WHAT IS SVK MARKETS?
According to research in South Africa, SVK Markets is a UK brokerage which provides a wide range of financial instruments on several trading platforms. The company acts as an introducing broker of City Index.
SVK Capital Management ltd. (which operates the SVK Markets brand) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a financial services provider. The company also owns and operates an Asset Management brand and website.
The company’s execution is provided by a Tier 1 liquidity provider with a $ 474bn average monthly volume. The company provides access to global markets, including 12,500 OTC and exchange traded markets.
Added to this, SVK Markets operates 7 award-winning trading platforms to accommodate any trader and investor, including AT Pro, Advantage Web, MetaTrader4, iPhone App, iPad App, Android and Windows Mobile Trading App.
The company provides consistently tight spreads, with 1pt fixed spreads on major FX pairs and indices in hours, and tight variable spreads out of hours.
SAFE OR SCAM?
As a UK Based company SVK Markets is fully regulated by the highly reputable FCA. Generally speaking, UK regulation places strict rules on how brokers in the region conduct their operations with set a standard for management and service provision.
To this end, all client funds are fully segregated and are kept in separate bank accounts with Barclay’s Bank PLC, ensuring client funds are not used for any company purposes.
Furthermore, SVK Markets is registered as a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) which provides protection for all of its clients in the unlikely case of company insolvency, with losses covered up to a maximum of £50,000.
SVK Markets also subscribes to the European Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) that provides a regulated environment through financial transparency, competition, and offers greater consumer protection with investment services across the EEA.
SVK MARKETS REVIEW OF PRO AND CONS
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. FCA regulation | 1. Doesn’t offer e-payment methods |
| 2. Competitive spreads | 2. Offers relatively low leverages |
| 3. Several platforms offered, MT4 available | 3. A relatively new broker |
| 4. Many tradeable instruments offered | 4. Poor customer support offering |
| 5. Decent educational offering | 5. Lack of research tools |
LEVERAGE
Leverage allows traders to maximize their potential gains through a loan provided from the broker, however, the application also carries significant potential for loss, particularly for those traders who choose to invest large sums of money.
It is for this reason that the UK and EU regions elected to cap the leverage levels which regional brokers may provide.
Therefore, as a UK-regulated company, SVK Markets may offer a maximum leverage of 1:30 for major Forex instruments, and even lower 1:20 for minor currency pairs or 1:10 for commodities.
ACCOUNTS
SVK Markets offers CFD trading and spread-betting services through a single account type with both variable and fixed spreads and no commission fees (apart from trading in CFDs on shares).
MARKET INSTRUMENTS
SVK Markets offers one of the most expansive asset indices in the industry with all the different types of assets that can be traded in the form of CFDs. Below is a more detailed description of these various asset classes.
Commodities
Available commodities include soft commodities like corn and wheat in addition to the highly tradable energies like crude oil and natural gas.
The margin requirements are relatively low with SVK Markets, and can vary from asset to asset but it can be as low as only 1% on many commodities. Different spreads are available in both these categories.
Metals
In addition to silver and gold, SVK Markets also provides palladium, platinum, and copper. Some of SVK Markets’ tightest spreads are available in this section of the asset index. The spreads are variable but can start from just 0.3 points.
In addition, the best trading conditions have a margin of 0.5% and these metals are available for trading for nearly 24 hours a day.
Forex
SVK Markets provides the choice of how users wish to trade forex currency pairs. Trading as currency pairs can be done with convenient margins, while they can also be traded through spread betting or CFD trading.
Shares
Since shares are traded in the CFD or spread betting format, traders can benefit from price movements in any direction.
On average, traders will be required to maintain a margin of just 4%, while in some cases the margin can be larger.
When trading these shares in the CFD format, traders will have to pay a small commission of just 0.10%.
Indices
SVK Markets offers access to indices markets from many parts of the world, such as Wall Street and US Tech 100 to UK 100 and Japan 225. Trading is done with fixed spreads, which are some of the tightest in the industry.
Read the Stratton Markets Review here
FEES
SVK Markets offers a consistently tight spreads basis – 1pt fixed spreads on major FX pairs and indices in hours, and tight variable spreads out of hours. Metal spreads start at 2.5 points for Silver and 4 points for palladium, while Gold spread starts from 0.3 points.
The currency pairs or other instruments are available as a spread bet or CFD trading, while margin products can be accessed via a full suite of platforms and apps for added convenience.
As regards forex, the spreads are floating, averaged 0.8 pips for the EUR/USD pair and no commission fees apply. This is an attractive offer, as most brokers offer spreads within the range of 1.0 – 1.5 pips for this pair.
DEPOSIT AND WITHDRAWAL
To open an account with SVK Markets, traders must deposit at least £100, which is average for the forex market.
Clients can make deposits to and withdrawals from their accounts via credit/debit cards, and bank wire transfer. The company does not provide some of the more popular e-payment methods.
TRADING PLATFORMS
SVK Markets provides an impressive array of trading platforms, including AT Pro, Advantage Web, and the ever popular MetaTrader4.
