FAQ
In our Frequently Asked Questions section you'll find answers to many of the queries you may have about ActivTrades. Either browse the questions below or use the search to find answers on a specific topic.
General Questions
A: Yes, ActivTrades PLC is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and our activities are passported in all countries of the European Union with the respective regulatory bodies.
Q: Is my money safe with ActivTrades?
A: Client money is kept in a segregated client account. We are a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme which covers, in the unlikely event of default by the broker, 100% of the first £50,000 deposited by the client. For further information contact the Scheme by calling their Helpline on +44 (0)207 892 7300 or go to http://www.fscs.org.uk/
Q: Do you have a dealing desk?
A: There are no human dealers at ActivTrades, everything is automated. On our Standard (fixed spread) account we will be the market maker to your trades, on our Interbank (variable spread) account you trade directly on our liquidity providers’ quotes.
A: ActivTrades acts as a Market Maker and as an ECN based upon the client’s trading profile. As a general rule, the Standard accounts are treated as MM, whereas the interbank accounts as ECN. We wish to clarify that the Market Making activity is performed by ActivTrades in automatic without the human intervention, thus without dealing desk. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
Q: Are there any fees associated with my trading account?
A: Trading is commission-free, any cost of trading is encompassed in the spread of the instrument you are trading.
Q: How can I make withdrawals?
A: You can easily withdraw funds to your credit card or your bank account, simply contact us via the Secure Client Area.
Q: Is there a charge for withdrawals?
A: There is no charge to withdraw to a credit card, bank transfers incur the charges levied to us by our bankers.
Q: How long does it take to make a withdrawal?
A: Your withdrawal requests will be processed by us same day if received before 15:00 CET. You must allow for time in the banking system for the money to reach your bank or credit card account.
A: You can fund your account by Credit Card using our secure online payments system, or by Bank Transfer.
Q: In which currencies can I open a trading account?
A: You can hold an account in EUR, GBP, CHF or USD.
Q: How long does it take to open an account?
A: Accounts are usually opened within 24hrs when the correct supporting documents are submitted.
Q: Can I send funds in other currencies to my trading account?
A: You can send us funds in EUR, GBP, CHF or USD and we'll convert to the currency of your account at the prevailing market rate. This is most likely a more preferable exchange rate than you would receive from an outside source.
Q: When is your Support Desk available?
A: Support is available 24/5 in English and in Italian, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese every trading day between 08:00 and 18:00 CET.
Q: Do you accept clients from the USA?
A: Unfortunately we are not regulated in the USA and so unable able to open accounts for US citizens or residents.
Q: What happens if I have a complaint with ActivTrades?
A: In the unlikely event of dispute with ActivTrades that cannot be successfully resolved you will be sent the full ActivTrades Complaints Handling Procedure. You are entitled to take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service who will mediate as a matter of last resort.
Trading Questions
Q: Do you allow trading with Expert Advisors (EAs)?
A: Yes, you can use Expert Advisors on all our Forex and CFD accounts. High frequency and scalping systems are better suited to the Interbank account.
Q: Do you allow scalping or scalpers?
A: Yes, you can choose any of our accounts and employ electronic or manual scalping systems. Usually the most suitable account is the Interbank.
Q: Are stop losses guaranteed?
A: In Forex stops are guaranteed only on the reduced Risk Account. For other accounts ActivTrades ensures the best possible liquidity and continual pricing to facilitate most stops to be filled at the requested rate.
Q: What happens if I lose my internet connection while trading online?
A: You can call the 24hr Support Desk to verify account positions and close any open trades.
Q: As I login, which Server should I use? What is the IP number of my Server?
A: In order to access you account you will enter Login and Password provided, and you will select the Server as follows:
- For a Standards/RRA account select ActivTrades-Server in the field Server (or type the IP address 94.236.90.203:443 should the options not be available available)
- For an Interbank account select ActivTrades-Interbank Server (or type the IP address 83.138.182.246:443)
- For a Demo account select ActivTrades-Demo (or type the IP address 78.47.36.8:443)
A: Yes, it is possible to trade Microlots with all our account types.
Q: Can I keep open long and open short positions in the same currency pair (hedging) ?
A: Yes, the NFA rules on hedging do not affect ActivTrades clients because we are not regulated by the NFA.
Q: Do you apply daily swaps or rollovers to Forex positions?
A: Yes, the application of swaps is reflective of the underlying market. ActivTrades swap rates are set at the same level as those we receive from our liquidity providing banks.
Q: Do you apply overnight financing rates to CFD positions?
A: No, ActivTrades CFD products are based on the underlying futures contract and so the day to day financing cost is already reflected in the trading price.
Q: Why trade CFDS with expiry dates and not rolling cash or day-to-day products?
A: CFDs based on futures do not require any daily finance adjustments since the time value is included in the trading price.
Q: What happens if I am holding my CFD contract and it reaches the expiry date?
A: All open CFD trades are automatically closed the day after expiry at the closing price.
Q: How do I see other instruments or the new CFD contracts when the current ones have expired?
A: Right click on your Market Watch window and choose 'Show All' from the instrument tree.
Q: What statements will I receive?
A: You will receive daily trading statements and it is possible to view your trading history in your MetaTrader.
Q: What happens if I want to amend an order during the news and I cannot?
A: You must cancel the order completely, and then make a market or instant order.
Q: What is the Trade-Out level?
A: This level is set by ActivTrades and represents the minimum amount of margin required to stop trades being automatically closed out.
Q: Can I change my leverage from the standard conditions?
A: Yes, we can reduce the maximum leverage on your account at your request.
Q: Can I use MT4 on my iPhone?
A: There are external providers for such applications which are not supported by ActivTrades or MetaQuotes. There is a risk when passing personal data and passwords relating to your trading account and this practice should always be avoided or entered with extreme caution. Meta is available on PDAs and Smartphones with Windows based operating systems, the forthcoming MetaTrader5 is expected to have iPhone compatible software.
Q: Why does my Expert Advisor behave differently with ActivTrades compared to another broker?
A: A same EA can react differently with different brokers. This fact depends on how quotes move and their ticking volumes. ActivTrades' fixed spread quotes are set to move very smoothly in order to avoid spikes and therefore preventing useless stop triggering. This can cause your EA not to trigger as many orders as with another broker. Indeed, if your EA is that much "quote sensitive", we highly recommend you to switch to an Interbank account.
A: Yes, it is possible for your trading account to go into negative equity. Though it is unlikely in normal market conditions, at specifically volatile periods and weekends there is a risk. If you cannot accept this risk then you should always employ stop losses and choose the Reduced Risk Account.
Futures Questions
Q: What are your commission rates?
A: Commissions depend upon the markets, the kind of futures you wish to trade, your monthly volumes and the trading platform you choose. ActivTrades offers very competitive, flexible and personalised commission profiles. For a personal proposal complete the Commissions Request form.
Q: Is the trading platform free?
A: Yes, there is a free trading platform and also others from which to choose which have a cost.
Q: What is the minimum initial deposit to open a futures account?
A: Minimum account initial deposit is EUR10,000.
Q: Can I have a demo of your futures trading platforms?
A: Yes, contact the Sales Desk to discuss the most appropriate platform for you.
Q: How can I make a withdrawal?
A: Simply contact the Support Desk with your request.
Q: How long does it take to open an account?
A: Accounts are usually opened within 24hrs when the correct supporting documents are submitted.
Q: Can I send funds in other currencies to my trading account?
A: You can send us funds in EUR, GBP, CHF or USD and we'll convert to the currency of your account at the prevailing market rate. This is most likely a more preferable exchange rate than you would receive from an outside source.
Q: In which currencies can I open a trading account?
A: You can hold an account in EUR, GBP, CHF or USD.
Q: What happens if I lose my internet connection while trading online?
A: You can call the 24hr Support Desk to verify account positions and close any open trades.
A: You can fund your Futures account by bank wire only.
Q: When is your Support Desk available?
A: Support is available 24/5 in English and in Italian, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese every trading day between 08:00 and 18:00 CET.
Q: What is the difference between Initial and Maintenance margin?
A: Initial margin is required by the exchange when entering a new position that you wish to carry overnight. From the subsequent day on, this margin would be reduced to a maintenance margin, if you wish to continue carrying the position overnight.
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