As a downloadable product, MetaTrader 4 account holders are often limited by accessibility to trading when not connected to their main computers. MetaQuotes has created both iOS and Android mobile versions of the platform, but a browser-based web version has so far proven elusive. As a solution, brokers have either developed in-house or partnered with technology providers to create web-based trading platforms. Connecting directly to a broker’s MetaTrader server, the web trader allows traders to trade their MT4 account directly from any web browser without the need of downloading the  Trading Platform  Trading Platform In the FX space, a currency trading platform is a software provided by brokers to their respective client base, garnering access as traders in the broader market. Most commonly, this reflects an online interface or mobile app, complete with tools for order processing.Every broker needs one or more trading platforms to accommodate the needs of different clients. Being the backbone of the company’s offering, a trading platform provides clients with quotes, a selection of instruments to trade, real-time updates on quotes, charts and is the main frontend which customers are facing.Brokers either use existing trading platforms and sometimes customize them, or develop their own platform from scratch. Since the beginning of the retail FX trading business MetaQuotes and its platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) have been the industry standard, especially when it comes to automated trading.MT4 Shows Resiliency While MT4 has long been seen as ubiquitous amongst brokers’ offerings, a targeted push by MetaQuotes themselves has led to broader adoption of MT5 in recent years. Advanced trading platforms such as MT4 or MT5 also allow access to a wide range of asset classes available for trading.The development of trading platforms over the past decade has failed to successfully dethrone MT4 or MT5, notably in the retail market. However, in institutional markets, brokerage companies and banking entities also construct and utilize proprietary currency trading platforms to help satisfy internal needs with trades executed through institutional trading channels.By far the most important parameter for many retail clients is the optionality and pairs available on trading platforms. Additionally, demand by traders has led to a greater emphasis on newer features such as advanced charting and other tools. In the FX space, a currency trading platform is a software provided by brokers to their respective client base, garnering access as traders in the broader market. Most commonly, this reflects an online interface or mobile app, complete with tools for order processing.Every broker needs one or more trading platforms to accommodate the needs of different clients. Being the backbone of the company’s offering, a trading platform provides clients with quotes, a selection of instruments to trade, real-time updates on quotes, charts and is the main frontend which customers are facing.Brokers either use existing trading platforms and sometimes customize them, or develop their own platform from scratch. Since the beginning of the retail FX trading business MetaQuotes and its platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) have been the industry standard, especially when it comes to automated trading.MT4 Shows Resiliency While MT4 has long been seen as ubiquitous amongst brokers’ offerings, a targeted push by MetaQuotes themselves has led to broader adoption of MT5 in recent years. Advanced trading platforms such as MT4 or MT5 also allow access to a wide range of asset classes available for trading.The development of trading platforms over the past decade has failed to successfully dethrone MT4 or MT5, notably in the retail market. However, in institutional markets, brokerage companies and banking entities also construct and utilize proprietary currency trading platforms to help satisfy internal needs with trades executed through institutional trading channels.By far the most important parameter for many retail clients is the optionality and pairs available on trading platforms. Additionally, demand by traders has led to a greater emphasis on newer features such as advanced charting and other tools. Read this Term.

Initially, web traders were focused on providing MT4 account holders with greater accessibility to trading, with features limited to order entry and basic technical analysis tools on charts. However, recent iterations of web traders released over the past two years have gone beyond just being additions to MT4 and have been launched as robust systems to operate as full trading platforms themselves. Some web traders have even gone ahead and become standalone platforms that are offered without needing to be connected to a MetaTrader server, such as Sirix from Leverate and xStation from X Open  Hub  Hub A hub as its name suggests describes the center of activity or a focal point. In terms of finance, the term hub can refer to Hub and Spoke Trading or a liquidity hub. However, the terms are not interchangeable, but they do overlap. Hub and Spoke trading refer to a network that posts bids and offers for an asset and therefore creates a real market. For example, Hub and Spoke trading allow traders to see the other submissions and offers from other traders on the platform. This is a popular method used by cryptocurrency exchanges. This method provides transparency and allows traders to see the depth of the market. It also allows for more competitive pricing because there is no trading desk and no price manipulation. The disadvantage of this type of platform is that sudden market volatility can shift all traders to one side of the market or the other. There can be all buys and no seller or all sellers and no buyers. Liquidity Hubs ExplainedThis leads us to a liquidity hub, which platforms and brokers use to process each trade on their platform. When many liquidity providers join together to form a liquidity hub, they can also process trades whether they are more buys then sellers or vice versa. Deals can be processed faster for lower costs. Liquidity hubs allow brokers to deliver tight spreads into their traders and execute client orders at the best available prices from multiple liquidity providers. Liquidity hubs are traditionally hosted in premier data centers with a high concentration of trading participants such as Hong Kong, Chicago, or New York. These hub services provide full redundancies on the equipment and network supporting them, including the international pipe to primary and secondary data centers. A hub as its name suggests describes the center of activity or a focal point. In terms of finance, the term hub can refer to Hub and Spoke Trading or a liquidity hub. However, the terms are not interchangeable, but they do overlap. Hub and Spoke trading refer to a network that posts bids and offers for an asset and therefore creates a real market. For example, Hub and Spoke trading allow traders to see the other submissions and offers from other traders on the platform. This is a popular method used by cryptocurrency exchanges. This method provides transparency and allows traders to see the depth of the market. It also allows for more competitive pricing because there is no trading desk and no price manipulation. The disadvantage of this type of platform is that sudden market volatility can shift all traders to one side of the market or the other. There can be all buys and no seller or all sellers and no buyers. Liquidity Hubs ExplainedThis leads us to a liquidity hub, which platforms and brokers use to process each trade on their platform. When many liquidity providers join together to form a liquidity hub, they can also process trades whether they are more buys then sellers or vice versa. Deals can be processed faster for lower costs. Liquidity hubs allow brokers to deliver tight spreads into their traders and execute client orders at the best available prices from multiple liquidity providers. Liquidity hubs are traditionally hosted in premier data centers with a high concentration of trading participants such as Hong Kong, Chicago, or New York. These hub services provide full redundancies on the equipment and network supporting them, including the international pipe to primary and secondary data centers. Read this Term, whose roots began as XTB’s web-based offering.

Following on this trend, FxPro has released its newest web trader to customers. Previously using technology from Panda TS, according to FxPro, the new offering was developed in-house. Like other web traders the platform connects with MT4 accounts allowing for simultaneous trading using either system. In addition, FxPro is touting the platform’s standalone features, such as technical indicators and the ability to save charts and appearance themes.

For brokers, one of the advantages of a robust web trader is reduced friction when supporting new customers, as download incompatibilities such as those with anti-virus software (I am looking at you ESET) often top the list of user problems with MT4. In addition, in-house developed products can provide brokers greater integration with their data collection of customers in gaining a better understanding of their habits and what marketing campaigns are most successful to trigger trading activity.

In FxPro’s case, as one of the largest Cyprus-based brokers, as well as recently increasing its UK presence, the firm has connected as an IPO candidate of the future. As such, the creation of new in-house technology to go along with the broker’s existing SuperTrader copy trader platform provides additional intellectual property to market itself, if and when they do decide to pursue an IPO.