IC Market broker is one of the top ranking forex and CFD brokers. They are widely popular for providing a wide selection of trading platforms and instruments. The Australian-based broker was established in 2007 and has since gained a reputation for offering both retail and institutional traders access to large liquidity pools, competitive spreads, and cutting-edge trading tools.
This article seeks to give a well rounded review of IC Markets brokers, highlighting their pros and cons clearly. This in-depth and comprehensive evaluation will assist you in determining if it’s the best broker for your trading requirements.
Before we proceed however, let us have a quick overview of the IC Markets brokers.
Overview of IC Markets Broker
For regulation, IC Markets is regulated by leading financial authorities such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA). This multi-regulatory oversight adds a layer of trust, especially for traders concerned about the safety of their funds.
This broker offers a wide range of tradable instruments, including forex pairs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and shares. Its advanced technology infrastructure allows for fast execution speeds, making it ideal for day traders, scalpers, and algorithmic traders.
Haven gotten an overview of IC Markets broker we can now delve fully into the focus of this article. Let’s have a well rounded review of this broker and critically examine its pros and cons.
Pros of IC Market Broker
Highlighted below are some of the pros of IC Markets:
Competitive Pricing Structure and Low Spreads
Its low spreads is unarguably one of its major selling points. IC Market broker offers raw spreads ranging from as low as 0.0 pips on major currency pairs. This is a major advantage because it can significantly reduce trading costs for users. This is particularly ideal for high-frequency traders and other traders who deal in large volumes. The broker uses a raw pricing model,which means that there’s no mark-up on the spreads, and instead, a small commission is charged on trades. This not only ensures transparency, but also aligns the broker’s interests with the interests of its clients.For instance, on the EUR/USD pair, spreads are often close to zero during peak trading hours. This is a major advantage for traders who use scalping strategies or prefer low-cost trading environments.
Multiple Trading Platforms
IC Markets broker supports multiple trading platforms, including the MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. These platforms are equipped with advanced charting tools, technical indicators, and automated trading functionalities. For example, MT4 is considered suitable for new traders given its user-friendly interface and educational resources. MT5 on the other hand provides more advanced features including technical indicators, tools for in-depth market analysis, etc. also, cTrader is often preferred by professional traders because of its high-speed execution and customizable interface.
Fast Execution Speed
IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-fast order execution. This is basically because it employs high-performance trading infrastructure. The broker uses Equinix data centers, which is regarded as one of the fastest trading infrastructures in the world, and connects to liquidity providers in real-time. IC Markets ensures that traders experience minimal slippage and no re-quotes. This is essential for those who rely on fast and accurate trade execution. This is one of the reasons why traders who use Expert Advisors (EAs) and automated trading strategies find IC Market as an ideal broker.
Diverse Range of Instruments
IC Markets offers a diverse range of tradable instruments. This gives traders lots of opportunities to diversify their portfolios and also take advantage of different market conditions. The broker gives traders access to over 60 currency pairs, including majors, minors, and foreign pairs. Besides forex currency pairs, IC Markets also offer other financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies, bonds and shares, and commodities such as gold and silver.
Educational Resources
IC Markets provides helpful educational resources, making it ideal for beginners to improve their trading skills. The broker offers webinars, video tutorials, eBooks, and an active blog covering market analysis and trading strategies. This extensive educational library is one of the reasons IC Markets is often recommended for beginner traders, helping them to understand the intricacies of the forex market and how to develop a trading plan.
Cons of IC Market Brokers
The following are some of the cons of this broker:
It has No Proprietary Trading Platform
Although IC Markets offers some of the most popular third-party platforms (MT4, MT5, and cTrader), it does not have a proprietary trading platform. While MetaTrader and cTrader are powerful platforms, having a proprietary platform could offer a more tailored trading experience with unique features. reliance on third-party platforms might be considered as a drawback for traders seeking a highly customizable trading platform.
Higher Commissions on Raw Spread Accounts
Although IC Markets offers raw spreads as low as 0.0 pips, they charge a commission per trade on their Raw Spread accounts. The commission charged can range from $3.50 to $7 per lot, depending on the platform and account type. For traders dealing with small volumes, this can add up, making the raw account potentially less cost-effective than it appears at first glance.
Limited Deposit and Withdrawal Options in Some Regions
Although IC Markets offers a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options (such as credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and international bank transfers), there may be limitations or delays in certain areas. Users have experienced longer than anticipated wait times for withdrawals, and international bank transfers in particular can take several business days to process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum funding for IC Markets?
- The minimum amount required by the broker to open an account is USD200 or its equivalent in other currencies.
What is the minimum withdrawal with IC Market?
- There is no specified minimum withdrawal from IC Market at the moment.
How long does verification on IC Market takes?
- An account with this broker can be processed and verified within two business days.