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AuthorAuthor: Jeffrey CammackPublished: Oct 14, 2019
EditorEditor: Chris CammackUpdated: Dec 11, 2023

Last Updated On Dec 11, 2023

Jeffrey Cammack

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK’s financial regulator and is renowned as the most stringent regulator of Forex brokers in the world and has a reputation for guaranteeing trader security.  All FCA-regulated brokers must segregate client funds, provide negative balance protection, process withdrawals instantaneously, and provide compensation of up to 50,000 GBP to protect traders against broker-related matters. 

The FCA-regulated brokers below have low trading costs and a good reputation, but each has unique features making them suitable for different types of traders.  

According to our testing and our research, these are the best FCA-regulated brokers for 2024.

  • Pepperstone - Best Overall FCA-Regulated Broker
  • XM - Best Education
  • FXTM - Best Copy Trading Platform
  • Tickmill - Lowest Commission STP/ECN Broker
  • HFM - FCA Broker with KES Accounts
  • IG - Widest Range of Financial Instruments
  • FxPro - Best Execution
  • XTB - Best Research and Market Analysis
  • markets.com - Best Proprietary Platform
  • Axi - Best MT4 Customisation

The best FCA regulated Forex brokers for 2024

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Broker
Broker Score
Official Site
FCA (UK) Regulated
FCA License
Min. Deposit
Max. Leverage (Forex)
Beginner Friendly
EUR/USD - Standard Spread
Cost of Trading
EUR/USD - Raw Spread
Total CFDs
Currency Pairs
Platforms
Compare
Pepperstone
4.61 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
89%74- of retail CFD accounts lose money
684312USD 0400:1Excellent1.00 pipsUSD 100.17 pips1275100MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
XM
4.45 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
75.33% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 51000:1Excellent0.60 pipsUSD 60.60 pips155457MT4, MT5
FXTM
4.37 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
81% of retail CFD accounts lose money
600475USD 102000:1Excellent1.50 pipsUSD 150.00 pips180362MT4, MT5
Tickmill
4.58 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
71% of retail CFD accounts lose money
717270USD 100500:1Excellent0.00 pipsUSD 40.10 pips20962MT4, MT5
HFM (HotForex)
4.53 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
72.90% of retail CFD accounts lose money
801701USD 0400:1Excellent1.00 pipsUSD 100.10 pips123053MT4, MT5, HFM Trading App
IG
4.69 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
69% of retail CFD accounts lose money
195355USD 0200:1Excellent0.60 pipsUSD 60.85 pips1929580MT4, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime
FxPro
4.39 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
71.58% of retail CFD accounts lose money
509956USD 100200:1Excellent1.40 pipsUSD 140.40 pips224170MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxProEdge
XTB
4.39 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
78% of retail CFD accounts lose money
522157USD 0500:1Excellent0.70 pipsUSD 70.70 pips521157xStation5
Markets.com
4.68 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
70.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money
607305USD 100300:1Excellent0.70 pipsUSD 70.60 pips100956MT4, MT5, markets.com
Axi
4.44 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
75.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money
509746USD 0500:1Excellent1.00 pipsUSD 100.00 pips18870MT4

Pepperstone – Best Overall FCA-Regulated Broker

Broker Score
4.614.61 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 10
⚖️  Max. Leverage400:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Established in 2010 in Australia, Pepperstone entered the UK market in 2016. Pepperstone UK is regulated by the FCA (licence no. 684312), and all client funds are kept in segregated trust accounts at Barclays.  As of June 2020, Pepperstone’s UK office had almost 8,000 clients, drawn by Pepperstone’s low fees, its range of UK share CFDs, and its choice of three popular trading platforms.  The FCA regulation ensures a reliable and transparent trading environment.

Trading Platforms: Pepperstone supports three of the most popular trading platforms, including Metatrader 4 (MT4), Metatrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. Although it was developed in 2002, MT4 is the most widely used cross-broker trading platform available. MT5, the newer version of MT4, has greater functionality and more advanced charting tools, while cTrader has a more intuitive design and is easier for beginners to operate but offers most of the automated trading tools found on MT4 and MT5. 

