Best Forex Brokers in New Zealand in 2024

Best FOREX brokers in New Zealand in 2024

Company name	Regulations	Minimum deposit	Main branch	Open account
ICM Capital	FCA	500$	United Arab Emirates	Open account Review ICM Capital
Tradeview	FCA	250$	USA	Open account Review Tradeview
XTB	FCA	500$	UK	Open account Review XTB
IG	FCA	500$	UK	Open account Review IG

Open account

Company name	ICM Capital
Regulations	FCA
Minimum deposit	500$
Main branch	United Arab Emirates

Open account

Company name	Tradeview
Regulations	FCA
Minimum deposit	250$
Main branch	USA

Open account

Company name	XTB
Regulations	FCA
Minimum deposit	500$
Main branch	UK

Open account

Company name	IG
Regulations	FCA
Minimum deposit	500$
Main branch	UK

Top Tips for Choosing the Best FOREX Brokers in New Zealand

• The broker must be regulated by a top-tier regulator, this could be a local broker or an international broker
• The broker must have a competitive fee schedule
• The broker must offer a wide array of financial assets to trade
• The broker must have a responsive customer service team
• The broker should have a detailed research and educational offering

Best FOREX brokers in New Zealand in 2024

With so many choices out there, it can be a hard job to choose the right broker. In this case, we've done the work for you. Here is a summary of each broker according to specific criteria, along with their pros and cons

• ICM - Capital 91.10: Best Deposit and Withdrawal Broker

• Tradeview: 90.00: Trusted broker that offers very low trading costs as well as comprehensive financial literacy materials for its clients.

• XTB - 85.55: Best Customer Service Broker

• IG - 85.45: Best Regulations Broker plus Convenient Platform

• Saxo Bank - 80.09: Excellent Private Trading Platform

• CMC Markets - 80.07: More than 9,000 Assets

• ThinkMarkets - 80.05: Aimed at the Audience of Traders

ICM capital Broker

ICM Capital is considered the industry leader in deposits and withdrawals, whereby each withdrawal does not take more than five business days. Moreover, the company offers its customers a handy credit card to withdraw their profits, in addition to enabling customers to use various deposit methods. The company, which is licensed by the UK's FCA, has several branches around the world. Among other things, it has a rich portfolio of assets, especially stocks, offers a low spread, as well as the ability to use MT4.

Broker Evaluation	8.11
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	500$
Islamic Account	yes
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks - Crypto
Main Branch	United Kingdom
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	yes
Trading Platforms	MT4 - MT5 - C TRADER -Web Platform

Pros

• Segregated client funds.
• Regulated by the UK’s FCA.
• Established in 2009.
• More than 10,000 ICM Capital users and traders.
• Reasonable minimum deposit from $500.
• Decent funding options.
• No swaps.
• MetaTrader4 (MT4) desktop and mobile download.

Cons

• Does not allow scalping.
• Not ASIC-regulated.
• Relatively limited range of instruments.
• Slow live-chat service.
• Relatively high trading fees.
• Limited range of trading tools and resources

Open Account

Dukascopy Broker

Tradeview Forex, interchangeably known as Tradeview Markets, was established in 2004 and is headquartered in the Cayman Islands, setting itself up as a significant player in the online FOREX and CFD trading world. Regulated by the Cayman Island Monetary Authority (CIMA) and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), Tradeview Forex is a reliable platform in a competitive market​​​​. The broker’s commitment to offering a broad and accessible trading environment shines through with its low deposit requirement and how it provides various advanced trading platforms to clientele.

Broker Evaluation	7
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	$450
Islamic Account	Yes
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks - Crypto
Main Branch	USA
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	Yes
Trading Platforms	Proprietary Platform-MT4 - MT5 -Web Platform

Pros

• Established in 2004.
• Variety of trading platforms, such as MT4, MT5, cTrader, and Currenex, catering to different trading preferences and strategies.
• Low minimum deposits.
• beginners and experienced traders looking to refine their strategies.
• Supports automated trading through the use of Expert Advisors (EA) on MT4 and MT5 platforms.
• Decent leverage levels of 1:200 available in some jurisdictions.
• Regulated by CIMA, MFSA, and will soon be regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Cons

• While regulated by CIMA and the MFSA, the broker is still in the final stages of becoming regulated by the tier-one FCA.
• Trades on the Innovative Liquidity Connector® account are subject to commission charges, which may add to trading costs.
• While offering high leverage up to 400:1 can be an advantage, it also introduces significant risks, especially for new traders.

Open Account

XTB Broker

What distinguishes XTB is the fact that it offers the best customer experience among all the companies we have surveyed. Indeed, it boasts the fastest response rate from all the companies under investigation. This is especially relevant, since the market is always on-the-go, and so you need to act fast. XTB offers lots of asset classes, as well as the ability to use the MT4 trading platform. Finally, it maintains a relatively low spread, which is suitable for quick deals.

Broker Evaluation	8.55
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	500$
Islamic Account	yes
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks
Main Branch	United Kingdom
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	yes
Trading Platforms	MT4 - MT5 -Web Platform

Pros

• Long history of operation.
• Globally recognized, having won multiple awards.
• Some of the lowest FOREX spreads in the market.
• Regulated by the FCA (UK).
• Offers protection for client accounts.
• Emphasis on customer service.
• Excellent support, learning and research tools.

Cons

• Does not accept US clients.
• Non-FOREX spread costs are relatively high.
• No GSLO.
• No back-testing or automated trading capabilities.
• Conditions vary according to regulation and entity.

Open Account

ig markets Broker

IG is arguably the best broker when it comes to security and trust, boasting, as it does, licenses from 10 regulatory bodies, including the all-important FCA from the UK. The company is also a bank and is a publicly traded company in London. It is known for offering more than 10,000 asset classes of currencies, commodities, future contracts, ETFs, indices, cryptocurrencies etc. Further, it has its own state-of-the-art trading platform and offers a relatively low spread.

Broker Evaluation	7.54
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	250$
Islamic Account	yes
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks
Main Branch	United Kingdom
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	Yes
Trading Platforms	Proprietary Platform -MT4 - Web Platform

Pros

• Easy-to-navigate platform that is simple for beginners to master.
• Margin rates are easy to understand and affordable.
• Mobile and tablet platforms offer full functionality of the desktop version.
• Accepts US clients.
• Access to more than 100 currency pairs
• Emphasis on education and research.
• Regulated by the FCA (UK), as well as the CFTC and the NFA (US).
• Offers protection for UK/EU client accounts.

Cons

• US traders can currently only trade FOREX.
• No GSLO for US-based traders.
• No account protection for US clients.
• Relatively high share-CFD fees.
• No copy trading or back-testing integration on IG platform.

Open Account

SAXO BANK Broker

Saxobank is considered one of the best investment banks in the area of financial markets and currencies, as it offers the very best trading platform and tools from all the companies we have reviewed. Meanwhile, its spread is very low and, as such, suitable for short-term deals; and it offers a large number of asset classes, including currencies, commodities, indices etc. Finally, its customer service is excellent and very responsive to traders' needs.

Broker Evaluation	6.09
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	10000$
Islamic Account	No
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card
Main Branch	Copenhagen, Denmark
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	No
Trading Platforms	SaxoTrader

Pros

• Extensive range of offerings.
• Regulated by the FCA (UK) and other top regulators.
• Great trading platform.
• Among the industry’s best research.
• Superior user interface.
• Offers protection for client accounts.

Cons

• High bond, options and futures fees.
• Lack of emphasis on customer service.
• Confusing instrument fee structures.
• High minimum deposit.
• Does not accept US clients.
• No MT4.
• Lacks live chat.

Open Account

CMC MARKETS Broker

CMC Markets is thought of as one the best companies, offering some 9,000 asset classes that encompass currencies, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds and stocks. The company offers a relatively low spread, the MT4 platform, and fast customer service. It is most suited for traders looking for diversity in asset classes.

Broker Evaluation	7.07
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	0$
Islamic Account	No
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks
Main Branch	United Kingdom
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	not
Trading Platforms	Proprietary Platform -MT4 - Web Platform

Pros

• Extensive range of offerings.
• Regulated by the FCA (UK).
• Low FOREX fees.
• Emphasis on education and customer service.
• Great Web and mobile platforms.
• Offers protection for client accounts.
• Research amenities are industry leading.

Cons

• Does not accept US clients.
• Limited product portfolio.
• High stock CFD fees.
• High CFD spreads for certain indices.
• Differences between Next Generation and MT4.
• Complicated account verification.
• No back-testing or automated trading capabilities.

Open Account

think markets Broker

Originally founded in New Zealand in 2010, and moving to Australia within the space of their first two years, Think Markets is a global online brokerage focusing on FOREX and CFD trading. In addition to a range of major and minor currency pairs. Think Markets has an array of CFDs on offer. This includes indices, as well as hard and soft commodities.

Broker Evaluation	8.05
Regulatory Bodies	FCA
Minimum Deposit	0$
Islamic Account	yes
Payment Methods	Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks - Crypto
Main Branch	Australia
Customer Service	24/5
Demo account	not
Trading Platforms	Proprietary Platform -Web platform-mt4- mt5

Pros

• Beginner assistance offered through 24/6 channels.
• Spreads are as low as 0.0 pips.
• 24/7 expert customer service.
• CFD shares and indices come at no extra fee.
• Zero broker fees for FOREX trading.
• Technical analysis and quality market information.
• Percentage allocation management module (PAMM) and Multi-account manager (MAM) accounts available.

Cons

• Direct share trading is on a separate platform.
• No binary options offered.
• Commissions charged for two account types.
• After a strong early start, ThinkTrader user ratings have slid to 3.4 stars.
• No US, Canada or Japan clients allowed.

Open Account

What is FOREX and Why Do We Need a Broker to Trade?

The foreign exchange market is a decentralized marketplace where global currencies are bought and sold. Currency trading is conducted electronically over the counter (OTC). This means that all transactions occur via computer networks between traders all over the world rather than on one centralized exchange. The FOREX market operates 24 hours a day and five days a week (Monday to Friday), except for international holidays. The FOREX market is the largest financial market in the world. The best FOREX brokers in New Zealand play a key role in this marketplace by enabling clients to buy and sell through a trading platform. Most trading platforms are accessible in web and mobile format.

How to Open a Trading Account to Start Trading FOREX?

How Much Do Beginners Need to Start to Trade?

You don’t need much to get started. Some of the best FOREX brokers for beginners allow you to start trading with as little as $1. Of course, you need to capitalize your account with at least some money that will allow you to place trades. The amount is really up to you. However, it is recommended that you start by placing small trades to get to grips with the practice of trading as well as your broker’s website before you move on to placing trades with more money.

How to Start Learning about FOREX Trading

A trading website like en.Arincen.com is a great place to start. We have a large list of curated articles that can give you all the information you need on common FOREX trading terms, like pips, spreads, leverage, and support and resistance. We have also taken the time to prepare detailed articles on important topics such as FOREX trading strategies. Additionally, once on our website, you will find helpful video courses that cover the basics of FOREX trading. With this range of knowledge, you will be well on your way to trading success.

Remember also that your broker will normally have developed a detailed education and research repository themselves. That is also a good place to bolster your FOREX knowledge, with the extra benefit that your broker’s information will be slanted toward their own platform and resources, which makes it doubly useful.

Can You Trade Without Prior Experience?

How Do I Choose the Best FOREX Broker in New Zealand?

FOREX Regulations in New Zealand

Leverage

Leverage allows you to trade with the broker’s money, meaning you can place larger orders than you would been able to with your own funds. This is a great way to get access to a larger share of the pie, but it also means you can lose money easily.

Depending on the regulatory framework within which your broker operates, you'll encounter varying leverage rules. Several key regulators have introduced specific guidelines to safeguard retail traders.

