VT Markets Review 2023

Trust

VT Markets Regulations

VT Markets operates under three entities:

• VT Global Pty Ltd is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). We rate ASIC as a Tier-1 regulator.
• VT Markets (Pty) Ltd is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). We rate FSCA as a Tier-2 regulator.
• VT Markets LLC is registered in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. It is an unregulated entity.

Why is it Important to Know Where Your Broker’s Subsidiary Is Regulated?

Each regulator has its own requirements for brokers, which may differ substantially. Such requirements include leverage levels and specific protections offered to investors, such as negative balance protection, segregated accounts, and investor compensation funds. Traders must understand the differences between regulations to evaluate whether the broker suits their needs.

VT Markets operates under three entities: VT Markets Pty Ltd (regulated by ASIC, a Tier-1 regulator), VT Markets (Pty) Ltd (regulated by FSCA, a Tier-2 regulator), and VT Markets LLC (registered in St. Vincent & the Grenadines). The entities hold clients’ funds in segregated accounts to ensure that clients’ money is not used for the broker’s own business purposes. The use of segregated accounts boosts the safety of clients’ funds in case the broker encounters financial problems. I have summarized key aspects of the broker’s entities in terms of regulation and safety in the table below:

Is VT Markets Safe to Trade With?

VT Markets has two entities that are regulated by Tier-1 and Tier-2 regulators. In addition, the broker has an entity that is registered in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The entities provide negative balance protection and maintain separated funds from the firm. The segregation of clients’ funds ensures that the broker cannot use them for its own purposes. Moreover, with negative balance protection, clients cannot lose more money than they have in their accounts. The broker also has indemnity insurance, which is an additional step to boost the safety of clients’ funds.

Stability and Transparency

In my tests for the Trust category, I also cover factors relating to stability and transparency. Here, I focused on how long the broker has been in business, the size of the company, and the transparency in terms of information being readily available.

With more than 8 years in business, VT Markets has grown into a company with several hundred employees and offices in Australia, South Africa, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Taipei.My research showed that VT Markets is not publicly traded and does not have a bank parent, which is common for a broker. Clients can find the important legal documents in the dedicated section of the website, provided for each entity of the broker. These documents include Best Execution Policy, Client Agreement, Conflicts of Interest Policy, Key Facts Summary, Privacy Policy, and Risk Disclosure Notice. VT Markets’ clients can also read more about the broker’s regulations in the separate section of the website.

Traders can additionally check details about commissions & spreads, account types, and deposit & withdrawal policy.

In summary, my research indicated that VT Markets can be regarded as having a reasonable level of trust and stability due to the following factors:

• Authorized by Tier-1 and Tier-2 regulators.
• All entities offer negative balance protection and segregated accounts.
• More than 8 years in business.
• Easy access to important information on the company’s website.
• It has issued professional indemnity insurance.

Fees

VT Markets Trading Fees

For this review, I tested the VT Markets Standard Account, in which the broker applies spreads and swap/rollover fees, but does not charge any commissions. Spreads are variable and depend on the liquidity situation for each instrument at a certain point in time.

VT Markets Spreads

I tested the spread on the Standard Account during the London open at 8 a.m. UK time and shortly after the US open at 2.45 p.m. UK time. These are the most actively traded hours.

I summarized my findings in the table below:

My tests indicated that VT Markets offered low spreads for GBP/JPY, Gold, Apple, Tesla, DAX, Dow Jones, and Bitcoin. The spreads for EUR/USD and WTI oil were moderate, compared to the industry average.

Swap Fees

My research showed that swap fees for EUR/USD were moderate, while the swap fees for GBP/JPY were higher when compared with the industry average.

Non-Trading Fees

VT Markets does not impose inactivity fees, meaning that accounts can lie dormant for a period longer than 6 months without incurring any extra charges. The broker also refrains from charging any other non-trading fees.

Are VT Markets Trading Fees Competitive?