AT Pro
AT Pro is the latest downloadable platform in the company’s award-winning range.
With improved reliability, speed and charting, AT Pro delivers a whole new level of trading functionality, plus specialist features for more advanced traders. Some of the features include:
- Auto-trading – choose from hundreds of pre-built algos and strategies
- Enjoy the most comprehensive charting package to date
- Code your own trading systems in the AT Pro Development Studio
- Improved connection strength and execution speeds
Advantage Web
Advantage Web is a highly customisable browser-based platform which has been designed to help users trade the markets successfully. Some of the platform’s key features include:
- Deal through charts: Trade the markets, place and amend orders directly on the charts with this easy to use and timesaving feature.
- One-click dealing: Increase the speed with which you trade the markets to make sure you don’t miss out on trading opportunities in fast moving markets. Alternatively, switch to double-click dealing.
- Fully customisable screen layouts: Create the perfect trading screen layout to suit your style and preferences with our highly customisable features.
- Multiple Charts embedded into platform layouts: Embed multiple charts into your chosen platform layout.
- Ease of Use: The intuitive interface and highly customisable features create a trading experience that’s simple, easy to use and can be suited to anyone’s preferences.
- Watchlists: Create and amend multiple watchlists, grouping together individual markets to suit your trading needs.
MetaTrader4
MT4 is one of the most popular forex trading platforms today and comes with an impressive array of features, including:
- Expert Advisors (EAs): Download and explore automated trading strategies via the MetaQuotes Language 4 (MQL4) or create your own Automated Trading System using MQL4
- One-click dealing: Trade the forex market instantly with one click
- Custom indicators: Analyse price moves and trends with custom indicators to generate trading signals in real time.
- Professional charting package: Access a vast array of technical indicators with the MT4 charting package.
HOW TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
The SVK Markets review is simple and easy.
Opening a live trading account with SVK Markets is an easy online process. New traders can also open a demo account to become better acquainted with the broker’s features before switching to a live account.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
SVK Markets’ customer support offering is highly lacking when compared to other brokers in the industry, with no live chat option or detailed access to the company’s support team.
The only real means of contacting the company is through the generic submission of an online query.
EDUCATION
SVK Markets has partnered with Serene Education to provide Forex trading courses and proven money-making strategies. Through live trading webinars clients are offered an extensive array of training, unique trading indicators and support along with classes which are always booked far in advance.
Their style allows traders to “look over their shoulders” as they enact real time trades and educate others along the way.
RESEARCH
SVK Markets falls short in terms of their research offering, with none of the tools which many other brokers provide, such as market analytics, charts, or even an economic calendar.
Intermediate traders might still benefit from the company’s training course, as described above, but advanced and professional traders would likely be disappointed.
AWARDS
While the company notes that they offer award-winning platforms, there are no listed awards for other achievements to date.
CONCLUSION
SVK Markets is a great option for traders who have no issue with low leverages while enjoying the safety that comes with an FCA regulated firm.
The FCA is famous for the strict rules and supervision it applies to license holders. For example, UK-based brokers are obliged to hold at least €730 000 and to keep all client money separated from the company`s own funds into segregated accounts.
Licensed companies are also obliged to report to the commission on a regular basis and adhere to a number of standards.
The company offers excellent training opportunities for newbie traders with its reputable online training course, while professional traders might balk at the lack of analytical tools on the website.
The broker carries a reputable name in the industry, and has an established team of experts which work to provide innovative and leading tech solutions for a variety of trades.
The company offers a wide range of financial tools not often seen in the markets, with tight spreads and competitive commissions, creating a trading environment that many would find highly tempting.
All in all, SVK Markets is a brokerage with a wide range of investment opportunities throughout numerous trading markets, available platforms and powerful tools that allow the performance of potential successful trading.
The trading conditions generally represent a quality offering to global traders with different portfolios and trading styles.
Added to this, the available technology delivers professional and stable trading conditions with the utmost level of security which guarantees clients’ safety by any means.
Moreover, the execution of orders are performed through a reliable and well-established liquidity provider along with competitive pricing which delivers the highest standards and great conditions.
As such, traders from beginning to advanced levels will find a range of benefits with reliable trading conditions and an attractive proposition.
DISCLAIMER
Spread betting, CFD and forex trading are leveraged products and can result in losses that exceed your deposits. They may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved and read the full risk warning.
Spread betting and CFD trading are exempt from UK stamp duty. Spread betting is also exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax. However, tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances.
Please seek independent advice if necessary.†1 point spreads available on the UK 100, Germany 30, France 40 and Australia 200 during market hours on daily funded trades & daily future spread bets and CFDs (excluding futures).
**Fixed spreads are available on major FX pairs during London trading hours between 8.00am GMT and 6.30pm GMT. SVK Markets is a trading name for SVK Capital Management UK Limited. Head Office: 125 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AR.
SVK Capital Management UK Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales, number: 08813195. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Register Number: 616032.
SVK Markets is the trading name for SVK Capital Management UK Ltd, according to research in South Africa.
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