Low Trading Fees: Pepperstone offers two simple account types with competitive trading fees.  The Standard Account has fees included in its variable spreads, which starts at 1.00 pips on the EUR/USD, while the Razor Account offers raw spreads of 0.1 pips in exchange for a round-turn commission of 7 USD.  Overall, these are some of the lowest trading fees in the industry.

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Great platform choice
  • Wide range of assets
Cons
  • Limited market analysis
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.00 pips with 0.0 USD commission round turn on the trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 400:1. Islamic account available. MT4, MT5 & cTrader platforms supported. Pepperstone is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, SCB, CMA, BaFin and the DFSA

XM – Best Education

Broker Score
4.454.45 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 5
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 6
⚖️  Max. Leverage1000:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Founded in Cyprus in 2009, XM is an FCA-regulated broker (licence no. 705428) with a regional office in the City of London. XM has expanded rapidly since its inception and now has over 5 million traders on its books from 192 countries, including Kenya. Kenyans will be trading under XM’s Belize-based entity, regulated by the IFSC. Although the IFSC’s rules are not as strict as other international regulators, the FCA regulation provides traders with confidence that their funds will be safe and that they will be treated fairly. In addition to adhering to strict regulatory rules, XM offers a low-cost Zero Account with exceptionally tight spreads but stands out for its high-quality educational materials and customer support.

XM Education: With over 20 multilingual market professionals, XM presents a diversified educational knowledge base to empower its clients with a competitive trading advantage. XM provides hourly webinars, Q&A sessions with trading experts, and daily updates and briefings on movements that shape the global markets.  It also provides a comprehensive selection of educational videos and platform tutorials.  

Trading Fees: Available on both the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, XM’s Zero Account offers some of the lowest trading fees in the industry.  With a minimum deposit of 100 USD, traders can access spreads that start at 0.1 pips on the EUR/USD in exchange for a round-turn commission of 7 USD.  XM also boasts a strict no requotes and no rejections policy, and 99.35% of all trading orders are executed in less than one second, which means that traders will usually receive the quoted trading prices. 

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Excellent education
  • Free deposits and withdrawals
Cons
  • Dealing desk
  • Wide spreads on its entry-level accounts
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.60 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 1000:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. XM Group regulated by CySEC, ASIC, and the Belize FSC.

FXTM – Best Copy Trading Platform

Broker Score
4.374.37 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 10
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 15
⚖️  Max. Leverage2000:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Established in 2011, FXTM is headquartered in Cyprus and employs over 800 staff in 10 regional offices. In 2018 it received its FCA licence (registration no. 600475), allowing it to expand into the UK market. Although Kenyan traders will be trading under FXTM’s Mauritius-based entity, the FCA regulation provides traders with confidence that FXTM will behave responsibly and transparently. A beginner-friendly broker, FXTM provides a powerful copy trading platform, FXTM Invest, to assist beginner traders who lack the knowledge and expertise in Forex trading. It also offers an excellent library of educational materials that provides a good Forex trading overview.

FXTM Invest: FXTM Invest allows beginner traders or followers, to choose from a list of top-rated traders known as strategy providers. With a minimum deposit of 100 USD, followers can activate an investor account and copy the trades of various Strategy Providers. With FXTM Invest, followers receive a portion of the profits of successful trades, and Strategy Providers earn extra money by generating profits for their followers. 

FXTM Education: FXTM’s educational materials are well-structured, comprehensive, and more useful for beginners than what is available at other similar brokers. It provides a good Forex trading overview in its guides, tutorials, ebooks, videos, and articles. FXTM also hosts seminars and webinars in multiple languages by professional traders. To attend FXTM’s seminars, traders will have to open an account and deposit a minimum of 200 USD. Webinars are free but require registration, and an archive of previous webinars is available on FXTM’s website. 

Pros
  • Good for beginners
  • Excellent education
  • Well regulated
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Copy trading accounts
Cons
  • Expensive withdrawals
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.50 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 2000:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. Leverage offered can vary depending on country of residence, and your trading knowledge and experience. FXTM is regulated by CySEC, FCA, FSCA, and the FSC.

