IC Markets Review – Learn More About ICMarkets.Com
Without exaggerating, we can freely say IC Markets has become one of the global leaders in the online trading business. With more than 15 years of experience, this broker has proven to be worthy of trust. By providing clients with exactly what they need, IC Markets has built a faithful community of dedicated clients.
Over the years, the broker has obtained licenses from Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Seychelles Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Although the headquarters are located in Australia, IC Markets also has offices in Seychelles and Cyprus. Contact info and exact locations are on the website.
Let our IC Markets review take you through the essentials of trading with this prestigious brokerage agency.
If you have the time, we would appreciate it if you would read our comprehensive analysis of licensed brokers such as FBS Broker, and FP Markets.
IC Markets Brokerage Pros and Cons
Trading at IC Markets means having an edge on every market thanks to super tight spreads, lightning-fast order execution, and superior trading conditions.
We first have to point out that IC Markets is one of the brokers with the lowest trading costs due to the smallest spreads from 0.0 pips on a range of instruments. All asset classes are available on premium technological solutions.
Trading platforms available are the leaders of the online trading industry – MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Unrivaled customer service is there to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Nonetheless, since this is an honest IC Markets review we have noticed what we consider a disadvantage.
The broker is internationally regulated. That stands. ASIC oversees its activity in Australia, while CySEC supervises its business performance in the EU. For international clients, the only regulator controlling the IC Markets ventures is an offshore financial entity.
Country of Regulation | Australia, Cyprus, Seychelles |
Trading Fees Class | Low |
Inactivity Fee Charged | No |
Withdrawal Fee Amount | No |
Minimum Deposit | $200 |
Time to Open An Account | Several minutes |
Deposit with Bank Card | Available |
Depositing with Electronic Wallet | Available |
Number of Base Currencies Supported | 10 |
Demo Account Provided | Yes |
Trading Platform | MetaTrader 4&5, cTrader |
Products Offered | Forex, CFDs on stocks, indices CFDs, share CFDs, futures CFDs, crypto CFDs, CFDs on bonds |
Customer support | 24/7 |
Security and Regulation of IC Markets
is a fully licensed broker that adheres to rules set by several jurisdictional regulators.
ASIC is the leading regulatory body in Australia. Organizations intending to start a brokerage business in this area first have to invest at least $1 000 000.
All investments belonging to traders are safely stored in segregated bank accounts that follow special security protocols. This ensures the broker is unable to abuse the capital that doesn’t belong to the company.
The important regulatory standard that reduces the risk of loss is leverage restriction to 1:30. Along with negative balance protection clients can enjoy trading under lower possibilities to lose their investment.
The regulatory conditions CySEC imposes are fairly similar. Since Cyprus belongs to the EEA, MiFid rules additionally apply. This practice ensures the transparency of transactions and the ultimate protection of clients’ privacy.
The FSA offshore license is a bit looser than ASIC and CySEC. However, this regulatory body has significantly improved its licensing conditions. Brokers regulated by FSA are considered safe for investing.
What are Available Accounts at IC Markets?
Depending on the pricing range and trading platform available, IC Markets offers several different accounts:
- cTrader Raw Spread account
- MetaTrader Raw Spread account
- MetaTrader Standard account
Ras Spread accounts offer some of the tightest spreads on the market. The average spread on EUR/USD is only 0.1 pips, with a low commission of 3.5$ charged per lot. Raw Spread accounts are generally recommended for day traders, scalpers, and expert advisors.
The key difference between account types is in the commission charged. Raw Spread accounts charge a commission of 3$ or 3.5$, while the Standard account doesn’t. However, the spreads start from 0.6 pips in contrast to 0.0 pips for Raw Spread accounts.
Starting deposit for any account type is $200 and the leverage can go up to 1:200, depending on the instrument and the jurisdictional regulatory standards.
Trading Platforms Overview
IC Markets gives you the possibility of experiencing the fastest execution speed and flexible trading conditions on several prestigious trading platforms:
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- cTrader
Using MetaTrader 4 for trading on IC Markets servers provides market-leading spreads and low commissions. Basically, everything beginners and long-time investors seek is available with MT4. Since its initial launch, more than 15 years ago, MT4 has ruled the online trading community thanks to its advanced features, superior flexibility, and adjustability.
Generally, MT5 is considered to be an entirely new platform, not just the successor of the ultra-popular MT4. In raw comparison, it’s obvious that new features supported by MT5 cannot be found in the earlier software.