VT Markets provides attractive spreads for GBP/JPY, Gold, DAX, Dow Jones, Bitcoin, Apple, and Tesla. The spreads for EUR/USD and WTI oil were mostly in line with the industry average. In general, VT Markets has attractive trading fees at its Standard Account. On top of that, the broker also doesn’t charge any non-trading fees.

Platforms and Tools

MetaTrader platforms are often used by brokers as they provide a wide range of technical analysis tools and support algorithmic trading. Many traders have already used either MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, so they don’t have to spend time learning the features of the platform.

VT Markets Desktop and Web Platforms

In this review, I tested the MetaTrader 5 platform, analyzing charts, indicators, drawing tools, orders, and the general ease of use of the platform.

General Ease of Use

MT5 is an advanced trading platform that could be tailored to traders’ needs. Its interface is rather intuitive, although some traders may want to search for tutorials to take a deep dive into MT5’s capabilities. In general, advanced traders would have no problems with MT5, while beginners may need to spend some time learning the fundamental features of the platform.

For beginner traders, it’s beneficial to familiarize yourselves with various chart options, indicators, drawing tools, and order types. You may need to learn how to create watchlists and manage your trading positions. Despite the initial time and effort required, traders who invest in this learning, ultimately gain a powerful tool that helps achieve better trading results.

While the general look of the MetaTrader 5 platform may seem a bit outdated, I find the platform fairly intuitive and easy to learn. However, for novice traders who have never had experience with this platform, it may initially appear overwhelming. VT Markets provides the standard MT5 offering, so those who have previously used the platform with other brokers will be ready to trade in a couple of minutes.

Charts

MT5 offers 97 indicators and 21 timeframes, which is more than enough to customize your charts and adjust them to your needs.

Trend indicators, oscillators, volumes, Bill Williams indicators, and custom indicators help to design the chart you need.

Available timeframes range from 1 minute to 1 month, providing traders with an opportunity to observe short-term developments, as well as significant multi-month trends.

MT5 also supports:

• lines
• channels
• Gann tools
• Fibonacci tools
• Elliott tools
• shapes

These tools are commonly used for decision-making in trading, so their inclusion is a must for any reputable trading platform.

Each chart can be displayed as a bar, a candlestick, or a line. Candlesticks are generally the most popular among traders as they suggest plenty of various patterns that are used for making trading decisions. That said, other chart types also have their advocates.

MT5 charts are accessible even to novice traders. Nevertheless, they also offer enough options for experts.

Like most traders, I have my favorite indicators and drawing tools, which include RSI, moving averages, and channels. I use candlestick charts to benefit from the analysis of candlestick patterns. I find it easy to use and combine various indicators in MT5.

Orders

MT5 offers all main order types including:

• Market orders. This type of order allows you to buy or sell the instrument at the current market price. It is used when the trader needs to establish a position in the fastest possible way. The main downside of a market order is the necessity to pay a spread, which is the difference between the bid price and the ask price
• Limit orders. This order is used to buy or sell the instrument at a pre-set price or better. Limit orders are suitable when the trader wants to get a specific entry point and is unwilling to pay the current market prices.
• Stop-loss orders. These orders are used to get you out of the position when the price is moving in the wrong way. The order is triggered when the price reaches a specified point.
• Stop limit orders. This is a stop-loss order which puts a limit order instead of a market order, when triggered. This is a potentially risky way to close a position, and it should be used only by experienced traders.
• Trailing stop orders. This order allows you to set a stop order that will move if your open position trends favorably. It is used to protect your profits in case the market direction changes.

Different expiration types are available for all pending orders, including GTC (good-till-cancel), Today, Specified, and Specified Day.

Personally, I strongly prefer limit orders and use them for both entry and exit points. These orders are highly effective in risk management, particularly during significant market movements when market orders can result in prices that deviate greatly from your expectations.

VT Markets Mobile App

In this review, I have tested the VT Markets MetaTrader 5 Mobile App for Android.