Tickmill – Lowest Commission STP/ECN Broker

Broker Score
4.584.58 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 100
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 4
⚖️  Max. Leverage500:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Established in 2014 and headquartered in London, Tickmill has seen extraordinary growth since its foundation, with over 110,000 traders on its books and an average monthly trading volume of over 120 billion USD. Tickmill acquired its FCA licence (registration no. 717270) in 2016, and to date, its UK office has attracted over 38,000 clients. While Kenyans will be trading under Tickmill’s Seychelles-based entity, the additional FCA oversight will ensure that Tickmill provides a safe and reliable trading environment.  Traders will also be attracted by its low commission accounts and low non-trading fees.

Low Commission Accounts: Tickmill offers three live accounts on both the MT4 and Mt5 platforms. While its commission-free entry-level account features higher trading fees than other brokers, with spreads that start at 1.6 pips on the EUR/USD, traders will be interested in the Pro and VIP accounts, which offer spreads of 0 pips and commissions of 4 USD and 2 USD (round turn), respectively.  However, to open a VIP account, traders must maintain an account balance of 50,000 USD.

Non-trading Fees: Unlike other brokers that charge fees on almost all transactions, Tickmill’s non-trading fees are low. No fees are charged for deposits or withdrawals, and Tickmill does not charge fees on inactive accounts. Tickmill also has a Zero Fee policy and will reimburse traders for any third-party fees charged up to 100 USD on deposits of over 5,000 USD.

Pros
  • Tight spreads
  • Well regulated
  • Fast and free withdrawals
Cons
  • Limited base currencies
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.00 pips with 4 USD commission round turn on the trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 500:1. Islamic account available. MT4 platform support. Tickmill is regulated by CySEC, FCA, FSCA, and the FSA-Seychelles.

HFM (Hotforex) – Best Overall FCA-Regulated Broker

Broker Score
4.534.53 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 10
⚖️  Max. Leverage400:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Established in 2010, HFM is an award-winning Forex and commodities broker based in London. In 2012 HFM revealed that it added the FCA (licence no. 801701) to its long list of credentials. Since then, HFM has demonstrated its ability to comply with the FCA’s rigorous standards. HFM clients in Kenya will be trading under their local regulator, the CMA, which means that trading accounts are available in KES and will be segregated at Kenyan banks. While HFM’s Kenyan clients are not as well protected as their clients in the EU and the UK, the CMA oversight ensures adequate security.  HFM also stands out for its diverse range of financial instruments and the HF App – providing traders with access to their accounts and various trading tools, news, and financial analysis.

Financial Instruments:  HFM offers traders a wider and more diverse range of tradable assets than is typically found at other brokers, including various specialty CFDs. Trading is offered on 53 Forex pairs, alongside cryptocurrencies, share CFDs, commodities, bonds, over 34 ETFs, and 950 stock DMAs, which are rarely seen at other brokers.  All assets are available on its three accounts, with minimum deposits starting at 100 USD and low trading fees compared to other similar brokers. The Zero Spread Account is particularly notable, with spreads that start at 0.1 pips on the EUR/USD in exchange for a round-turn commission of 6 USD.

HF App: The HF App, available on Android and iOS, offers traders direct access to the myHF Area. It allows traders to withdraw, deposit, and transfer funds, create watchlists, and offers advanced charting functionality, various trading calculators, and an Economic Calendar.  The HF App also offers Daily Market Analysis curated by its team of in-house experts, which provides frequent fundamental and technical analysis updates, video analysis, and special reports. 

Pros
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Tight spreads
  • Well regulated
  • Good range of accounts
Cons
  • Limited base currencies
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.00 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 400:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. HF Markets Group regulated by the FSCA, FCA, FSC, CySEC and the DFSA.

IG – Widest Range of Financial Instruments

Broker Score
4.694.69 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 6
⚖️  Max. Leverage200:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Founded in 1974 in London, IG is one of the best-regulated brokers in the world. With regulation from over 17 regulatory authorities, including the FCA (licence no. 195355), IG is also publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. In compliance with FCA regulation, IG holds all client money in independent trust accounts at various credit-worthy high street banks such as Barclays and Lloyds. The FCA oversight also ensures that IG will act reliably and transparently. IG Markets also offers a low-cost trading environment and one of the industry’s largest sets of financial instruments, with over 17,000 instruments available for trading.

Trading Fees: IG offers one live account on three trading platforms. Trading fees vary depending on the platform chosen but are generally lower than average, with spreads of 0.85 pips on the EUR/USD and no commissions for Forex trading.  Additionally, there are no minimum deposit requirements to open an account, except on the L2 Dealer platform, where traders must maintain a minimum account balance of 2000 USD.