Let's look at some of these leverage rules set by major regulators:

FMA in New Zealand:

Traders in New Zealand have access to leverage as high as 500:1. This leverage level is much more permissive than the leverage levels encountered in other developed countries.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia:

30:1 for major currency pairs

20:1 for non-major currency pairs, gold, and major stock market indices

10:1 for commodities other than gold and minor stock market indices

5:1 for equities (stocks) and other underlying assets

Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) in Switzerland:

FINMA doesn't specify leverage limits as does ASIC. However, Swiss brokers must strictly adhere to robust capital and risk management requirements, ensuring that they do not offer excessively high leverage that could endanger their financial stability or their clients' funds.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK:

30:1 for major currency pairs

20:1 for non-major currency pairs, gold, and major indices

10:1 for commodities (excluding gold) and non-major equity indices

5:1 for individual equities and other reference values

Stop Out

In the world of trading, "stop out" is a term with which you should be familiar. It's the point where your broker automatically closes some or all of your active positions to prevent your account from diving into negative territory. The stop-out level is usually defined as a percentage, representing the margin level at which your broker starts shutting down your open trades.

Let's break down the percentages:

Stop out of 0%: 

Your broker won't close any of your positions, even if your margin level reaches rock bottom. This is because some brokers allow you to end up in the red, which means you might owe them money if your trades keep losing.

Stop out of 50%: 

Once your equity dwindles to half of your used margin, the stop-out alarm goes off. Your broker steps in and starts closing your trades, beginning with those least profitable. This continues until your margin level bounces back above the stop-out level.

Stop out of 100%: 

When your margin level hits 100%, your broker takes the drastic step of automatically closing all your open positions. In some setups where the broker separates margin-call and stop-out levels, the margin call happens at 100% and the stop-out at 50%. If your margin level plunges to 50%, your trading platform springs into action with a stop-out, closing your trade at the market price.

Keep in mind that the specific percentage and the order in which positions get closed can vary from broker to broker. So, it's crucial for traders to know their broker's stop-out policy. It's worth noting that while stop-out measures are designed to shield traders from going into the red, they can also result in substantial losses, especially in volatile markets where positions are swiftly closed automatically, especially if the market suddenly reverses post-stop out. That's why you should always employ protective strategies like setting stop-loss orders and avoiding excessive leverage.

Commissions and Fees in New Zealand

Trading fees can be tricky to keep track of, so it's important to compare them with industry standards. Here are some fees of which to be aware:

Spreads: 

There are two main kinds of spread, one is fixed and the other is variable. A first step in FOREX trading is identifying the spread differential, defined as the difference between the bid (sell) price and the ask (buy) price of a currency pair. While most FOREX currency pairs are traded without commission, the spread is one “cost” that applies to any trade that you place. This is, indeed, the biggest source of profit for the FOREX company.

The spread refers to the difference between two prices, such as the bid/ask rate in a currency exchange rate. An example of a good spread is 1.4 pips for the EUR/USD (the narrower the better, this means that a spread of 1.4 pips is better than a spread of 2 pips). You can learn more about this concept in this article.

Commission: 

This is the service charge that brokers require for carrying out transactions on behalf of their clients. As for commissions, FOREX trading companies can be placed into three categories. The first offers fixed spreads, while the second tenders variable spreads, with a third category of companies offering low-cost spreads, but that come with a (relatively high) fixed commission.

Rollover fees: When you leave a trade open overnight, the broker normally charges a rollover fee for the facility of holding your trade open for that period. This is because they assume the risk of the market changing adversely.

Withdrawal and deposit fees: 

Some platforms might charge fees for depositing or withdrawing funds. Pay attention to this. It's important to know these and any associated limits or conditions.

Subscription or inactivity fees: 

Certain platforms have monthly charges or fees for inactive accounts. Ensure you're aware of these potential costs.

Tradable Assets and Instruments

Payments, Deposits, and Withdrawals in New Zealand

FOREX Trading Customer Service

• Quick resolution of issues
• Educational support
• Assistance with queries during volatile markets
• Account security
• Customized advice (although not all customer service desks offer this)
• Technical assistance
• Regulatory compliance queries

Ask Other Traders on Our Network

Arincen has gone to extensive lengths to create an enabling environment of networks, where traders of all backgrounds can take part in a vibrant trading space. After all, Arincen’s goal is to simplify the world of trading. Our website provides an unrivalled slate of tools, like our market-leading signals, rolling news, and a thriving community where traders of all levels of experience can learn and profit from each other.

Technical Aspects of the Broker’s Website

When it comes to sharing sensitive personal information online, such as a credit card, cyber security is paramount. You should, therefore, always watch for SSL certification and two-factor authentication (especially when registering with a new site). Always remember to use a strong password.

