ATFX are an award winning online broker offering Forex trading, CFDs and spread betting. This review covers everything from the Metatrader 4 (MT4) trading platform, to account safety and security. Regulated in the UK, ATFX have grown quickly, focussing on customer service and keeping trading costs low.
The trading platform provides its clients with the ability to trade a range of assets via the company's user-friendly platform that supports MetaTrader 4 software. ATFX offers competitive pricing to its clients and provides a state-of-the-art client portal that is protected by leading encryption security systems.
The most up-to-date bridging technologies are used on the site to secure the best rates from its liquidity provider. Account opening is quick and easy, enabling users to begin trading immediately, and there is a free demo account too for those who want to undertake system and strategy testing. AFTX provides super-fast deposit and withdrawal payment systems to further enhance its slick operation.
ATFX UK also offers a mobile application, giving users the convenience of trading while on-the-go. Clients also enjoy 24/5 customer service from a team of experienced experts.
Company Details
ATFX UK was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Cornhill in the heart of the City of London, UK.
ATFX UK currently has around 1,200 clients and is responsible for approximately £7.5m of client funds.
The platform and range of trading media available is aimed at professional, experienced day traders. That said, there are plenty of learning and support features included on the website that provide beginners with a clear insight into the world of trading and spread betting.
Trading Platform
Trading is carried out via the MetaTrader 4 platform. MT4 supports all forms of mobile device, and the Windows version also offers multilingual and multicurrency trading support to users.
A VPS service is available for continuous daily connectivity, and MT4 Desktop provides customisable libraries, custom indicators, scripts, and EAs (expert advisors), allowing it to meet a variety of trading styles.
Also, there are over 50 indicators, as well as 30 chart analysis tools. Users can set their preferred display methods and parameters for every type of chart and indicator. Automated trading strategies are available via expert advisors. The MT4 application also allows enhanced trading speed and is renowned for its stability and robustness.
MT4 offers users a very useful WebTrader feature that's optimized for maximizing web-based performance, including one-click trading, real-time information, and advanced charting.
Trading Central
The company's Trading Central facility is a top-tier technical analysis resource that's available for its clients. Trading Central is well-respected among professional traders worldwide, conducting research for over 200 investment banks, brokers, fund managers, and professional dealers.
Trading Central is used in 45 countries and is free to access for all clients of the site.
Trading Central provides professional analysis and technical strategies for assets, including precious metals, commodities, and currencies, and is updated ten times daily for every product giving users the most up-to-date information that is available.
For enhanced trader confidence, Trading Central is part of three associations for Independent Research Providers, including Investorside Research, Euro IRP, and Asia IRP. Trader Central is also a Registered Investment Advisor with the SFC (Hong Kong) and SEC (US).
Trading Assets And Markets
ATFX UK offers Forex trading across 43 different Forex trading pairs and is constantly reviewing its product range. Pairs include exotics, minors, and majors. The Forex market on ATFX is available 24/5.
The site also provides access to trading previous metals, specifically London Silver or London Gold, both of which are on a spot contract. That market is open 23 hours a day, five days a week. ATFX UK offers opening sell-short or buy-long positions. In this highly liquid market, traders have the ability to use leverage as high as 1:20.
Crude oil can also be traded, together with commodity-based oil ETFs. Indices can be traded too, with 15 variations of share indices available from the US, Europe, and Asia.
The spot indices on the platform have low spreads and low margin requirements. With this type of trading, users can access one-to-one support 24/5, plus the added attraction of tight spreads and zero commissions. Trading this type of asset starts with a 0.10 lot size.
Several forms of cryptocurrency CFDs are available, and the site also supports the trading of 50 major shares CFDs from Germany and the US.
Trading conditions generally vary by asset. For user convenience, the site provides an up-to-date list of the trading conditions for every individual asset, which are categorized such as exotics, minors, majors, and Forex majors.
Other categories include metals, indices, cryptos, shares, and oil. Users can view the name, contract size, minimum spread, maximum and minimum lot size for each product, depending on account type, including standard, retail, professional, and Edge account clients.
ATFX UK operates a 'no dealing desk' policy, reducing broker intervention and improving the transparency of trading conditions and the trading environment.
Spreads And Commission
Spread betting with ATFX attracts no UK stamp duty or capital gains tax. Also, there are no commissions, and spreads are very competitive at just 0.6 pips. Traders can speculate on falling or rising markets and on margin. MT4 allows users to set stop-loss limit orders and balance protection.
Minimum deposit for spread betting accounts is £100 with a stop-out of 0.5 and a maximum leverage for retail clients of 30:1. There are no rejections or requotes, and slippage on EAs and hedging is permitted.
The company's terms on spreads make them one of the most competitive platforms available for traders who like to use this trading medium.
ATFX UK offers market order execution. Market orders are forwarded to the market, and then executed at the market's tradeable price. After execution, information regarding transactions is sent to the MT4 platform. The execution price is influenced by the liquidity from banks and whether that is sufficient.
The platform provides a range of order types with pending order options, including Sell Stop, Sell Limit, Buy Stop, and Buy Limit, which are connected to company instructions residing within the server.
A Stop Loss or Take Profit closes any pending orders. Pending orders are triggered, transacted, and executed as a market order, and occurs when the market price reaches the set point.
The firm does not charge commissions to traders and offers highly competitive spreads, reducing the costs associated with opening and trading positions.