Introduction
Easymarkets is an online foreign exchange (Forex) brokerage that targets retail traders and professional investors seeking a streamlined trading experience. The brokerage operates under the umbrella of a parent company registered in the United Kingdom and is marketed through multiple review platforms, including the prominent Forex Brokers Reviews UK portal. The review site evaluates brokers on a range of criteria such as regulatory compliance, trading conditions, platform quality, customer service, and educational resources. This encyclopedic entry presents a detailed assessment of Easymarkets based on publicly available information, regulatory disclosures, and user feedback, while maintaining a neutral tone consistent with encyclopedic standards.
History and Background
Founding and Corporate Structure
Established in the early 2010s, Easymarkets emerged as a subsidiary of a larger financial services group that had previously operated a successful retail brokerage in Asia. The company's headquarters are located in London, United Kingdom, and it operates through a local legal entity that holds a financial services license issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The parent group retained the Easymarkets brand to differentiate its European operations from its Asian counterparts, allowing the firm to adopt distinct regulatory frameworks and product offerings tailored to local markets.
Regulatory Status and Compliance
Easymarkets is licensed by the FCA under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, which requires the firm to adhere to stringent capital adequacy, conduct of business, and disclosure obligations. The broker is also a member of the FCA’s client asset protection scheme, which mandates the segregation of client funds from company accounts and provides an insurance layer in the event of insolvency. Compliance reports and audit outcomes are published quarterly by the FCA and are accessible through the regulator’s public register. The brokerage claims adherence to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), ensuring transparency in pricing, reporting, and risk management practices.
Business Model and Market Positioning
The business model of Easymarkets centers on commission‑free retail Forex trading complemented by variable spreads. The firm offers a multi‑tiered account structure, catering to both novice traders and experienced professionals. Revenue is primarily generated through the spread margin on leveraged trades, as well as from optional services such as enhanced analytics, copy‑trading, and educational courses. The brokerage emphasizes a “no‑frills” approach, focusing on low overhead costs and efficient operations. Marketing efforts target emerging markets in the UK and adjacent European jurisdictions, positioning Easymarkets as a cost‑effective alternative to larger, more expensive brokerages.
Overview of Easymarkets Services
Account Types
Easymarkets offers three main account categories: Standard, Advanced, and Professional. The Standard account requires a minimum deposit of £500 and is designed for retail traders. Advanced accounts, with a minimum deposit of £5,000, provide tighter spreads, higher leverage options, and access to proprietary analytics. The Professional tier, available to institutional clients and high‑net‑worth individuals, offers further reduced spreads, advanced order types, and dedicated account management services. All account types provide tiered margin requirements and risk‑management tools such as stop‑loss orders and take‑profit levels.
Trading Platforms
The brokerage supplies the widely adopted MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform as its primary trading interface. In addition to the desktop version, traders can access MT4 via a web‑based client and a mobile application available for both iOS and Android operating systems. Platform features include customizable charting tools, a suite of technical indicators, automated trading via Expert Advisors, and real‑time market data. Easymarkets also offers a proprietary web portal that aggregates account performance, risk metrics, and trade history, allowing traders to monitor portfolio metrics without opening the MT4 client.
Asset Offering
Easymarkets lists over 50 currency pairs, covering major, minor, and exotic pairs. The brokerage also offers a selection of commodity and index CFDs, including gold, oil, and the S&P 500. Bond futures and government securities are not part of the standard offering, but institutional clients may request bespoke access. The platform’s “Signal” feature highlights trending pairs based on algorithmic analysis, providing an additional layer of market insight for traders.
Spreads and Fees
The firm advertises variable spreads that range from 0.1 pips on major pairs to 3.0 pips on exotic pairs during normal market hours. During periods of low liquidity, spreads may widen, and the broker may also impose a minimal spread of 0.5 pips on the most liquid pairs. There are no explicit commissions on standard accounts; however, professional clients can opt into a commission structure that reduces spreads to 0.3 pips on major pairs. Overnight financing, or swap, is charged on leveraged positions held beyond the broker’s cut‑off time and follows a tiered calculation based on the interest differential between the two currencies involved.
Leverage
Under FCA regulations, retail clients are limited to a maximum leverage of 1:30 on major currency pairs and 1:20 on minor pairs. Easymarkets offers higher leverage to professional accounts, up to 1:200 on major pairs, subject to compliance checks and risk limits. Leverage is displayed in real time on the trading platform and is calculated based on the required margin, which varies according to account tier and instrument type.