Financial Instruments: IG offers over 17,000 financial instruments to trade, a larger range than is found at other brokers. These include 13,000 share CFDs, 6000 ETFs, and 80 Forex pairs. IG Markets also offers weekend trading on major Forex pairs and 24-hour trading on Britain’s leading stock index, the UK 100. Both of these are unique services that are not available at other brokers.

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Great platform choice
  • Excellent education
  • Excellent market analysis
Cons
  • High minimum deposit
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.85 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 200:1. Islamic account available. MT4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer platforms supported. IG Markets Group is regulated by FCA, ASIC, and the FSCA.

FXPro – Best Execution

Broker Score
4.394.39 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 100
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 14
⚖️  Max. Leverage200:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Founded in Cyprus in 2006, FxPro has a regional HQ in London and has been regulated by the FCA since 2010. FxPro has expanded rapidly since its foundation, and over the years, 1.8 million client accounts have been opened across 173 countries worldwide, including Kenya. The additional FCA oversight will give Kenyan traders confidence that FxPro provides a safe and transparent trading environment. FxPro is also well-regarded for its number of trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, cTrader, and its in-house trading platform, FxPro Edge. Additionally, FxPro provides some of the fastest execution speeds in the industry. 

Fast Execution: FxPro provides its clients with exceptionally fast trade execution, which means that orders are filled at close to the quoted price. Most trades are filled in under 14 milliseconds, with 80.48% of market orders executed at the requested price, while 9.6% of clients receive a better price or positive slippage.  Although FxPro provides fast execution, its trading fees are slightly higher than other brokers across all account options.  Minimum deposits start at 100 USD on all accounts, but trading costs vary between 12 USD to 18 USD on one lot of EUR/USD traded.

Trading Platforms: FxPro offers a broader range of trading platforms than other brokers, including MT4, MT5, cTrader, and FxPro’s in-house platform, FxPro Edge. MT4, MT5, and cTrader are considered some of the best trading platforms in the industry, with advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. However, the benefit of trading on FxPro Edge is that it connects seamlessly to the FxPro App, allowing traders to manage their funds and trade from the integrated platform. 

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Great platform choice
  • Tight spreads
Cons
  • Limited education
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.40 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 200:1. Islamic account available. MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro proprietary trading platform supported. FxPro Group is regulated by FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and the DFSA

XTB – Best Research and Market Analysis

Broker Score
4.394.39 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 7
⚖️  Max. Leverage500:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

XTB was founded in Poland in 2002 and gained an FCA licence (registration no. 522157) to expand its reach into the UK. With many years in the forex trading space, XTB has a customer base of over 389,000 worldwide, including Kenya. Kenyans will be onboarded through its Belize-based entity, regulated by the IFSC, a less stringent regulator than that of the UK. However, the additional FCA oversight will ensure that Kenyan funds are safe and provide a transparent trading environment. XTB also stands out for its in-house trading platform, xStation 5, and excellent market research curated by its team of expert traders.

Market Research: XTB’s market research amenities are excellent compared to other brokers. Aside from an economic calendar that is intuitive and filterable, XTB offers an updated newsfeed with excellent search functionality. XTB’s market analysis tab also features a number of useful analytical tools, including market sentiment, top movers, a stock scanner, and heat maps. Each section is well-structured and provides a number of actionable trading ideas.   

xStation 5: Although trading platform choice is limited to xStation 5, it offers many of the same advanced trading features found on the more popular trading platforms such as MT4. However, xStation 5 introduces XTB sentiment data directly into the platform, allowing traders to view the percentage of clients trading long and short, and on which instruments.  It also offers powerful charting tools, one-click trading, real-time performance statistics, and a trader’s calculator. In addition, XTB’s mobile application connects seamlessly to the xStation 5 desktop version. 