General Ease of Use

The MT5 mobile app for Android is quite user-friendly. It provides charts, quotes, account balance info, an economic calendar, news, and other tools designed to help traders make informed decisions. As expected, traders have access to the standard features of the MT5 mobile app. If you’ve previously worked with the MT5 app, you’ll be able to begin trading in a short period of time.

Charts

MT5 mobile app offers:

• 30 technical indicators
• 24 drawing tools
• 9 timeframes
• 3 chart types

This selection of options is sufficient for mobile-based trading. I prefer using mobile app when I don’t have access to the desktop platform, but need to monitor the market and open positions. While the app is helpful in certain circumstances, it is not as efficient as the desktop platform, which remains the primary solution for traders who require fast and active trading capabilities.

Orders

The MT5 mobile app allows you to place market orders, limit orders, and stop orders. However, trailing stops are not available on mobile trading terminals.

VT Markets VPS

VT Markets offers a free VPS service for the MT4 platform. The broker covers the cost of the VPS hosting for clients who trade a minimum of 10 standard FX lots round turn per month.

Tradable Instruments

VT Markets offers 57 forex pairs, 21 commodities, 800+ stocks and ETFs, 26 indices, 47 cryptocurrencies, and 7 bonds. The number of available forex pairs is moderate, while the number of other instruments is high.

What are CFDs?

CFDs (Contracts for Differences) are financial instruments that allow traders to bet on asset prices without actually holding the respective assets. The key advantage of CFDs is the access to significant leverage, which is typically not available when trading other instruments. Hence, CFDs are very popular in short-term trading.

What Can You Trade with VT Markets?

• 57 forex pairs. The list includes popular names like EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, and USD/CAD, as well as more exotic options.
• 21 commodities. Gold, Silver, WTI oil, Natural Gas, Cotton, and other commodities are available for trading.
• 47 cryptocurrencies. Traders have access to popular cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as more exotic names like the AI-related SingularityNET and Fetch.AI.
• 26 indices. All major indices, including SP500, DAX, FTSE 100, are available.
• 7 bonds. The list includes government bonds from the U.S., UK, and EU.
• 800+ stocks and ETFs. Traders have access to stocks from the U.S., EU, and UK, as well as to ETFs on various sectors.

VT Markets provides access to forex pairs, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and bonds. While the forex selection aligns with industry standards, the broker shines in offering an extensive range of other assets. In my opinion, the offering is extremely broad, so traders will always find a good trading opportunities for themselves. What sets VT Markets apart is its bond offering, a rarely featured asset in traders’ portfolios, yet an attractive option for those seeking diversification.

Customer Support

VT Markets Customer Support Test

VT Markets customer support is available 24/7 via online chat, email, and phone. The support is offered in six languages, including English, French, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai.

During my tests, I posed various questions to the customer support team through the online chat. I inquired about the types of accounts the broker offers, the leverage, the inactivity fee, and the VPS service. The customer support was helpful and quickly answered my questions.

Traders should note that the broker’s online chat also has a bot designed to answer the most common questions. In addition, clients can use the help centre, which contains answers to frequently asked questions.

Deposit and Withdrawal

VT Markets Deposits

VT Markets clients can choose between credit cards, bank transfer, e-wallets, and crypto for their transactions. These methods can be used free of charge. As is typical, the bank transfer is the slowest deposit method.

VT Markets Withdrawals

VT Markets clients should note that the broker charges a fee of 20 base currency for withdrawals via credit cards and bank transfers that do not exceed 100 base currency. Fees apply to e-wallet withdrawals as well. However, VT Markets does not charge additional handling fees during the withdrawal process.

Account Types and Terms

VT Markets clients can choose between a spread-based Standard STP Account and a commission-based RAW ECN Account. In the spread-based account, traders pay spreads as well as swap/rollover fees, while in the commission-based account, they enjoy tighter spreads but must also pay a fixed commission ($6 per standard lot, per round). Swap-free Islamic Account options are available for both the spread-based and commission-based accounts.

Why is Choosing the Right Account Type Important?

