As US Forex Brokers’ Profitability Declines, Asia Remains Top Target

As if more anecdotal evidence was needed to show that the focus of the Online Trading Online Trading Online trading represents the trading of fiat currencies, digital currencies, commodities, stocks and indices, where traders and investors intend to make a profit, via the purchase or sale of the aforementioned products. This is done through an electronic network, made accessible by brokers in the form of an online trading platform or hub.Online trading continues to see a rapid growth year on year, due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the number of brokers offering their services, with more mone Online trading represents the trading of fiat currencies, digital currencies, commodities, stocks and indices, where traders and investors intend to make a profit, via the purchase or sale of the aforementioned products. This is done through an electronic network, made accessible by brokers in the form of an online trading platform or hub.Online trading continues to see a rapid growth year on year, due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the number of brokers offering their services, with more mone Read this Term industry should be on the giant and emerging economies of Asia, this week more firms revealed that they are looking eastwards for expansion. At the same time, new data from the American industry is showing weak traders' performance while in Israel and Europe regulators are creating new hurdles for brokers.

FXCM France to be fined?

On Monday, French media outlets asserted that FXCM France could face a regulatory fine over an alleged violation. Finance Magnates has learned that the AMF held a hearing with FXCM France the previous Friday that could have been the source of the reports.

The regulator could be looking into a fine and reimbursement for profits that FXCM France made from the losses of three unregulated money managers. The AMF’s position is that the brokerage should have known that these three were not permitted to carry out transactions on behalf of third parties.

Big in Japan

On Tuesday, it was revealed that MetaQuotes decided to open an office in Tokyo. The move marks the fifth company office in the Asia-Pacific region after Australia, China, Singapore and Thailand.

The new head of MetaQuotes Japan, Tadao Mitsumoto, commented: “Our main task at the moment is to promote the MetaTrader Technology among local brokers and traders. It is much easier to achieve this now since the distance and language barriers are finally lifted.”

American performance report

On Wednesday, we offered an exclusive look at the American industry's client profitability and active traders in Q3 2015. Among major individual brokers, only FXCM posted an increase in profitability, with the percentage of profitable traders falling at IB, GAIN Capital and OANDA.

The falling profitability didn’t dampen an overall increase in activity though. During the quarter, active accounts rose 2.4% to 94,031. Notable growth was seen at both FXCM and GAIN Capital.

Tradimo adopts an approach of openness and gamification

On Thursday, Tradimo announced that it is opening up opportunities for trainers and educators to publish their content on its online training website to offer courses in trading, investing and personal finance. The firm explains that selected users will be involved in quality control programmes and that the courses will also be peer reviewed.

It was also revealed that the team at Tradimo has busy been developing a mobile game-based app to engage an audience that has never contemplated trading before. The first version of the game, entitled Little Traders, will be showcased at the upcoming Finance Magnates London Summit.

Amana Capital Targets Asia

On Friday it was reported that the Middle East-focused brokerage Amana Capital is entering the second phase of its expansion plan as it now targets Asian markets.

A company spokesperson shared that the company is currently looking to hire multi-lingual people in London, who speak languages other than English and Arabic, such as Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, and more.

Israelis now require over $3 million to trade binary options

Staying in the Middle-East, it was also revealed this week that Israeli regulators plan to severely limit access to binary options. To trade binary options you will need to be a "sophisticated investor", which means having a net financial worth of over NIS 12 million and a trade volume of over NIS 10 million a month.

In addition to the limitations on binary options trading, the ISA is also reportedly planning to ban any trading on stocks that have not presented a prospectus to investors in Israel. This will make trading single stock CFDs very problematic if not impossible.