Live Updates: Finance Magnates Tweets from #ifxexpo Asia 2017

The 2017 iFX EXPO in Asia is officially underway at the iconic Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The event is jointly organized by Finance Magnates and Conversion Pros, and is hosting over 3,200 registered attendees.

The event features an assortment of local brokers and service providers, as well as industry experts and professionals from all corners of the globe. The annual EXPO has proven to be one of the biggest events of the year, helping Bridge Bridge The bridge or liquidity bridge is an essential component for brokers that are enabling their clients to trade at interbank rates directly via a Prime Broker or a Prime-of-Prime (PoP). While market makers do not require a bridge in order to service their clients, brokers which are sending through orders to a liquidity provider or an electronic execution venue need a bridge to connect their trading platform to the interbank market.Bridges are used extensively in forex trading, specifically for Met The bridge or liquidity bridge is an essential component for brokers that are enabling their clients to trade at interbank rates directly via a Prime Broker or a Prime-of-Prime (PoP). While market makers do not require a bridge in order to service their clients, brokers which are sending through orders to a liquidity provider or an electronic execution venue need a bridge to connect their trading platform to the interbank market.Bridges are used extensively in forex trading, specifically for Met Read this Term the East and West - furthermore, the conference features a robust agenda that entails a variety of unique workshops, panels, and networking opportunities, which can be read in full below.

[gptAdvertisement]

15:15 - BTCC CEO Bobby Lee starts to get the audience excited about Bitcoin as the price hits $1111.

"Bitcoin is not a source for capital flight in China - it is trade neutral!"

15:50 - many people are lined up to ask Bitcoin-related questions including about how to use it to move money out of China...

#Bitcoin explain amid #China upheaval https://t.co/gwjOznU9wq

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

14:00 - we came back from the lunch break with a bang, straight to the CEO panel, featuring CEOs of eToro, CFH, AETOS, Fullerton Markets and Gold-i. As you can see, we are ready for a colorful panel.

Getting ready for a colorful CEO panel #ifxexpo @mariosingh @gold_itech pic.twitter.com/uLsUn2OFCd

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

Addressing regulatory changes, the panellists has provided varied opinions. Christian Frahm (CFH Group) has alluded to the Japanese example and stated that the time to prepare for future stipulations is today.

Yoni Assia has alluded to the cultural difference which affects regulatory regimes. In Asia, the regulation defines what you can do, whereas in the West it prohibits activities and anything undefined is legitimate.

Singapore-headquartered Mario Singh has expressed his doubts. "We need to embrace the upcoming regulation, adopted from the Western book, but should not constrict the acting players," he says. Otherwise, an outcome of capital outflows will be inevitable.

Having a lot of fun at #ifxexpo pic.twitter.com/3ZuGtGl175

— Robson Hayashida (@robmagario) February 22, 2017

A heated, almost inevitable debate about the FXCM conundrum ensued, being an ongoing hot topic with constant developments. While Assia has lamented an "unfortunate chain of events", Frahm and Higgins have pointed out that it is not logical that FXCM would have pulled out without a fight had it a strong case.

That being said, all participants, in one way or another FXCM's partners, have attested to their own positive relationship with the US broker.

11:45 - Off we go with the marketing panel, with a host of experts from various industry segments. Ryan Lew from Call Levels, a local marketing in Hong Kong, has stressed the importance of nuanced KYC aspects in acquiring Chinese clients, as "neither Asia nor even China are one single bloc".

This drills down to the city and region of traders, which should affect the quality of clients.

Loading time, localization and Baidu oriented optimization are key challenges in #China. Talking #marketing at the #ifxexpo @amiforex

— Avi Mizrahi (@avi_mizrahi) February 22, 2017

Interestingly, the bitcoin representative in the discussion, Gatecoin's Head of Marketing Thomas Glucksmann, has stressed the importance of education amid growing regulatory concerns, a perspective that the FX industry can relate to.

scan code and #mobile is to China to what email #marketing is to the West. #wechat? not yet. Talking #digitalmarketing at the #ifxexpo pic.twitter.com/EzrJD7Ygos

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

Offline marketing and interactions with clients are still paramount for success, but can be integrated with a data-driven approach. For example, broadcasting a seminar may prove valuable, as user engagement can translate into leads, and a crude live stream from the speaker's mobile will work better than a sleek studio-like segment.

10:45 - the first panel of the day started with the heads of top firms who are developing and utilizing trading technology for the Asian markets

Paul G Smith: "We are now operating in markets where people don't use laptops or desktops - its all mobile!"

Maor Lahav: "We are now seeing a big wave of binary options firms expanding to 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 and the technology needs to adapt."

Technology panel debates: is MT4 stifling innovation? what do you think? #ifxexpo pic.twitter.com/59yJy3uL2c

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

"Regulation pushes the development of execution and you cant try to get ahead of it", says Andrew Ralich - Talking technology at the #ifxexpo

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

"35% of @saxomarkets revenues come from #mobile, but 90% of traders use multiple devices. Think #netflix" - Talking technology at #ifxexpo????

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

153 steps. 20 minutes. #ifxexpo is closet than ever. #Forex#hongkongpic.twitter.com/vq6DbGEYs3

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

#Bitcoin in #China is not about capital controls @bobbyclee @YourBTCC #ifxexpo pic.twitter.com/orph19zf23

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017

Taking a #selfie with my guru... ✅check! Thank you all for an incredible first day #ifxexpo, see you tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/tARiWUEsXP

— Finance Magnates (@financemagnates) February 22, 2017