Favorite FX Broker

[CrazyTrader58 10]

Hello!

 

I've been reading this forum for a couple of days now and I have to admit, this is the best forum about trading i've seen so far! Everybody are willingly sharing their knowledge and it give great ressult!

 

So I have a question for you FX guys: After some research it appear to me that we can find and equal amount of pros and cons for every broker. I've seen some of you are using EFX...how does it perform? Do you like it? FXCM? And what about Gain Capital...I've seen that this was the worst broker...but that's the one John Carter is using so i suppose it can't be that bad. So i'm wondering which one are you using?

 

Cheer like walterw would say!

[torero 10]

I think the best answer is to test drive them all when the free fake accounts. But be aware that the test accounts won't be exactly as the real accounts, there are miles apart from the two. But two things I check for, the quotes, and the speed of the execution (especially when it's AT THE MARKET, for what the current last price was and what you got and how long it took to be executed). If the spread is wider than another, put it as a con. If it executes longer than expected (even at Market), double con. If it executes at prices way out last prices (exception is at the news announcement, all bets are off), triple con. If they all hold up, then you have a decent platform on your hand.

 

So I've done this and had experienced with real accounts with a few out there. I'm currently using MBTrading, which uses the same platform as EFX. No complains from me so far. Been using for more than 1 year. I won't mention names, but the bigger and popular the brokers, then you know you're not dealing with highly personal customer rep service or decent platform (slaughterhouse). These are the ones the amateurs and uninformed first go when they see an ad all over the place. Do due diligence and see through the smoke and mirrors and judge for yourself.

 

Hope that helps.

[Art Krantz 10]

 

I'm currently using MBTrading.

 

Been using for more than 1 year.

 

These are the new? naked, multi-stream (bank), tell it like it is spot operators in town aren’t they? I guess 12 months is a reasonably decent guage/trial period.

 

How do they cope with layered size torero? You shoving much size through there at varying times during the London & New York shifts?

 

We're informed they got one or two foot soldiers out there on the retail forums banging their drum, not sure if that's good or bad

 

It’s difficult to obtain a true reading on these guy’s. Ross & Steve Demarest sure have (positive) history out there, but it would be interesting to hear how this engine holds up against all the chatter & jawboning.

 

I only know one semi-serious player running tickets through them, but he's a whack job (& no, it’s not milliard – though he’s certainly a whack job lol), so I disregarded the conversation.

 

They appear? to offer an alternative to the dirty laundry masquerading as legit spot brokers out there, just wondering if their walk matches their talk.

[torero 10]

This is from my experience after using various brokers, and from what I see so far, they are better (I never said they are the ultimate retail broker). I'm not a big gunslinging size trader compared to the institute so I can't say if they can handle size. So trading a few standard size contracts don't pose a problem for me during rush hour. The contracts execute fairly quick.

 

I'm aware that EFX has a guy out there on the forums educating or jawboning like you say to differentiate themselves from the no-commission brokers. I'd rather take the comms to the spread they offer. There's a level II on MBT where you can see the size a few levels on each side, so it look like the real market to me, I place an order, and I can my order on the Level II right away. FXCM and others only offer the spread quotes the last time I dropped them. They have more than others for me at the moment. If there are others out there that can offer more, let me know, I'm always looking out for new improved platform.

 

I don't promote or condemn any brokers, just my personal observation and opinion and I mentioned earlier, just try them all and see for yourself and don't take my word as the truth because the truth is only what each person sees it.

[Sparrow 10]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm at the moment with MB Trading FX which is a nice broker. I'd like to get a better broker though because commissions aren't exactly cheap at 10USD per 100k lot per round trip compared to what is being offered on futures. Someone I knew got them down to 8, and there are some people out there who claim to be able to get you a 25% refund, but in a way that I don't like. Other than that I am very happy with MB FX.

 

The only alternative of non dealing desk brokers seem to be Hotspot FX(6USD) and Dukascopy(max 4USD). Of course spreads, slippage and execution platform are also vital, unfortunately I have no idea how they compare in that respect.

 

OANDA seems to be ok too, they're not on top of my list though.

 

It would be great if someone could share their experience.

 

Cheers

[milliard 10]

Not wishing to ignore your above post there Sparrow, but unfortunately I can't add much of any use to your request for sharing re; Brokers.

 

Same goes for Anna-Maria & Krantzy too. I doubt you'll get a comment from them now anyway, they packed their toys away end Nov & aren't active again till end Jan 08.

 

We trunk thru Prime Broker ops... therefore don't utilize retail supply at all.

[torero 10]

No wonder the forex threads have been quiet lately. Wish them happy holidays on my behalf. Milliard, you're not allowed to leave yet?

[milliard 10]

Hey torero,

 

Yeah I drew the short straw!

 

I fly home with a couple other stragglers Thursday. I'll be sure pass on your best wishes when I catch em for a few beers at the the other end next w/end.

 

You winding things up your end? You fella's generally run your orders right into Xmas week?

[torero 10]

Yeah, we all just wishing to squeeze a few more $$ to get a few more presents before it all ends. (Either that or a few less presents! Yikes!).

 

Good luck and happy new year!