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Good for beginners
Cons
  • Limited platform choice
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.70 pips on the trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 500:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & xStation platforms supported. XTB Group is regulated by CySEC, FCA and the IFSC

Markets.com – Best Proprietary Platform

Broker Score
4.684.68 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 100
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 7
⚖️  Max. Leverage300:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Established in 2008, Markets.com is one of the most highly regulated brokers in the industry with regulation from five authorities, including the FCA (licence no. 607305). The FCA regulation enables it to provide spread betting, a service unique to UK residents. Kenyan traders will however be trading under Markets.com’s global entity, regulated by B.V.I. FSC . Markets.com offers one live account, available on three trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, as well as their own proprietary platform, one of the best in-house platforms in the industry.

Markets.com Platform: The Markets.com platform is an award-winning trading platform known for its ease of use and excellent features. With a clean, intuitive design, the platform offers advanced charting, making it easier to spot trends and identify new trading opportunities. It also allows traders to add up to five types of indicators to the chart at once or compare up to eight instruments side-by-side. Additionally, the platform integrates with a number of trading tools, including signals, bloggers’ opinions, and market trends, among others.

Markets.com’s Trading Fees: The average cost of trading one lot of EUR/USD is 6 USD, which is lower than other similar brokers. The minimum deposit is also reasonable, at 100 USD/EUR/GBP, putting it well within reach of most traders.

Pros
  • Regulation by top-tier authorities
  • Hassle-free withdrawal process without any fees
  • Its proprietary trading platform is praised for its user-friendly interface catering to both beginners and experienced traders
  • Competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips
Cons
  • For some traders the initial deposit of ZAR 1500 might be considered steep
  • The maximum leverage of 300:1 could pose a risk for uninformed traders warranting cautious utilization
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.70 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 300:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. MarketsX is regulated by CySEC, ASIC, and the FSCA.

Axi – Best MT4 Customisation

Broker Score
4.444.44 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 10
⚖️  Max. Leverage500:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Originally from Australia, Axi opened its UK branch and acquired an FCA licence (registration no. 509746) in 2012. In 2020, Axi became a sponsor of Manchester City and launched the Axi Select programme, which provides talented retail traders with funding to become professional traders. Although Malaysian traders will be trading under Axi’s Seychelles-based entity, the FCA regulation ensures that the broker provides a reliable and fair trading environment. Axi only supports the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) trading platform but provides lots of tools and plugins to make the platform more powerful.

MT4 Customisation: Although trading platform support is limited to MT4, Axi offers many tools and plugins that can be added to the trading platform to make it more powerful. Traders who maintain an account balance of more than 1000 USD can access the MT4 NexGen plugin, which includes an advanced sentiment indicator, a correlation trader, a more intuitive terminal window, and an automated trade journal. Traders also have free access to PsyQuation, an advanced data analytics plugin that analyses your trading style, identifies mistakes, and helps you avoid making similar mistakes again.

Pros
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Tight spreads
  • Innovative trading tools
Cons
  • MT4 only
  • Limited range of assets
AlertAccepts Kenyan Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.00 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 500:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. Axi Group is regulated by the FCA, ASIC and the DFSA.

Why Trade with an FCA Regulated Forex Broker?

The FCA has a long-standing reputation for guaranteeing trader security and dealing harshly with bad brokers. The benefits of trading with an FCA regulated broker are:

  • Segregated Accounts: Like most good regulators, the FCA ensures that all brokers keep client funds segregated from broker operational funds and in Tier 1 banks.
  • Operating Capital: To ensure that all Forex brokers can maintain their clients’ positions in the market, every FCA regulated broker must have at least 1 million GBP in operating capital, which increases according to the number of traders and the trading capital. This is to ensure that all brokers can meet their financial obligations without fail.
  • Instant Withdrawal Processing: Brokers must ensure that all withdrawals are processed instantaneously.
  • Financial Service Compensation Scheme (FSCS): The FSCS is one of the most generous compensation schemes in the world. It offers protection for traders against broker-related issues by providing a guarantee of up to 50,000 GBP in compensation.

How To Choose an FCA Regulated Broker?

