CFTC Data Shows FXCM Inc. Retail Forex Funds Shed 12% in December
- The Futures Commission Merchant of KCG Holdings, KCG Americas LLC, has been removed from the list due to its sale to Wedbush Securities. Institutional Liquidity LLC has been officially delisted as an FCM.

According to the latest batch of US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data, retail Forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term funds held at brokerages registered to operate in the US have decreased by 6% during the month of December.
Two entries have been delisted as KCG Americas LLC has been taken over by Wedbush Securities, while Institutional Liquidity Liquidity The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent Read this Term LLC has been removed from the list after leaving the tightly regulated US market. After steady growth in November, an unusually volatile month of December has led to outflows.
While all eyes are on the January and February data which will show how the SNB decision has impacted the funds held at US forex brokers, the December set of numbers shows that while FXCM Inc. (NYSE:FXCM) has remained in the lead, funds held at the brokerage have dropped by 12% in December, which is double the average industry decline.
Pre-holiday redemptions have led to declines across the board with the only major company registering growth being IBFX, as funds which TradeStation clients held at the brokerage grew almost $1 million.
December 2014 FCM Data from CFTC
GAIN Capital remained flat, while client funds at OANDA dropped by about 4%. MB Trading was the second biggest decliner bleeding about 10% of customer deposits, as Interactive Brokers remained below the industry average shedding close to 5% in what is a typically slow month for the foreign exchange industry.
Looking at the market share of major brokers, we are seeing FXCM remain in the lead by a big margin, followed by OANDA and GAIN Capital. The bottom part of the chart remained consistent, with IBFX being followed by Interactive Brokers and MB Trading.
US FCMs Market Share Chart, December 2014
According to the latest batch of US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data, retail Forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term funds held at brokerages registered to operate in the US have decreased by 6% during the month of December.
Two entries have been delisted as KCG Americas LLC has been taken over by Wedbush Securities, while Institutional Liquidity Liquidity The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent Read this Term LLC has been removed from the list after leaving the tightly regulated US market. After steady growth in November, an unusually volatile month of December has led to outflows.
While all eyes are on the January and February data which will show how the SNB decision has impacted the funds held at US forex brokers, the December set of numbers shows that while FXCM Inc. (NYSE:FXCM) has remained in the lead, funds held at the brokerage have dropped by 12% in December, which is double the average industry decline.
Pre-holiday redemptions have led to declines across the board with the only major company registering growth being IBFX, as funds which TradeStation clients held at the brokerage grew almost $1 million.
December 2014 FCM Data from CFTC
GAIN Capital remained flat, while client funds at OANDA dropped by about 4%. MB Trading was the second biggest decliner bleeding about 10% of customer deposits, as Interactive Brokers remained below the industry average shedding close to 5% in what is a typically slow month for the foreign exchange industry.
Looking at the market share of major brokers, we are seeing FXCM remain in the lead by a big margin, followed by OANDA and GAIN Capital. The bottom part of the chart remained consistent, with IBFX being followed by Interactive Brokers and MB Trading.
US FCMs Market Share Chart, December 2014