MetaTrader India

Without any official announcement or promotions eToro has recently soft launched the MT4 platform. While to some it may sound trivial as it’s another broker adding the popular MT4 to the list of its platforms – however in case of eToro it’s not trivial at all.

Unlike prevailing majority of forex brokers eToro was established as a venture capital funded start-up with its proprietary platform in the center. Instead of taking a readily available solution eToro went ahead and developed its own platform upon which it continues development of core features such as the successful OpenBook. For a start-up solely focused on its platform to start offering another platform is far from being obvious and it’s a sign for a major shift in eToro’s way of thinking and positioning.

eToro is here completing a transition from a start-up forex firm into a full blow forex brokerage with the purpose of making its shareholders happy regardless of the technology being used.

eToro in my opinion is doing this for two reasons: first one is the transition from a forex broker which is predominantly marketing to entry level traders using a very simplified platform to a broker catering to all kinds of forex traders – simple or sophisticated. Those long enough in the market will remember the first eToro platform with the simplified gaming interface – for instance graphic animated representation of countries pulling a rope symbolizing a currency pair going in one direction or the other. eToro started transitioning from that gaming interface long time ago realizing that while it is attractive to forex newbies it’s a turn-off for the sophisticated part of the trading public.

The other reason is that eToro has grown quite a lot and now has the market positioning to attract traders who specifically demand MT4. Adding MT4 now will not threaten the very basis on which eToro was founded – its platform. Adding MT4 will add more prestige, larger traders (eToro’s traders are typically not very large in size, albeit OpenBook is changing that) and ultimately volume.

MT4 will eventually help eToro better position itself as a forex broker capable of catering to all types of clients and potentially increase its growth at the expense of smaller MT4 shops which don’t have value adding features Etoro has such as OpenBook and others.

For now eToro’s MT4 is not directly available from its website but needs to be requested from your account’s manager. eToro’s MT4 is rumored to be supplied by Boston Technologies.

Source: www.forexmagnates.com

This is probably one of the biggest news this year: Saxo Bank, one of the largest global forex brokers, has just acquired a 25% stake in Leverate, one of the largest MT4 and other forex software and integration providers. Details were not disclosed but my sources tell me that Saxo bought 25% of the company for $12.5 million which were probably part investment in the company and part payout to existing shareholders. This is no doubt a pretty steep valuation for a company making about $4-5 million in income a year (not sure on the Net bottom line). But this is also a strategic investment and acquisition of technology in the longer term.

Knowing how Saxo works (EuroInvestor portal two-step acquisition) I’m pretty sure Saxo inserted a clause which will allow it to take control/buy majority in the company upon achieving certain milestones.

This of course brings out the very important question – what’s next for Leverate? After all Saxo is buying here a company which is currently providing services to dozens other competitors. Having a major broker owning a large portion of it shares will certainly have an affect on its day to day operations. Saxo tends to make strategic, not just financial, investments meaning that in the longer term Saxo would probably want Leverate to become its in-house MT4 servicing team. Saxo was in the lookout for a MT4 provider for a long time and has now decided not to just pay for outsourced MT4 service but actually buy a part of that provider. Leverate will certainly be the one to launch Saxo’s imminent MT4 offering.

For now this changes little for current Leverate’s clients however if Saxo indeed will increase its stake in Leverate this may pose some serious issues for Leverate’s existing clients – will they be happy to continue working with a company affiliated with a major competitor? Answer to this will be revealed in the longer term.

Saxo and Leverate declined to comment but will certainly issue a public statement in the coming days shedding more light on this acquisition.

Source: www.forexmagnates.com

Five Reasons To Choose Metatrader 4 As Your Forex Trading Platform

Metatrader 4 is increasingly becoming one of the most popular Forex Trading Platforms available to traders. Due to its popularity it is increasingly offered being offered by Forex brokers. Brokers are increasingly only offering the Metatrader 4 trading platform to clients.

Here we give five reasons for using Metatrader 4 as your trading platform.

1.  The platform is provided by brokers for free

The platform itself can be downloaded from a broker for free. You can access the platform for free by setting up a demo account with a Metatrader 4 Forex brokers. This enables you to test out the platform and get used to its functionality without the requirement to open a live account. When you are ready to start trading live on the platform you can just contact your broker.