[milliard 10]

(Either that or a few less presents! Yikes!).

 

Good luck and happy new year!

 

:o Oh for sure. Take care to wear adequate footware, it'll start getting awful slippy after this week as the volumes dissipate.

 

Our reps are more interested in chasing the skirt round the offices with bunches of mistletoe than work the orders. Waste of time trying to dodge the snipers when the lack of cover (liquidity) gets whacked.

 

Same to you, enjoy the holidays, & don't get crushed in the last minute shopping madness

 

Catch y'all in Jan hopefully!

[notouch 10]

How original! Another "Favorite FX Broker" thread! :crap:

 

Interactive Brokers seem to offer the best spreads and cheapest commissions and they're a STP/ECN broker.

[Sparrow 10]

I did a bit of research, read a couple of reviews at forexpeacearmy

and currencysecrets.

 

I suppose both hotspot and dukascopy are good brokers with pros and cons respectively but would have to find out myself by trying their demo accounts to get the complete picture.

 

I am just exploring my options here, I'll stay with MB FX for some time for sure until I've got enough experience paper trading.

 

For scalping though commissions, spreads and slippage can make or break a system.

 

Hope you're all enjoy your vacation, see you next year.

[Sparrow 10]

How original! Another "Favorite FX Broker" thread! :crap:

 

Interactive Brokers seem to offer the best spreads and cheapest commissions and they're a STP/ECN broker.

 

If you can post a good link I'd be very glad.

Thanks for reminding me of IB, i forgot to mention them, but dunno how they compare to the others.

[torero 10]

I'll heed your advice and maybe it's time to start my tax returns already :crap:. What a way to end the year huh?!!!

[torero 10]

How original! Another "Favorite FX Broker" thread! :crap:

 

Interactive Brokers seem to offer the best spreads and cheapest commissions and they're a STP/ECN broker.

 

 

Hey, nice to see you back at the forum!

[Sparrow 10]

IB hasn't got cheaper comissions than MB FX as far as I can tell.

They charge normal retail traders 1 basis point * trade value in comissions ( e.g. 100k USD * 0.0001 = 10USD ).

 

If you trade a lot you can get it down to a tenth of that, but that'd require a bunch of money. Besides their reviews are worse than the others, mostly because of their support.

[Hlm 10]

I have used many Forex Brokers over the years. I no longer daytrade Forex in a "scalping" manner, but still occasionally enter intraday swings or even longer positions. The only broker I still use for Forex is EFXGroup. They are the Forex only side of MBTrading. The people that work there are very helpful and I have never had an issue with them. If you trade the big pairs during peak hours the spread is practically non-existent and in my opinion cancels the fact that you pay a commission. Their speed is top notch and the spreads are very fair around news events.

 

I would like to point out, however, that I do not think scalping and news trading is a good idea with Forex. Currency futures is a better choice in my opinion. If you do have a valid and robust strategy for trading Forex, you should take a look at EFXGroup or MBTrading.

 

Forex Brokers I have had experience with:

• EFXGroup
  
• Forex.com
  
• FXCM
  
• FXDD
  
• InteractiveBrokers
  
• Oanda
  
• Velocity4X

Note: EFXGroup is the only one I have dealt with lately (within the last five months). Like with every broker…uptime, speed, customer support, etc, can change from time to time.

[Sparrow 10]

Hi Hlm,

 

thanks for the info, sadly there aren't many real alternatives to EFX/MB FX.

You're right about the scalping, setups really need to be very good otherwise there's no way to make a profit in FX.

[torero 10]

I agree with the scalping. Forex tend to trend much better than other products so why scalp when you can trend and make more money. I have 2 accounts at MBT, one for swing and the other to use for short term counter-trend trades (not scalping though). As I mentioned in other threads, I never had problems with them so why fix it if it ain't broke?

[notouch 10]

IB hasn't got cheaper comissions than MB FX as far as I can tell.

They charge normal retail traders 1 basis point * trade value in comissions ( e.g. 100k USD * 0.0001 = 10USD ).

 

If you trade a lot you can get it down to a tenth of that, but that'd require a bunch of money. Besides their reviews are worse than the others, mostly because of their support.

 

IB are much cheaper than MB. I don't know where you're getting your figures from.

[Sparrow 10]

ey notouch, the figures are correct, the application/calculation might not be.

I'd be happy to be wrong.

 

IB Coms

[notouch 10]

Hey, nice to see you back at the forum!

 

Thanks. I've been focussing on forex trading with some nice set-ups on the 5 minute charts and a few fundamental trades here and there (long EUR/JPY since yesterday in anticipation of the Fed cut) so haven't posted here in a while. I came back to check if there's been much discussion on the rainbow indicator because I find that useful for getting into established trends. I post over at forexfactory more regularly.

[notouch 10]

ey notouch, the figures are correct, the application/calculation might not be.

I'd be happy to be wrong.

 

IB Coms

 

Forex trading is through IdealPro not Ideal. Commissions are a fifth what you're quoting.

[Sparrow 10]

You're right, thanks for clearing things up. That'd put em in the same league as dukascopy commissions wise with half of the minimum initial balance requirement.

 

Looks like another option.