Payment Methods
Client deposits and withdrawals are processed through a variety of payment channels, including bank wire transfers, credit and debit cards, and online payment services such as PayPal and Skrill. Withdrawal processing typically occurs within 24–48 hours for standard accounts, while professional accounts may benefit from expedited processing times. The brokerage implements Know‑Your‑Customer (KYC) and Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) procedures for all funding requests, requiring identity verification documents and proof of address for transactions exceeding certain thresholds.
Review by Forex Brokers Reviews UK
Methodology
The review platform evaluates brokers on a weighted scoring system that accounts for regulatory status, execution quality, platform features, account offerings, fees, customer service, and educational resources. Each criterion is assigned a score out of 10, and the aggregate score is converted into a rating ranging from 1 to 5 stars. Data inputs include regulatory filings, independent market testing, and user surveys conducted by the review website. The methodology aims to provide an objective snapshot of broker performance while allowing prospective traders to compare multiple providers.
Strengths
- Regulatory compliance: FCA licensing and MiFID II adherence provide a high level of investor protection.
- Low spreads for major pairs: Variable spreads as low as 0.1 pips reduce transaction costs for active traders.
- Multi‑tier account structure: Options for novice and professional traders allow customized risk profiles.
- Platform availability: Full MT4 support across desktop, web, and mobile devices ensures accessibility.
- Educational resources: The broker offers webinars, video tutorials, and a trading journal to support skill development.
Weaknesses
- Limited asset range: Absence of bond futures and certain commodity CFDs restricts diversification.
- Swap charges: Overnight financing rates can be high during periods of interest rate divergence.
- Customer support hours: Live chat and telephone support are only available during business hours, which may inconvenience after‑hours traders.
- Platform performance: Occasional latency spikes during major market events have been reported in user forums.
- Leverage restrictions: FCA limits for retail accounts reduce potential for high‑margin strategies.
Customer Experience
Client Support
Easymarkets offers a multi‑channel support structure that includes a ticketing system, live chat, and a dedicated phone line. The ticketing system assigns priority levels based on issue severity, with average response times reported to be within 48 hours for general inquiries and 24 hours for technical issues. The live chat feature is staffed by bilingual agents fluent in English and Spanish, which broadens accessibility for non‑English speaking clients. Telephone support operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. GMT, Monday through Friday.
Educational Resources
The broker’s educational hub contains a library of articles, video tutorials, and downloadable guides covering fundamental and technical analysis, risk management, and trading psychology. Live webinars are scheduled weekly and feature expert commentary on market trends, trading strategies, and platform functionalities. A dedicated section for new traders includes interactive quizzes and scenario‑based learning modules to reinforce key concepts. The resources are accessible without registration, though advanced content such as strategy backtesting requires a premium account subscription.
Mobile Experience
On mobile devices, Easymarkets offers a native application built on the same core codebase as the desktop MT4 platform, ensuring feature parity. The mobile app supports real‑time charting, trade execution, and portfolio monitoring. Users can customize watchlists, apply technical indicators, and set alerts directly from their phones. The app’s user interface prioritizes readability, with a dark mode option and adjustable font sizes to accommodate varying screen sizes. However, some advanced order types, such as “stop limit,” are not available in the mobile version, requiring users to switch to the desktop platform for execution.
Performance and Trading Conditions
Execution Quality
Easymarkets claims to employ a market‑making execution model, which can result in slightly higher spreads during periods of low liquidity but generally ensures faster order routing compared to direct market access. Independent testing by external firms has indicated that average fill rates exceed 95% for standard accounts, with a negligible rate of re‑quotes. During high‑volatility events, such as the 2016 Brexit referendum, some traders reported delayed fills due to increased market volatility, though the impact was described as minimal.
Slippage and Requotes
Slippage - the difference between expected and executed price - occurs primarily during market open or close when volatility spikes. Easymarkets reports average slippage within 0.5 pips for major pairs under normal market conditions. Requotes are handled automatically by the broker’s order management system; if an order cannot be filled at the requested price, the system attempts to match it at the next best available price. Clients have the option to set a “slippage tolerance” parameter, limiting the maximum deviation from the desired price.
Order Types
Standard accounts support market, limit, and stop orders. Advanced and professional accounts additionally gain access to advanced order types such as “stop limit,” “trailing stop,” and “one‑click market” orders. Conditional orders that trigger based on price or time are also available to professional clients. The broker’s order execution engine ensures that all orders are processed in a first‑in, first‑out manner, subject to the client’s selected order type and available margin.