Essentially, MT5 is designed to meet the trading needs of non-Forex investors. Still, Metatrader 5 has more order types, additional indicators and widgets, improved strategy testers, and timeframes.
cTrader is another premium trading platform that has level 2 pricing, advanced order types, and super fast entry and execution. Easily navigated yet stunning user interface put together with the latest backend technology is available across all platforms, operating systems, and devices.
Trading Instrument Available
For every trader’s preferences and interests in a variety of instruments, IC Markets has carefully selected a wide range of instruments. All tradable assets are a part of a separate category.
Let’s take a look at the groups:
- Over 60 forex pairs with spreads from 0 pips and 1:500 leverage (EUR/USD, AUD/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF, CAD/USD, EUR/JPY)
- CFDs on 25 Indices with spreads from 0.4 pips and leverage up to 1:200 (Aus 200, DE40, F40, JP225, STOXX50, UK100, US30, US500, CA60, CHINA50)
- Over 20 CFDs on Commodities with leverage up to 1:500 (Soybean, Cotton, Coffee, Sugar, Metals, Wheat)
- CFDs on over 2100 Stocks (Amcor, CSL Ltd, National Australia Bank, Telstra Corp, Woodside Petroleum)
- CFDs on 9 Bonds with no commissions and 1:200 leverage (UST05Y_Z2, UKGB_Z2, EURBBL_H3, JGB10Y_Z2)
- CFDs on 21 Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin, Ripple, EOS, Emercoin, Stellar, Polkadot)
- CFDs on 4 global Futures with 1:200 leverage (DXY, VIX, BRENT, WTI)
IC Markets Funding Methods
Funding at IC Markets is possible through 15 flexible channels that accept 10 currencies. There are no fees following the depositing and funding is almost instant.
The most popular funding methods at IC Markets are as follows:
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro)
- Wire Transfers
- Broker to Broker
- E-wallets (Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, Bpay, FasaPay, Poli)
IC Markets clarifies that they do not charge fees for deposits and withdrawals of funds. Incurring fees are only imposed by banking institutions involved in the process.
Withdrawal processing time may vary and is subject to the method. In that sense, E-wallet withdrawals are instant, credit/debit cards are processed in 3-5 business days and wire transfers take up to 14 business days depending on the bank’s end.
Research and Education
IC Markets has admirably rich educational resources:
- Getting Started (10 lessons on Forex trading, technical analysis, fundamental analysis, risk management, and trader’s psychology)
- Video tutorials (detailed video lesson on how to set up every account type, download the platform and log in to MT4, MT5, and cTrader)
- Web TV (short video recordings covering daily news on global equities, currencies, and CFDs on Commodities)
- Webinars (set up at a particular time, multilingual, only takes registering, completely free, can be rewatched)
- Podcast (recorded voice lessons and content from experts on various subjects)
As you can see, IC Markets is a broker that invests in educating traders, helping them develop skills for a successful trading strategy. From detailed articles to video lessons and live webinars, this broker puts serious effort into making all aspects of trading more understandable to investors.
Customer Support
The dedicated customer service team at IC Markets is available 24/7 to every single trader through several channels:
- Phone call at +248 467 19 76, with international charges occurring
- Email inquiries through several email addresses depending on the issue
- Message to staff by filling in the form online with the possibility to request a callback
- Live chat on the site for direct messages with operators
Besides the mentioned methods of communicating with the support department, traders can also find contact information for all IC Markets offices.
IC Markets Overall Summary
Brokerage houses with multiple regulations, huge customer bases, and a global presence have to show professionalism in services, support, and general trading conditions. IC Markets manages to respect the regulatory standards while providing a suitable trading environment for every type of trader.
Low spreads, minimum trading costs, best platforms, and attractive trading parameters are keeping the traders pleased and interested in investing. Considering that IC Markets respects the legal framework, including transparency and funds protection, we can confirm this broker is safe for investments.
Whether you are an experienced broker, a long-time investor, or a new trader, everyone can find something that suits their taste and trading expectations. IC Markets provides all that while respecting your preferences.
FAQs About IC Markets Broker
Are my Deposited Funds Protected at IC Markets?
All investments are safe thanks to segregated accounts and security protocols.
Does IC Markets Offer Demo Account?
Yes, customers can open a trial account that expires after 30 days.
What is the Minimum Deposit at IC Markets?
The minimum funds to invest at IC Markets to open a Live account is $200.
What Are the Benefits of Becoming an Affiliate?
Affiliates of IC Markets don’t have a limit on earning through referrals and have better commissions.
What Bodies Are You Regulated Under?
IC Markets is regulated by ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles).