FCA Regulated Forex Brokers
Compare Forex and CFD brokers regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and understand the steps they take to protect your funds.
FxPro.com is a global broker, winner of 100+ awards including 'Best FX Service Provider' in 2023. Trade 250+ instruments across a wide range of asset classes on MT4/5 or cTrader. FxPro accepts all trading styles.
- Likes
- CFDs on 250+ instruments.
- FxPro accepts all trading styles on MT4/5 and cTrader.
- Trade on fixed or floating spreads, with or without commission.
- Many deposit methods, including crypto and broker-to-broker transfers.
- Get daily trading signals from Trading Central.
- Dislikes
- You cannot trade CFDs on ETFs or government bonds.
- Copy trading isn't available.
It's hard to find fault with FxPro, a broker with a 20-year track record. We've traded through FxPro's Raw account and enjoy the razor-thin floating spreads and low commissions. This account, which comes with a $1,000 minimum deposit, will appeal to experienced traders.
If you're new to trading, you could also open a Standard account with a low $100 deposit. You'll enjoy a more predictable trading environment with fixed, albeit wider, spreads. In short, FxPro is a platform you can grow into as you gain experience.
The educational content available on FxPro.com also caught our attention. You'll find learning paths for both beginners and advanced users, in the form of online courses, video tutorials and webinars.
Opening an account with a broker regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) offers 2 levels of protection: 1) FCA rules and requirements and 2) access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Protection under FCA Rules
Under FCA rules, brokers have an obligation to protect their clients' money and assets.
- FCA regulated brokers must place all money paid and owed to traders into separate bank accounts. These accounts should only contain client money and cannot co-mingle with the brokers' own funds. This process, known as segregation, must happen on a daily basis.
- The FCA requires that brokers establish a trust over these accounts. This prevents the bank from using funds in client money accounts to set off debts owed by the broker. In other words, the trusteeship protects your money in the event of bankruptcy.
However, account segregation alone cannot protect against fraud or criminal behaviour. In March 2012, WorldSpreads, a London-listed spread betting operator was wound down after the discovery of an alleged accounting fraud that left £13m missing from its clients' accounts. And in 2011, MF Global, a 228-year-old US brokerage firm, filed for bankruptcy after losing US$ 1.6 billion of its customers' money.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
The FSCS provides another level of protection for customers of FCA regulated brokers. The FSCS is the UK's compensation fund of last resort and is the institution you can turn to for compensation if your broker is unable, or likely to be unable, to pay claims against it. This typically happens when it has stopped trading or has been declared in default.
Limits apply to how much compensation FSCS may be able to pay, and those limits vary between different types of financial products. The maximum levels of compensation for investments is £50,000 per person per firm.
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About the author
I'm Stéphane, a trader and an entrepreneur. My mission with TrustedBrokers is to help you find the right broker for you, whether you're a beginner or a pro. I've personally used and tested the brokers on our service, opening and funding real-money accounts, contacting customer service and placing trades. I started my career in investment banking in London.