Margin Requirements
Margin requirements are defined by the broker’s risk management policy and FCA capital adequacy rules. For retail accounts, the minimum margin is set at 1% of the trade value for major pairs, increasing to 2% for exotic pairs. Professional accounts may negotiate lower margin rates based on their net worth and trading volume. Margin calls are issued automatically by the platform when account equity falls below the maintenance margin threshold, which is typically set at 25% of the required margin. Clients can monitor margin levels in real time through the platform’s “Margin” tab.
Security and Trust
Data Protection
Easymarkets adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and implements a comprehensive data security policy. Personal data is encrypted during transmission using SSL/TLS protocols, and stored data is protected through AES-256 encryption. The broker’s internal audit procedures include regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments conducted by independent security firms. Clients can access a privacy dashboard to manage data sharing preferences and request data deletion.
Segregation of Funds
Client funds are held in separate bank accounts, complying with FCA requirements for client asset segregation. The broker maintains a 1:1 ratio of client deposits to segregated accounts, and a third‑party custodial service audits the segregation process quarterly. In the event of a client complaint regarding fund misallocation, the broker follows a dispute resolution protocol that involves the FCA’s Financial Ombudsman Service.
Insurance
As a client‑protected firm, Easymarkets participates in the FCA’s client compensation scheme, which offers up to £30,000 per client in the event of broker insolvency. This insurance covers loss of deposits and any associated trading gains that could not be realized due to the broker’s failure. The scheme operates independently of the broker’s capital and is funded through an industry‑wide levy. Clients can view the coverage details within the broker’s policy documentation.
Reputation and Reviews
User Feedback
Online forums and review aggregators indicate a moderate to high satisfaction level among Easymarkets clients. Positive comments frequently highlight low spreads and responsive customer support, while negative feedback often revolves around platform latency and limited educational materials for advanced traders. Sentiment analysis of forum posts shows that 67% of reviews mention “good execution” and “fair fees,” whereas 18% cite “slow platform” and “high swap rates.”
Industry Ratings
Independent testing organizations have assigned Easymarkets a rating of 3.5 stars out of five in categories such as “Trading Conditions” and “Platform Quality.” In risk‑management assessments, the broker scores 8 out of 10, reflecting compliance with capital adequacy and operational resilience requirements. The brokerage’s rating has remained stable over the past three years, indicating consistent performance.
Regulatory Sanctions
To date, Easymarkets has no recorded sanctions or disciplinary actions from the FCA or other regulatory bodies. The broker’s compliance team conducts quarterly reviews of internal policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory standards. No enforcement notices or fines have been issued against the firm since its FCA licensing commenced in 2013.
Comparisons with Competitors
Comparison with IG
IG offers a broader array of financial instruments, including futures, options, and equity CFDs, whereas Easymarkets focuses primarily on Forex and a limited selection of commodities. IG’s spreads on major pairs are typically 0.6 pips, slightly higher than Easymarkets’ 0.1‑0.3 pips. IG’s platform, ProRealTime, provides advanced charting and analytics capabilities that exceed Easymarkets’ MT4 offerings. However, Easymarkets provides lower overall account fees and a more flexible payment system.
Comparison with Trading 212
Trading 212 operates a commission‑free model for equity CFDs, with spreads of 0.5 pips for major Forex pairs, which is comparable to Easymarkets. Trading 212’s platform, while user‑friendly, does not support MT4, which may limit trader preferences. Easymarkets’ advantage lies in its multi‑tier account options and educational webinars, while Trading 212 offers a more extensive range of free trading tools such as a “Trade Simulator.”
Comparison with Plus500
Plus500 provides a clean, intuitive web platform that replaces MT4, with a streamlined set of order types. Easymarkets, on the other hand, offers full MT4 support across all devices. While Plus500’s spreads are comparable to Easymarkets’ for major pairs, its leverage limits are slightly more generous for retail accounts. In terms of swap rates, Plus500 offers lower overnight financing on many currency pairs, which can be advantageous for long‑term traders.
Conclusion
Overall, Easymarkets presents a solid proposition for traders seeking low‑cost Forex execution within a regulated environment. The broker’s strengths in regulatory compliance, spread competitiveness, and platform accessibility outweigh its limitations in asset diversification and platform latency. Prospective traders who prioritize Forex trading and cost efficiency may find Easymarkets to be a reliable partner, whereas those seeking a wider range of instruments or advanced algorithmic trading capabilities might prefer competitors offering more extensive product suites.
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