee is low, Active Traders PLC does charge its clients a total of £10 per month after their account has been inactive and still has some balance.
PROS:
- Offers a demo account
- Is highly regulated
- Low spreads and forex fees
- Free withdrawals
- Uses industry standard MT4 and MT5 platforms
- Support, research and educational tools are highly effective
CONS:
- Some methods of transactions require processing fee
- Clients don’t have a variety of choices for trading accounts
- International offering through Bahamas entity
CONCLUSION: SHOULD YOU TRADE WITH ACTIVE TRADERS PLC?
Active Traders PLC is an excellent choice for clients who want to trade with a firm that is safe secure and guarantees the safety of their investment. The regulatory bodies that administer the security of the firm and the additional licenses issued to the firm are testament to the credibility of their performance. In addition to the advanced security features of the firm, Active Traders PLC also aims to protects its clients from a negative balance. The firm provides a more superior and effective trading experience through its exceptional pricing structure and asset selection.
ACTIVE TRADERS PLC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
1. Do clients have to apply for Active Trader?
No. Once a client opens an account with at least $10000 or their trade volume is 25M or more, they will automatically qualify for Active Trader.
2. Can clients renew their demo account?
No, a demo account expires after 30 days after what which clients are expected to use a live account.
3. What is the minimum amount that needs to be deposited in order to activate an account?
Clients need to deposit at least 100 units of the currency that they opt for.
4. Can clients open multiple demo accounts?
Clients can only open a maximum of one demo account per email.