All FCA brokers are safe due to the strict regulatory environment in which they operate, and most of them are very strong all-round. But it is essential to look at the detail of each broker to find out what differentiates them from each other.  When looking for an FCA regulated Forex broker, it is important to judge them on the following areas:

  • Broker Type: Most brokers are either ECN/STP or Market Makers, but some can be a combination of both. You will find that many brokers will provide an ECN/STP service on their higher-deposit account types while acting as a Market Maker for their Cent and Standard accounts. Many of the best FCA regulated brokers are ECN/STPs.
  • Trading Conditions: This includes what kind of spreads are available, how much leverage is offered, and how many currency pairs are available. These factors will directly impact your profit or loss, so you don’t want any surprises.
  • Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4 is still the industry standard, but many brokers offer MetaTrader 5 and/or their proprietary platforms. ECN/STP brokers will often support cTrader as it is built specifically for market execution and only allows for minimal broker interference.
  • Minimum Deposit: This changes by account type for many brokers, with higher minimum deposits often linked to better trading conditions. We will always highlight the minimum deposit available regardless of the account type.
  • Deposit and Withdrawal Methods: All brokers accept traditional payment types such as debit/credit cards and bank transfers, many accept online payments through Skrill and Neteller and some will also accept Bitcoin. Always check for deposit and withdrawal fees, a few brokers charge a percentage fee for some withdrawals methods, making large drawdowns very expensive. 

The FCA’s Role In Forex Trading

FCA-regulated Forex brokers are governed by rules that enhanced trust through enforcing market discipline, and adjust provider behaviour to prevent harm from happening to customers, and assisting when things go wrong.

The FCA’s role in Forex trading is to oversee the activities of the Forex brokers, to ensure compliance with rules that are designed to protect end-users and the overall economy.

A Forex broker that is regulated by the FCA is required to consider the interest of their customers and treat them fairly. Also, the FCA requires that information is shared with customers in a way that is easy to understand, fair and not misleading.

The mission of the FCA.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK’s financial regulatory organisation. It replaced the Financial Services Authority in 2012, which had been compromised during the financial crash when it was revealed that flaws in the organisation had led to poor regulation. The FCA is more powerful and consumer-focused than the FSA was, which is good news for Forex traders as they are very well protected under the new regime. 

The mission of the FCA is to regulate financial services through a framework of directives, and enforcement mechanisms.  The board of the FCA reports to the Financial Services Ombudsman who can bring information to the attention of parliament, and the industry through a series of publications.

What consumers can expect from the FCA

In principle, a consumer should expect to get protection from the regulation and the enforcement of rules of the FCA. The framework is designed to help protect those who may have a lesser understanding of the financial markets, from those who have a better understanding of them.

This protection includes helping Forex brokers set up rules for how to handle complaints and correct any issues.

The FCA’s main purpose beyond the regulation of financial organisations is to provide customers with reliable information. Their website maintains a warning list, which is a list of organisations that are potentially seeking to defraud customers, as well as provide information on the regulated entities and the products they offer.

The customer centre is available weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm, and half-day Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, which gives potential traders access to knowledgable financial specialists who can help answer questions, or take note of a complaint or report a scam.

Key achievements of the FCA

The FCA achievements taking into consideration their short history are significant. Since 2013, when the FCA started regulating the UK financial industry, London has become more acknowledged as a major global financial centre.

Before the FCA being set up, there was no mechanism in the UK to keep the retail investor safe from companies that promoted complicated financial products that have a high-risk financial impact on the consumer.

The immediate achievement of the FCA the development of the requirements for financial organisations designed to protect the consumer, and a set of policies to help those who have already been harmed get easy access to a remedy.

The FCA is also transforming attitudes of the companies and those who work in the financial sector in the UK. This change has meant for fairer products, marketing tactics, and the development of a more customer-centric approach.

In changing the way companies operate internally and how they work with clients to remedy issues they create, the FCA has accomplishment has made the financial sector in the UK and the companies that are regulated by it, much safer for the average retail Forex trader.

The history of the FCA

Commenced in December 2012 with the passing of the Financial Services Act of 2012, the FCA was founded in April 2013 to replace the Financial Services Authority (FSA) that had been in place since 2001.

The FSA acted in an arbitrator role and had a broader mandate to oversee the entire financial system. When the FCA was created, it became responsible for the policing of the UK financial activities and the banking system. At the same time that the FCA was founded, sister agencies of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee and the Prudential Regulation Authority which take responsibility for other financial sectors.

The global reputation of the FCA

The FCA is internationally recognised as one of the most trusted and objective regulatory services. It is a traditional organisation, and the framework which governs was created in 2013 to manage the current-day marketplace.  This activity has indirectly impacted many millions of UK households and has set a standard for other similar organizations worldwide.