What Trading Platforms, Tools, and Features Should a Broker Offer?

When choosing a trading platform, you should consider a range of features that cater to both novice and seasoned traders. Here are some elements to keep in mind:

Platform accessibility: A top-notch trading platform should offer flexibility in terms of access, whether it's web-based or a downloadable application.

Risk-management tools: Trading inherently comes with risks, and a high-quality platform should provide instruments that allow traders to set stop-losses, take-profits, and other crucial order types.

Technical analysis tools: The platform should have robust technical indicators to help traders make informed decisions.

Customization and user interface: Traders should be able to customize the platform according to their preferences, allowing them to set up their trading environment precisely how they want. We find that the products from the MetaTrader suite, especially MT4, offers excellent features for this purpose.

Performance and reliability: Beginner traders especially need a platform that operates seamlessly with minimal downtimes or glitches. This ensures a smooth trading journey, allowing them to focus on market movements rather than technical hiccups.

Learning and educational resources: The best brokers will offer platforms that are not only intuitive but also come with tutorials, guides, and responsive customer support to assist traders in navigating any challenges they might face.

To choose the perfect trading platform, here’s some solid advice:

• Determine your trading style and needs.

• Research different platforms and compare their features.

• Test the platforms with a demo account to see which one suits you best.

• Choose a platform that offers the features you need and is user-friendly.

• Ensure that the platform is reliable and has a good reputation in the industry.

Remember that the trading platform you choose can have a significant impact on your trading success, so it's important to choose wisely.

Which New Zealand FOREX Broker Has the Best Platform?

Many FOREX traders around the world have become used to MetaTrader’s strong and dependable MT4 platform, which is well-liked with good cause. To learn more about this important platform, visit our explainer article. However, if you are interested in trying something new that pushes the boundaries of what we accept as possible with a trading platform, you may consider a proprietary platform. In this case, we would encourage you to try Saxo Bank for its advanced trading features and high-performance tools with extensive market analysis.

Which New Zealand FOREX Broker Charges the Lowest Fees?

Our research shows that ICM’s ECN account offers the lowest fees for entry-level and elite traders alike.

Which is the Best New Zealand FOREX Broker for the Most CFDs?

Which New Zealand FOREX Broker Offers the Most Assets?

Which is the Best New Zealand FOREX Broker for Professionals?

FOREX Trading Scams and How to Avoid Them

Who Is Arincen and What Do We Do?

Conclusion

Arincen’s Review Methodology

The team at Arincen collected more than 120 pieces of data covering more than 100 licensed FOREX companies. Data collection was done in three ways:

1. Companies’ websites.

2. Other websites that have ranked FOREX companies.

3. A survey questionnaire (referred to here as Survey “1”) was sent to the companies invited to participate in the exercise. We have identified 13 criteria for our assessment, each containing several aspects and carrying its own relative weight. These include licensing, deposits and withdrawals, number of assets, etc.    

Afterward we validated the data by:

1. Registering with FOREX companies as a secret shopper and/or as Arincen.

2. Survey number “2,” in which we asked these companies’ customers for important feedback and experience.

The next step saw us evaluate and rank each company, relying on the demanding work of 15 Arincen employees. We were careful in ensuring the most accurate assessment possible, including considering different languages, as well as the various mobile-app operating systems, e.g., Apple, Samsung, etc.

To add credibility to our research project, we sent a final and third survey (referred to here as Survey “3”) to enable participating FOREX companies to evaluate our own research and whether it accurately reflects the realities on the ground. We were fortunate enough to receive a mark of 9.9 out of 10! We have kept to a minimum the margin of error, which stood at a measly 1%. To learn more about how we came up with the evaluation, please click here.

Written by

Adrian Ashley

Adrian Ashley is a seasoned business and finance writer. With a corporate career spanning over 20years, he has developed deep experience in such diverse areas as investing, business, finance,technology and macroeconomics. He is passionate about captu...

Edited by

Richard Sine

Richard Sine is a long-time technical editor and writer. His credits include a weekly column in the...

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Bahaa Khateeb

 Bahaa Khateeb is currently the CEO of Arincen, a start-up Fintech company based in Haifa. Baha...