HF Markets (HFM)

4.9

 4.9/5

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with HF Markets (Europe) Ltd. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

HF Markets (previously HotForex)

Highlights

Established History: Founded in 2010, HF Markets (HFM), previously known as HotForex, has over a decade of experience in the forex and CFD market.
Global Presence: HFM serves a diverse international client base with regulatory licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, South Africa, Dubai, and Mauritius. This broad reach ensures they cater to a wide range of traders.
Regulatory Compliance: HFM is regulated by several top-tier authorities including the FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa), DFSA (Dubai), CySEC (Cyprus), and more. This multi-regulatory framework ensures a high level of client fund security.
Trading Platform Variety: HFM offers MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms, along with the proprietary HFM Trading App, catering to both novice and experienced traders.
Advanced Features: HFM provides features such as negative balance protection, free VPS hosting, advanced trading tools, and extensive market analysis resources.
Comprehensive Educational Resources: HFM supports traders with a range of educational materials, including webinars, seminars, online courses, and detailed market analysis.

About

History: Since its inception in 2010, HFM has grown significantly, focusing on providing a secure, reliable, and innovative trading environment. It has built a strong reputation for offering competitive trading conditions and excellent customer service.
Domicile: The company is headquartered in Mauritius, with major offices in Cyprus, Dubai, and South Africa.
Ownership: HFM is a private entity with multiple operating entities regulated across different regions.

Rating

4.9

 4.9/5

Review By

Brendan Walsh

Seasoned macro trader, managed billions from the Credit Crunch to COVID-19 and everything in between. Traded most assets you’ve heard of and a few you haven’t, and still alive to tell the tale. A student of history, markets, and psychology and a lover of risk and weirdness.

Overview

HFM is a multi-asset broker offering a wide range of trading instruments including forex, commodities, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and ETFs. The broker emphasizes client satisfaction through competitive trading conditions, robust research materials, and a variety of account types tailored to different trading needs.

Category	Details
Tradeable Assets	Forex, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Shares, Bonds, ETFs
Min Deposit	$5
Forex Majors Spread	From 0.0 pips (Zero Account)
Regulators	FCA, FSCA, DFSA, CySEC, FSA, CMA
Trading Platforms	MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, HFM Trading App
Funding Methods	Bank transfer, Credit/Debit Card, E-wallets, Cryptocurrencies
Currency Pairs	53 pairs including majors, minors, and exotics
Available Leverage	Up to 1:2000
Broker Type	No dealing desk
Founded	2010
Country	Headquartered in Mauritius with entities across the globe
Free Demo Account	Yes
Clients Accepted	Global, with restrictions for certain countries
Pricing System	Variable spreads from 0.0 pips, commissions from $6 per round
Inactivity Fee	Yes

Introduction

Competitive spreads and fees, especially for forex pairs.
Diverse trading platforms suitable for both beginners and advanced traders.
Wide range of instruments including forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, and ETFs.
Unique features like negative balance protection, free VPS, and advanced trading tools.
Comprehensive educational resources and market analysis.

Cons:

Inactivity fees apply after six months of inactivity.
Withdrawal fees may apply depending on the method.
Limited availability in certain regions including the USA and Canada.

History of HF Markets (previously HotForex)

Founded in 2010, HFM has developed a strong reputation in the forex and CFD trading industry. Initially known as HotForex, the broker rebranded to HF Markets to reflect its broad range of trading services. Over the years, HFM has consistently innovated its offerings to meet the evolving needs of traders, ensuring robust client support and competitive trading conditions.

Where does HF Markets (previously HotForex) Operate

HFM operates on a global scale, with significant offices in key financial hubs such as:

Cyprus: Headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, which serves as the central hub for its European operations.
Dubai: A regional office under the regulation of DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority), providing services to Middle Eastern clients.
South Africa: Regulated by the FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), catering to the African market.
Other Locations: Offices and regulated entities in various jurisdictions including Mauritius (FSC), Seychelles (FSA), and Kenya (CMA).

Investment Offering

HFM provides a diverse range of investment opportunities:

Forex Trading: With over 53 currency pairs, HFM offers extensive forex trading options with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on the Zero Account.
Cryptocurrencies: A selection of popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple, with competitive spreads and leverage up to 1:200.
Commodities: Trade CFDs on commodities like Gold, Silver, Oil, and Natural Gas, with favorable trading conditions.
Indices: Access major global indices such as the Dax 30, Dow Jones, and FTSE 100 with competitive spreads.
Shares: Over 109 stock CFDs from major global exchanges.
Bonds and ETFs: Diversify your portfolio with bonds and ETFs, allowing for broad market exposure.

Trading Platforms

HFM offers a range of trading platforms designed to cater to the diverse needs of its clients:

MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Known for its user-friendly interface, extensive technical analysis tools, and automated trading capabilities.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Offers advanced features such as an economic calendar, additional order types, and enhanced charting tools.
HFM Trading App: Provides a seamless mobile trading experience with real-time market data, advanced charting, and easy trade execution.

