VT Markets Review 2024

VT Markets

• VT Markets is a Sydney-based online broker launched in 2016.
• It is a subsidiary of Vantage International Group Limited LLC, headquartered in the UK and established in 2011.  
• The broker offers traders access to 230+ FOREX, commodities, metals, indices and share Contracts for Difference (CFD).
• VT Markets promises it can open live accounts in under five minutes.
• VT Markets buys its liquidity from over 30 partners.
• VT Markets Australia is licensed and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
• VT Markets in the Cayman Islands is licensed and regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).
• The broker’s parent company Vantage Global Prime LLP is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK.
• Trading is available in five base currencies.
• VT Markets offers two main account types, a Standard Account and a Raw Account suitable for entry level traders and elite traders.
• VT Markets offers market access covering five asset classes.
• Islamic trading is available.
• VT Markets offers reasonably competitive spreads and commissions across its account types.
• The maximum leverage offered by this broker is 1:500.
• VT Markets customers can access high-quality education materials.

Overall Summary

VT Markets is a Sydney-based online broker that is a subsidiary of Vantage International Group Limited. The company’s head office has over 10 years of market experience, but VT Markets as a separate entity was founded in 2015 and is a new entrant into the online trading world.

The broker claims to be driven by the idea that “Innovation makes the difference.” It uses this slogan as a driving force to roll out what it believes are superior platforms and advanced technical tools to provide a “superior trading experience.” This belief is belied by the fact that the broker, until recently, only used MetaTrader4 (MT4) as its sole platform and has just rolled out MetaTrader5 (MT5).

The broker is licensed by two regulators. These are ASIC in Australia and CIMA in the Cayman Islands. Its head office, Vantage International Group, is regulated by the UK’s FCA, but this license does not apply to VT Markets, even though VT Markets is keen to advertise its parent company’s FCA regulation to boost its image by association.

The broker boasts over 10,000 actively trading accounts from a global client base. This is not a sizable number of clients compared to more established brokers, but, as a growing broker, this shows steady growth. Some of the key claims made by the broker are that it executes over 1.5 million trades per month and it handles over $100 billion in monthly trading volume.

Who Is VT Markets Good For?

VT Markets is a solid and emerging broker in its home market of Australia. Although its home regulator, the ASIC, is highly regarded, this regulator does not mandate that investor funds be protected. The CIMA does not mandate investor fund protection, either.

In saying this, Australian traders will be attracted to this broker as it hails from their home market. Beyond this group of traders, we found it difficult to find something about this broker that could attract a certain portion of the market compellingly. Its fees are competitive enough, but not market-shaking, and its platforms are merely adequate.

It must be said that traders who select this broker are advised to have prior experience in the market, as the broker does not provide any negative balance protection or stop-loss capabilities. VT Markets touts itself as a non-advisory broker, so traders are on their own. With a maximum leverage of 1:500, traders must be prepared to sink or swim with no advice from the broker. Here are some key factors to consider before dealing with this broker:

Is VT Markets Safe?

Offering of Investments

• FOREX.
• Indices.
• Energy.
• Precious metals.
• Soft commodities.
• US CFD shares.
• HK CFD shares.

Account Types

 VT Markets provides traders with two simple account types.

Standard Straight Through Processing (STP) Account: The broker advertises this STP account as the perfect solution for beginner traders who wish for uncomplicated market entry with zero commissions. The account has the following features:

• Spread from 1.2 pips.

• Zero commission.

• Available currencies USD, AUD, GBP, EUR and CAD.

• Links to over 30 liquidity partners.

• $200 minimum deposit.

• Maximum leverage of 1:500.

Raw Electronic Communications Network (ECN) Account: The broker sells this account to seasoned traders who need generous liquidity and highly competitive spreads. According to the broker’s marketing messages, the spreads on this account are the lowest in the entire FOREX trading industry. Using ECN execution, traders can access competitive spreads and low commissions via rapid execution speed. The account has the following key features:

• Spread from zero pips.

• $6 Commission per lot.

• Available currencies USD, AUD, GBP, EUR and CAD.

• Over 100 tradable assets.

• $200 minimum deposit.

• Maximum leverage of $10.

Islamic Account: Islamic traders can access compliant versions of the broker’s two main account types. The Islamic Standard STP and Islamic RAW ECN accounts provide deep liquidity and trading on MT4 and MT5. Islamic accounts do not incur interest fees on overnight positions, but they attract a small administration fee.

Account Opening

By clicking the Live Account button on the VT Markets landing page, traders can go through a process that will allow them to have a functioning account in a few minutes. They will need to provide standard Know Your Customer (KYC) information, such as biographical details. All they need to do is provide the proof. This process is handled in a secure Client Portal Area, where trader information is safe.

Demo Account

The broker offers a Demo Account, where traders can practice their trading skills and strategies. The Call-to-Action Demo Account tab takes would-be traders directly to a secure location, meaning that it is not immediately clear what the terms of the Demo Account are.

Bonuses and Promotions

VT Markets offers attractive promotions to new traders. They are designed to encourage regular deposits and increased trading within its client base. There is a $500 Welcome Bonus for traders who deposit their first $1,000. There is also the tempting offer of a 20% re-deposit bonus each time traders make a deposit into their account. 

Deposits and Withdrawals

• Domestic Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). 
• International EFT.
• Bpay.
• Poli Payments.
• Debit/Credit card. 
• China Union Pay.
• Neteller.
• Skrill.
• FasaPay.
• Broker-to-Broker.

Customer Service

Commissions and Fees

Leverage

Platforms and Tools

VT Markets does not have a proprietary trading platform and relies on MT4 and recently MT5 to carry its products to market. It offers the desktop and Web versions of these platforms. Although it relies on MetaTrader, and this could be a slight criticism, the broker offers the full MetaTrader platform solution, as well as a suite of extra plugins for traders who deposit above $1,000.

By using MT4 and MT5 in conjunction, traders can have access to multiple chart types, timeframes, and FOREX signals. They will also receive help from Expert Advisors (EA) for automated trading. They can also access multiple order types, all without the need of a download.

Mobile Trading

Research and Development

Education

• Learn FOREX.
• Education videos.
• MT4 Guide.
• Trading Central Tools Guide.

Final Thoughts

This broker is an emerging force in the Australian region. It still has some way to go toward realizing its aim of surging worldwide growth. As a recognizable Australian-based broker, it is perfectly geared for its home market, but it may struggle to satisfy clients from other regions of the world. 

Its levels of regulation leave something to be desired, and it does not provide extra investor protection. Its trading platforms, while dependable, do not show a broker that is trying to push the trading experience to the next level, as stated in its own slogan.

Its fees are competitive without being market leading. There is a concerning lack of willingness to steer traders away from the rocks of bad trading behavior through protections, like stop-loss orders. Its research section is poor, but its education materials are now much improved.

Its market access is acceptable but is nowhere near best-in-class. Overall, the broker is trying to get a foothold in the industry as it is still a young company. In our assessment, it has a way to travel because much of its product offering requires enhancement before it can be considered a powerful player.

Conclusion

VT Markets in Brief

Review Methodology

The team at Arincen collected over 120 pieces of data covering in excess of 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”) we had sent to the companies invited to participate in the exercise. 

We have identified 12 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 past experience. 

The next step saw us evaluate and rank each company, relying on the hard work of 15 Arincen employees. We were very careful in ensuring the most accurate assessment possible, including taking into account 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 on how we came up with the evaluation, please click here.

VT Markets FAQs