Choosing an account that aligns with your trading needs is crucial. Typically, the traders should consider factors such as base currency options, contract size, commissions, fees, the number of pending orders/positions, and the minimum deposit size.

What Account Types Does VT Markets Offer?

VT Markets’ clients can choose between the spread-based Standard STP Account and the commission-based RAW ECN Account. In these accounts, traders have access to leverage of up to 1:500. With a minimum deposit of just $100, both accounts are easily accessible for beginners. Importantly, an Islamic Account option is available for both types of accounts.Accounts can be opened with 5 base currencies, including AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, and CAD.

What is CFD leverage?

CFD leverage allows traders to hold a position without paying the full value. Instead, you pay a deposit, which is called margin, while borrowing the rest.

In the VT Markets’ case, traders have access to leverage of up to 1:500. This is a high level of leverage, so traders should be careful and use appropriate risk management techniques.

VT Markets Account Opening Process

To open an account with VT Markets, follow these steps:

• Visit the broker’s website and click on “Open a Live Account” button on the home page.
• Provide your country of residence, email, and set password for the client portal.
• Choose the account type and the platform you plan to use (MT4 or MT5).
• Fill in your personal information and complete ID verification.

In my case, the opening of the account took less than five minutes, and I quickly got to the client portal. I experienced no problems during this procedure.

What is a demo account?

A demo account is an account that allows you to test the broker’s services and your trading skills without risking your money.

Please note that your trading experience will differ when you use a demo account compared to a real-money account, due to psychological factors: traders often find themselves under pressure when real money is at stake.

While it’s a good idea to use the demo account for practicing and learning the trading platform, I would advice not to spend too much time on the demo.

Research

VT Markets offers the ProTrader tools suite, accessible through the client portal for traders who open a live account with the broker. These tools include Market Buzz, Featured Ideas, Economic Calendar, Analyst Views, and the Acuity Signal Centre. Traders will find additional news feeds and trading ideas, always a useful feature.

VT Markets also provides Alpha Generation indicators for MetaTrader. Offered in partnership with Trading Central, they are available to existing clients with a minimum balance of $500. I find the Adaptive Divergence Convergence (ADC) tool especially interesting, as it adapts its lengths based to the market conditions to avoid excessive signals.

On its website, VT Markets presents the Daily Market Analysis, which contains a thorough discussion of technicals and fundamentals of various instruments, along with key economic data. As expected, an economic calendar is also provided on the broker’s website.

Traders should note that the use of special third-party tools like Acuity Signal Centre, exclusive to clients with a live account, aligns with modern trends. As such, do not expect too much from the website-based research offering. In my opinion, VT Markets provides sufficient research tools for its clients.

Education

On its website, VT Markets presents a collection of educational articles that cover a wide range of topics, from forex currency correlations to CFD trading strategies.

These materials could appeal to both novice and seasoned traders. However, the content may be challenging to digest due to its unstructured presentation – the articles vary in topics without clear organization, and what are labeled as “guides” often turn out to be extensive articles rather than user-friendly instructions.

This issue extends to the MT4 guide and the Trading Central Tools Guide, as well, where the quality content is present but hindered by its complex format.

The Bottom Line

VT Markets operates under three entities: VT Global Pty Ltd, regulated by ASIC (a Tier-1 regulator), VT Markets (Pty) Ltd, regulated by FSCA (a Tier-2 regulator), and VT Markets LLC, an unregulated entity registered in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. These entities provide negative balance protection and hold clients’ funds in segregated accounts for added safety.

VT Markets offers a wide range of tradable instruments, including forex pairs, stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and bonds. Clients can access MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, along with the in-house VT Markets App. The broker’s clients will benefit from low trading fees and third-party research tools, available for traders with a live account at VT Markets.

Traders can choose between a spread-based account and a commissions-based account, and an Islamic Account option is available for both types. VT Markets offers various deposit and withdrawal methods, available in several currencies. My tests showed that the fees at the Standard STP Account were lower than the industry average for most instruments I measured, highlighting a potential advantage for cost-conscious traders.

FAQ