2. Metatrader 4 is a complete Forex Trading Portal
The Metatrader trading platform supports a range of chart types in including bar, line and candle charts. The premium charts offer real time price updates and can display data in multiple timeframes for each currency pair. Most brokers will also supply upto the minute news feeds in to the platform. This makes the platform a total trading platform.

3. The trading platform is provided with a range of trading indicators
The dealing platform has a wide range of trading indicators supplied. These include a range of both simple and advanced Forex trading indicators. These update in real time and across multiple timeframes. A huge range of additional indicators can be found on the internet. The ability to create your personal indicators is also catered for via the supplied coding interface.

4. Metatrader 4 Forex Brokers allow Scalping and Hedging Strategies
The platform supports the use of a wealth of Expert advisor trading strategies. These are complete trading strategies which provide both trade entry and exit signals. There are many commercial and free EA’s that can easily be installed into the platform. This makes it easy to trade specific strategies and has proved popular with traders looking to increase their returns.

5. Metatrader 4 is a common platform
This makes it simple to move indicators and strategies between Forex brokers . It also makes it easy to share templates and Expert advisors across different broker accounts. This also makes the process of switching broker simple as you can simply copy your indicators and templates from one installation of Metatrader 4 to another.

Source: www.forex.knowforfree.com

Forex Magnates Q2 2011 Report is now available – the most complete forex brokers volume survey ever accomplished inside

Forex Magnates Q2 2011 Report is now available. Following the success of the Q1 2011 Report the current report is now double size and includes some of the most important information for veteran and beginning brokers out there. Q1 report price has now been decreased to $150.

The Q2 2011 Report includes:

• The most extensive retail forex volumes survey ever assembled ($237 Billion in daily volume).
• Spotlight on the world’s largest forex brokers.
• The first ever forex media websites traffic survey.
• Binary Options market snapshot.
• Forex sponsorships in sports, what are these companies spending and are they seeing any returns?
• Detailed overview of the Indian, Japanese and Australian retail forex markets including interviews with local market participants.
• List of all service providers to help you start, grow and improve your brokerage.
• And much more.

Please click here to obtain your copy of the Q2 2011 Forex Magnates Retail Forex Market Report.

A preview of the report is available here and is embedded below.

Source: www.forexmagnates.com

“Direct Currency Markets is pleased to announce the launch of global currency trading services via www.DCMforex.com. Extensive market research identified the need for a transparent, conflict free, institutional level service provider to the growing online currency trading marketplace. Like many traders, we have also experienced first hand the pitfalls and true cost of inconsistent, questionable trade execution practices provided by many forex brokers that operate in the global market today,” commented Founding Directors, Mr. Nicholas Dujov and Mr. Steven Buzzo.

Until relatively recently, true Direct Market Access trading has only been available to larger institutions and investment funds. With advanced technologies provided by Currenex and Metaquotes Software Corp., all trading clients can trade with confidence benefit from DCM’s transparent, conflict free dealing services.

Direct Currency Markets always delivers 100% automated and 100% streaming, executable pricing from top tier banking institutions around the world. All client trades are executed automatically in real time as they occur. This ensures no dealer or human intervention and no requotes ever, automating all trade execution processes, especially during peak trading times when many brokers simply fail to perform.

“Traders can test DCM’s superior trade execution services with no risk and trade in a real live market environment with virtual money. Both new and experienced traders are welcome and all valued clients receive the same level of superior service we pride ourselves in providing,” added Managing Director, Mr. Nicholas Dujov.

The DCM Direct MetaTrader 4 platform configuration integrates seamless Currenex liquidity, providing real time execution of all client trade orders, faster order fills and less slippage in all market conditions.

“Direct Currency Markets is supported by a comprehensive network infrastructure which ensures around the clock reliability and stability. The DCM Direct MetaTrader 4 integration was developed by Metaquotes Software Corp. specifically for Currenex, not third party software vendors, resulting in the most advanced MetaTrader 4 configuration available in the market,” added the Directors.

Source: www.broadcastnewsroom.com