Additional Tools:

Economic Calendar: Stay informed about important economic events and their potential market impact.
Market News: Real-time news feeds and updates from leading financial news sources.
Trading Central WebTV: Daily video commentary and trading ideas from industry experts.
Analyst Views: Technical analysis insights and trading signals to help inform trading decisions.
VPS Hosting: Free VPS hosting for eligible traders, ensuring low latency and uninterrupted trading.

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Account Types

HFM offers several account types tailored to meet the diverse needs and experience levels of its clients. The main account types include Cent, Premium, Zero Spread, and Pro accounts. Demo and swap-free Islamic accounts are also available. The account opening process is fully digital and can be completed via the website in less than 10 minutes.

HFM Account Types and their Benefits: The table below breaks down the key features of the main account types:

Account Feature	Cent Account	Premium Account	Zero Account	Pro Account
Minimum Deposit	$0	$0	$0	$100
Spreads From	From 1.2	From 1.2	From 0.0	From 0.5
Commission	None	None	From $6 per round on Forex	None
Instruments	All	All	All	All
Base Currencies	USD, EUR, NGN, JPY, ZAR	USD, EUR, NGN, JPY, ZAR	USD, EUR, NGN, JPY, ZAR	USD, EUR, NGN, JPY, ZAR
Leverage	Up to 1:2000	Up to 1:2000	Up to 1:2000	Up to 1:2000
Margin Call	80%	80%	80%	80%
Stop Out	50%	50%	50%	50%
Swap Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum Volume	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01

Accepted Countries

HFM accepts clients from many countries worldwide, but there are restrictions due to regulatory constraints. Notably, HFM does not accept clients from the USA, Canada, Sudan, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and a few other regions.

Copy Trading Features

HFM offers a copy trading platform known as HFcopy. This platform allows traders to follow and copy the strategies of experienced traders, providing an opportunity for less experienced traders to benefit from the expertise of others.

HFcopy Features:

Minimum Investment: To follow (copy) existing strategies, a minimum investment of 300 EUR is required.
Accessibility: Available on the MetaTrader suite, although it lacks a dedicated web app.
User Experience: While functional, HFcopy is not as advanced or user-friendly as leading competitors like eToro.
Performance Monitoring: Users can monitor the performance of their copied trades and make adjustments as needed.

Pros of HFcopy:

Easy Access: Enables beginners to benefit from experienced traders.
Integrated Platform: Seamlessly integrates with MetaTrader.

Cons of HFcopy:

High Minimum Investment: Requires a significant initial investment of around 300 EUR compared to other platforms.
Limited Features: Not as comprehensive or advanced as leading copy trading platforms.

Deposit & Withdrawals

HFM aims to provide a seamless and efficient experience for funding and withdrawing from trading accounts. The company offers a variety of convenient payment methods with fast processing times.

Deposit Methods:

Bank Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted for instant deposits with no fees.
E-wallets: Popular e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, and Perfect Money are available for instant deposits, often with no fees.
Cryptocurrency: HFM supports deposits in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Tether, and USD Coin. Processing times and fees may vary depending on the chosen cryptocurrency and network conditions.
Bank Transfer: Traditional bank transfers are also available, though processing times may be longer compared to other methods.

Withdrawal Methods:

Similar to Deposit Methods: Most deposit methods can also be used for withdrawals, offering convenience and flexibility.
Instant Withdrawals: HFM is known for its fast withdrawal processing, with many withdrawals processed instantly, even on weekends and holidays.
Withdrawal Fees: HFM generally does not charge withdrawal fees, though certain payment methods or specific circumstances may incur fees.

Additional Considerations:

Minimum Deposit/Withdrawal Amounts: These may vary depending on the chosen payment method and account type.
Processing Times: While HFM strives for instant processing, certain methods or situations may require additional processing time.
Verification: Clients may need to complete a verification process before depositing or withdrawing funds to ensure security and compliance.

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Spread and Commissions

HFM primarily utilizes a spread-based fee structure, with competitive spreads available via the raw spreads Zero account. Other costs include swap fees and withdrawal fees.

Spreads:

Variable Spreads: Spreads are variable and fluctuate based on market liquidity and volatility.
Examples: EUR/USD: 1.2 pips on the Premium Account, 0.0 pips on the Zero Account, Gold: 46 cents, Dax 30: 2.4 – 3.5 pips.

Commissions:

Zero Account: Charges a commission per trade in addition to the spread.
Other Accounts: Generally no commissions, but slightly higher spreads.

Other Costs:

Swap Fees: Charges for holding positions overnight.
Currency Conversion Fees: May apply during deposits, withdrawals, or trading.

Transparency: HFM provides detailed information about spreads, commissions, and other costs on its website and trading platforms.

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Fee’s and Costs

HFM charges a few non-trading fees which include:

Inactivity Fee: $5 per month after six months of inactivity.
Withdrawal Fees: Certain withdrawal methods may incur fees, though many are processed without charge.
Currency Conversion Fees: May apply during deposits, withdrawals, or trading.

