
ECN means Electronic Communication Network and refers to a currency-trading network that is designed to match automatically bid and ask orders and execute transactions without intervention. Via the use of the ECN network, participants in different geographic locations can easily trade with each other without the need for a middleman. ECN Forex trading is an electronic bridge connecting Tier-1 liquidity providers (banks) and smaller market participants such as retail traders. This connection is realized via an ECN Forex Broker and the use of a Trading Platform such as the classic MetaTrader4. This is a basic ECN Forex brokers comparison.
FX BROKER | TRADING | COMPANY | ACCOUNTS | MORE INFO |
◙ ECN/STP FOREX BROKER
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US Residents: No
TYPICAL SPREADS: ■ EURUSD spread is 0.1 pip ■ GBPUSD spread is 0.6 pip ■ USDJPY spread is 0.4 pip Trading Commissions: $7 / full-traded lot
Max Trading Leverage: 30:1
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Online Since: 2010
Headquarters: Australia
Licensed: AFSL Australia (No 385620)
Asset Index: 48 Forex pairs, 13 indices, many commodities, and 5 cryptocurrencies |
Bonus on New Accounts: NO Minimum Deposit: 200 USD MetaTrader: MT4 and the institutional-grade platform TraderEvolution
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◙ ECN/STP FOREX BROKER |
US Residents: No
TYPICAL SPREADS: ■ EURUSD spread is 0.1 pip ■ GBPUSD spread is 0.3 pip ■ USDJPY spread is 0.2 pip Trading Commissions: $6 / full-traded lot
Max Trading Leverage: 30:1
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Online Since: 2005
Headquarters: Australia
Licensed: ASIC (No 416279 -AUSTRALIA)
Asset Index: 45+ Forex pairs, precious metals, stock indices, commodities, and over 1,000 shares |
Bonus on New Accounts: 20% (10% Cash Bonus & 10% Credit Bonus) Minimum Deposit: 50 USD MetaTrader: MT4 & MT5
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» LQDFX
◙ STP FOREX BROKER
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US Residents: No
TYPICAL SPREADS: ■ EURUSD spread is 1.1 pip ■ GBPUSD spread is 1.4 pip ■ USDJPY spread is 1.2 pip Trading Commissions: No
Max Trading Leverage: 500:1
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Online Since: 2015
Headquarters: Malta
Licensed: NO
Asset Index: 71 Forex pairs, 11 stock-indices, and 5 commodities |
Bonus on New Accounts: 100% (Cash Bonus) Minimum Deposit: 20 USD MetaTrader: MT4
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» FXTM ◙ ECN FOREX BROKER |
US Residents: No
TYPICAL SPREADS: ■ EURUSD spread is 0.5 pip ■ GBPUSD spread is 0.7 pip ■ USDJPY spread is 0.7 pip Trading Commissions: FXTM charge $2.0 per lot (ECN Accounts)
Max Trading Leverage:
Depends on the client's country, for Europeans 30:1
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Online Since: 2011
Headquarters: Cyprus
Licensed: CySEC (No 185/12) and FCA UK (No 777911), and FSC Mauritius (No C113012295)
Asset Index: 50+ Forex Currency pairs, 10 Stock Indices, Shares, Energies, and Precious Metals |
Bonus on New Accounts: 10% Minimum Deposit: 10 USD MetaTrader: MT4 & MT5
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Explaining ECN Forex Trading
ECN trading is the future of Forex Trading as it provides enormous liquidity, fast execution without price-manipulation, and tight transaction-cost.
How ECN Trading Actually Works?
The ECN Forex Brokers connect with the ECN Network via the FIX Protocol (Financial Information Exchange Protocol). This liquidity bridge is taking advantage of the vast market depth of the International Banking Industry. The ECN Forex Broker drives liquidity from tier-1 and delivers it to its clients without interference.
Variable Trading Spreads
Unlike Dealing-Desk brokers, ECN Forex brokers offer variable spreads to their clients. This is happening as ECN Forex Brokers do not control the bid/offer prices, and thus, they can offer only variable spreads and not fixed spreads. Any broker model offering fixed spreads is by rule the front end of a Dealing Desk system.
Types of ECN Forex Brokers
As in the case of other brokerage types, there are two main ECN Broker types: retail ECN brokers and institutional ECN brokers.
ECN Forex Trading Pros and Cons
The ECN Forex trading provides several advantages to Forex traders, and therefore, it is considered a ‘must’ for all professional and large-volume traders. Here are some of the advantages of ECN Forex Trading.
- Narrower spreads between bid/ask prices and tighter transaction cost
- Enormous liquidity that can be transformed into filling trading orders almost under any circumstances
- No re-quotes and no price manipulation
- The ECN brokers do not trade against their clients as in the case of Dealing-Desk brokers and that makes trading more reliable
- Fast speed of trading, essential for scalping Forex
- No execution delays even when important News is released, an essential feature for News-Traders
- ECN Forex brokers allow Automated Trading, Scalping, Hedging, and the use of Expert Advisors
- API trading is usually available by ECN Forex Brokers. API is a technology allowing traders to perform sophisticated risk management models and complicated automated trading strategies
- Anonymity, as ECN trading activity, is by nature anonymous. This feature enables trading on neutral prices and real market conditions
Transaction Cost when Trading with ECN Forex Brokers
ECN Forex brokers charge trading commissions per transaction, and sometimes they also charge trading spreads. The transaction cost when trading with an ECN Forex Broker is generally lower than trading with other brokerage types (for example Dealing-Desk brokers). Real ECN brokers do not charge re-quotes and do not manipulate prices in any way. Furthermore, they provide anonymity for trading.
ECN Forex trading includes strong features and important advantages for institutional and retail Forex traders. The main advantages of ECN trading are tight spreads, no-re-quotes, fast execution, and anonymity. ECN Forex trading can be considered essential for day-trading strategies including Forex Scalping and News-Trading.
L FOREX REVIEWS
• COMPARE | ► ECN Brokers | ► Forex Robots | ► Forex Signals | |
• ECN / STP | ► MultibankFx |
► IC Markets |
► GlobalPrime | ► FXTM |
► FxOpen | ► FP Markets | ► LQDFX |