Small individual traders can now trade in the financial markets, all thanks to current technological improvements. They can now very well compete with more extensive financial associations. The Forex market, where you might profit from fluctuating prices on currency pairs, is among the most prominent markets for such smaller players. Its popularity stems from the fact that it is the largest and most liquid market globally. Forex trading is conducted over-the-counter (OTC) between buyers and sellers worldwide rather than on a controlled exchange (as is the case with stocks and other assets). However, it would be best to utilise a broker to access this market. Read More
Because this market is decentralised, you’ll quickly notice that based on the broker you select, you can choose the various rates of exchange and trading conditions. Consequently, finding the correct broker for a particular trading strategy is critical to your success as a professional trader. Even though there are many brokers around nowadays offering similar products and services, there are several factors you should look into before picking which one to employ in order to ensure you’ll have the best chance of succeeding.
The first thing you need to do is make sure you are dealing with a licensed broker. They observe tight laws and requirements protecting customer funds and security. Thus, they are highly regulated. They make use of wholly segregated client accounts and provide negative balance security. Aside from examining your broker’s legal status, ensure it gives the correct trading platforms and accounts for a particular trading strategy. Other trading factors include trading conditions, spreads, minimum deposits, payment methods, the account’s primary currencies, and available technical support.
Another critical factor to consider when picking a broker is the sort of broker they are, as there are several types, the most common of which being Market Makers and ECNs.
ECN Broker Vs Market Maker
The concept of a Market Maker is simple: it’s a broker who “creates the markets” by establishing bids and asking prices through its mechanisms. The prices are then displayed on the respective platforms, allowing traders to open and settle trading positions. Unlike an ecn forex broker, a Market Maker broker does not often hedge its clients’ jobs with other liquidity providers. On the other hand, market makers pay successful customer positions from their funds. It also implies that a Market Maker broker suffers when a client has a profitable trading position. ECN Broker means an electronic communications network (ECN) broker. This network allows stock market buyers and sellers to find a counterparty for their trading positions. Through the interbank trading price, traders using this broker have instant access to many other market participants.
An ECN broker does not compete with its customers.
As a result, an ECN broker does not bet against you. It never joins the other end of your trading positions. Instead, it works as an interface amongst your buying and selling orders, connecting you with different market players.
Because an ECN broker earns a commission, either you earn or make a loss, this trading strategy ensures no conflict of interest.
Why trading using an ECN broker reduces price manipulation, improves transparency and trading conditions.
Because an ECN broker does not “create the market” by issuing its quotes, it is more challenging to manipulate prices because it uses prices from several liquidity providers.
An ECN broker gives you access to real-time, up-to-date data and a more accurate pricing history, making price manipulation more difficult for this broker.
The ECN broker’s trading systems publicly display prices from official sources, making it easier for you to trade instantaneously and with smaller spreads than other brokers. You’ll usually pay lower commissions and fees and get quick confirmations.
To Conclude
As you have seen, trading with an ECN broker lets you trade very efficiently and profitably because of better trading conditions and implementation. ECN brokers offer improved transparency and no conflicts of interest, making them the most dependable and secure option to trade.