Unique Features

Premium Trader Tools: Developed by FX Blue Labs, these tools enhance MetaTrader with advanced charting, sentiment analysis, and automated trading signals via the Autochartist plugin.
Advanced Insights: Utilizes big data and AI for sentiment analysis and research tools, providing deeper market insights.
Extensive Market Analysis: Offers a mix of in-house and third-party research, including daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, with news from FxStreet.
Return on Free Margin (ROFM): Earn up to 3% interest on the unused margin in your account.
MyHF Portal: Continually improving with new features, serving as a centralized hub for account management and educational resources.
HFCopy: Allows traders to copy strategies of experienced professionals with a minimum investment of 300 EUR, integrating seamlessly with MetaTrader.
Free VPS Hosting: Ensures low latency and uninterrupted trading, especially beneficial for automated trading.
Negative Balance Protection: Ensures that clients cannot lose more than their deposited funds.

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Regulation and Security

Regulated Entities:

Exinity UK Ltd: Authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), providing high-level client protection.
Exinity Capital East Africa: Regulated by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in Kenya.
Exinity Limited: Regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius.

Client Protections: All entities segregate client funds and offer negative balance protection. Accounts with Exinity Limited are insured by Lloyds of London for up to $1M.

Research and Education

Research:

Market Analysis: HFM provides a steady flow of market analysis articles focusing on multiple markets.
Acuity Trading Signals: Acuity provides trade ideas and specific entry, take-profit, and stop-loss levels.
Custom MT4 Indicators: HFM offers custom add-ons for MT4 within the client portal.

Education:

Structured Courses: HFM offers structured courses covering essential trading concepts, technical and fundamental analysis, and risk management.
Video Content: Provides educational videos covering basic and advanced trading concepts.
Ebooks: HFM offers various ebooks covering topics like Japanese candlesticks and Elliott Wave Theory.
Economic Calendar: Keeps traders informed about upcoming economic events.
Market News: Delivers real-time news feeds and updates from FXStreet.

Customer Support

Support Channels:

Live Chat: Available 24/7, providing instant assistance for urgent queries.
Email: Allows for detailed inquiries and communication.
Phone Support: Direct phone support is available for immediate assistance and complex issues.
Multilingual Support: Catering to a global audience, HFM offers support in multiple languages.

Support Services:

Technical Assistance: The support team assists with platform issues, login problems, and other technical difficulties.
Account Management: Provides guidance on account opening, verification, deposits, withdrawals, and other account-related matters.
Trading Support: Offers assistance with trading conditions, order types, and platform functionalities.

The Bottom Line

HFM presents a compelling option for traders seeking a diverse and feature-rich trading environment. The company’s strengths lie in its competitive spreads, particularly for forex pairs, a variety of trading platforms catering to different experience levels, and unique features like negative balance protection and instant withdrawals. Additionally, HFM demonstrates a commitment to client education through its comprehensive resources.

Pros:

Global Reach: HFM caters to a wide range of international clients with its regulatory licenses and localized services.
Wide Range of Instruments: The competitive spreads for forex pairs and diverse selection of cryptocurrencies make HFM attractive for traders focused on these markets.
Advanced Features: Swap-free accounts, instant withdrawals, and Acuity trading signals offer additional value and flexibility.
Comprehensive Educational Resources: The availability of both user-friendly and advanced platforms, combined with comprehensive educational resources, makes HFM suitable for both beginners and seasoned traders.

Cons:

Inactivity Fees: There is a $5 monthly inactivity fee for accounts idle for over six months.
Withdrawal Fees: HFM charges fees for withdrawals via certain methods.
Limited Availability: HFM does not accept clients from certain countries due to regulatory constraints.

Overall, HFM is a suitable choice for global traders, forex and cryptocurrency traders, and those seeking advanced features and comprehensive educational resources.

Others

Discover HFM, previously known as HotForex, a leading global broker offering advanced trading tools, comprehensive educational resources, and a wide range of instruments including forex, commodities, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and ETFs. Benefit from competitive spreads, free VPS hosting, and unique features like the Return on Free Margin (ROFM) and the HFCopy platform for copy trading. HFM is regulated by top-tier authorities such as FCA, FSCA, DFSA, and CySEC, ensuring a secure trading environment. Join over 2.5 million clients worldwide with HFM.

HF Markets (HFM)

HF Markets (previously HotForex)

Review By

Brendan Walsh

Overview

Introduction

History of HF Markets (previously HotForex)

Where does HF Markets (previously HotForex) Operate

Investment Offering

Trading Platforms

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Account Types

Accepted Countries

Copy Trading Features

Deposit & Withdrawals

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Spread and Commissions

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Fee’s and Costs

Unique Features

HF Markets (previously HotForex) Regulation and Security

Research and Education

Customer Support

The Bottom Line

Others

Table of Contents

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