FCA Structure

The FCA board is responsible for the overall framework implementation – which includes oversight of 6 committees which report into it, and the appointment of the Chief Executive to execute on the strategy set by the board.

The committee structure gives insights into the risks the FCA sees in the market, and how they work together in a system of self-regulation and gradual adaptation to prevent against new threats.

Risk & Strategy Committee evaluates the risks that are posed by the financial organisations on the market and are tasked to find strategies to mitigate those risks from being passed on to the consumers.

The Audit Committee monitors the effectiveness of the policies and the strategies used by the FCA.

The Regulatory Decisions Committee is the committee that takes actions against organisations that violate the rules. This committee acts on tips from the public and information from the investigators on the audit committee.

The Oversight Committee then works with the board of the FCA to manage their relationship with the parliamentary appointed Financial Services Ombudsman who is the UK’s official expert in sorting out problems with financial services. This relationship is valuable as this brings information to the government so that laws can be written, and government oversight is present.

Remuneration Committee is a committee that oversees a transparent process for how executives at the FCA are paid. This process ensures fair treatment of all staff and also respects that the FCA is a publicly funded organisation.

Similar to the Remuneration Committee, the Nominations Committee, acts as an internal mechanism to ensure the integrity of skills on the board so that the mandate of the FCA continues to be acted on effectively.

These committees, working with and feeding off each other, create a robust self-regulated system of rule-setting, auditing, enforcement and accountability to the people of the UK.

Summary

The FCA is a highly-valuable protective component of the UK financial services system that has been put in place to protect consumers with little financial knowledge from organisations with more knowledge selling them complex and risky financial products.

Any organisation that is regulated by the FCA is mandated to treat the customer fairly, and in the absence of a customer directive, make the decision that best suits the interest of the customer.

An FCA-regulated organisation takes responsibility for the accuracy and transparency of the information they promote and maintain discipline in their internal processes that are designed to protect themselves and their clients.

A Forex broker that is regulated by the FCA will expect their advice and support to be available in helping set up internal processes to protect and remedy issues that should arise in their business.

Overall, an FCA-regulated broker can be trusted to protect your funds, never communicate misleadingly, and has the client’s best interest in mind when doing business selling clients financial products and services.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Leverage, market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should not deposit any money that is not considered disposable income. Regardless of how much research you have done or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more about these risks from the UK’s regulator, the FCA, or the Australian regulator, ASIC).

Our Rating & Review Methodology

Our State of the Market Report and Directory of CFD Brokers to Avoid are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. These resources help traders find the best Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones. These resources have been compiled using over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research. Our team conducts all research independently: Testing brokers, gathering information from broker representatives and sifting through legal documents. Learn more about how we rank brokers.

Editorial Team

 

Chris Cammack
Head of Content

Chris joined the company in 2019 after ten years experience in research, editorial and design for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep knowledge of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affects them. Chris has a keen eye for editing and a voracious appetite for financial and political current affairs. He ensures that our content across all sites meets the standards of quality and transparency that our readers expect.

 

Alison Heyerdahl
Senior Financial Writer

Alison joined the team as a writer in 2021. She has a medical degree with a focus on physiotherapy and a bachelor’s in psychology. However, her interest in forex trading and her love for writing led her to switch careers, and she now has over eight years experience in research and content development. She has tested and reviewed 100+ brokers and has a great understanding of the Forex trading world.

 

Ida Hermansen
Financial Writer

Ida joined our team as a financial writer in 2023. She has a degree in Digital Marketing and a background in content writing and SEO. In addition to her marketing and writing skills, Ida also has an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. Her interest in crypto trading led to a wider fascination with Forex technical analysis and price movement. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in Forex trading and keeps a close eye on which Forex brokers offer the best trading environments for new traders.

 

Vanessa Marcos
Financial Writer

Vanessa joined the team in 2023. Born and raised in southern Portugal, she has a BA in Journalism and a Master’s in Literary Theory, both from Lisbon University. Since 2011, she has worked in social media, copywriting, content management, ghost-writing, and SEO. Vanessa loves to write, and although she is a generalist in digital marketing, she always draws on her creativity in her work. She is constantly researching new subjects and finds the analytical depth of Forex trading fascinating.

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