Focus Markets

Focus Markets is a relatively new broker, established in Australia in 2019, but it has quickly expanded its presence in the global trading scene. The broker offers a diverse range of products, including over 40 Forex CFD instruments, live Forex pricing on major and minor pairs, and access to commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies. Powered by MetaTrader 5, Focus Markets provides traders with advanced charting tools, automated trading options, and customizable alerts. The broker operates under dual regulation — ASIC in Australia for strict oversight and an offshore SVG entity for more flexible trading conditions. This Focus Markets Review covers all essential aspects, including account types, spreads, swaps, dividends, leverage, and features such as the economic calendar, holiday trading schedule, and deposit and withdrawal options.

Focus Markets:  Summary

Regulation and Safety

Focus Markets runs a split structure. Its Australian business is licensed by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), which is one of the most respected regulators in the forex space. ASIC forces brokers to hold client funds in segregated accounts with top-tier banks, so trading deposits are kept apart from the company’s own operating money. It also requires brokers to submit regular reports and meet strict capital adequacy rules. For traders, this translates to more peace of mind, if something went wrong with the broker itself, your account wouldn’t simply disappear into a hole. Alongside ASIC, Focus Markets also operates out of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The SVG regulator is far lighter in terms of enforcement. The benefit for some traders is flexibility: higher leverage (up to 1:500 or more) and fewer restrictions on who can open an account. The downside is obvious, if you’re registered under SVG, you don’t get the same depth of protection you would under ASIC. Many brokers run this “dual setup” so clients can choose between safety and flexibility, but it’s something you need to be conscious of. Another important safeguard is Negative Balance Protection. This feature ensures your account can’t go below zero. Imagine holding a leveraged trade during a surprise central bank move. If the price gaps heavily against you, the account may be wiped out, but you won’t owe the broker money. It’s a backstop, not a substitute for using stop losses, but it does prevent a bad trade from turning into personal debt. Focus Markets also follows anti–money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) checks, meaning you’ll have to verify your ID and proof of address before funding. Some traders see this as a hassle, but it’s part of keeping accounts secure and compliant. Overall, the broker’s regulation mix is fairly typical of new Australian brokers, a strong domestic licence for credibility, plus an offshore arm to offer leverage and access.

Focus Markets Account Types

Focus Markets keeps things pretty simple. There are two main choices if you want a live account — Standard or Raw. The Standard account doesn’t charge commission. Instead, the cost is built into the spread, which usually starts around one pip. It’s the easier option, good if you’re just starting out with Forex Trading, or if you only place a few trades on things like Commodities Trading or Indices Trading. The Raw account is set up for traders who want tighter pricing. Spreads can drop to zero during busy sessions, but you’ll pay a small commission, roughly $3.50 per side. If you’re active, trading Forex CFD Products often, or using automated systems, this usually works out cheaper. Both types need a $100 minimum to open. You can also test things out first with a free demo account, which runs on live prices without risk. And for clients who can’t pay swaps, Focus Markets offers an Islamic account that’s swap-free.

Spreads, Swaps & Dividends

Costs are one of the first things traders look at, and Focus Markets makes its model clear. On the Standard account, spreads start from about 1 pip on liquid pairs like EUR/USD. On the Raw account, spreads can tighten to 0.0 pips during busy hours, with a small commission added instead. This setup gives you the choice: pay through the spread, or pay through commission. If you hold trades overnight, swaps (financing charges) come into play. These vary depending on the pair, your direction, and market conditions. It’s always worth checking the rates inside the platform if you’re running positions for more than a day. For dividends on share CFDs or index CFDs, adjustments are made around the ex-dividend date. That means your P&L reflects the dividend change, just as if you were holding the underlying stock or index. Many traders forget this, so it’s smart to mark dividend dates on your calendar if you trade equities or indices. Overall, Focus Markets keeps spreads competitive, applies swaps in line with the market, and makes dividend adjustments transparent.

Markets and Instruments

Focus Markets provides traders with access to a wide range of products, allowing you to switch between currencies, commodities, stocks, indices, and crypto without needing to open multiple accounts. Forex Trading is the main offering though. The broker lists more than 40 Forex CFD Products, covering majors like EUR/USD and GBP/USD, minors, and some exotics. MetaTrader 5 allows you to Track Live Forex Prices, so you can stay to-the-second on spreads and volatility in real-time. In Commodities Trading, Focus Markets includes metals such as gold and silver, as well as crude oil and natural gas. Agricultural products are also available, giving traders more ways to diversify. For traders who prefer a broader market exposure, Indices Trading provides access to global benchmark markets, such as the S&P 500, NASDAQ, FTSE 100, and Nikkei. These are popular with day traders who want to trade themes rather than single companies. Share Trading is also on offer, with hundreds of company CFDs drawn from exchanges around the world. Traders get access to both Australian Stocks, and International names, which means everything from US tech giants, to Asian financials. The standout is cryptocurrency Trading as there are over 90 crypto CFDs. That means being able to trade not only Bitcoin and Ethereum, but a larger Access of altcoins. Together, this lineup makes Focus Markets flexible for traders who want choice.

Focus Markets Trading Platforms

Focus Markets runs on MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the newer version of the world’s most popular retail trading platform. By choosing MT5, the broker has skipped over MT4 and gone straight to the more advanced option. MT5 is available on desktop, web, and mobile, so traders can access their accounts wherever they are. The platform is packed with useful tools that allow traders many possibilities. It has sophisticated charting with multiple timeframes, it has more than 80 built-in indicators, and it has drawing tools to help conduct technical analysis. Traders can set alerts, create watchlists, and use one-click trading for fast order execution. Automated trading is also an option with MT5, which helps its popularity with clients who are running strategies or bots, for example. Order flexibility is another plus. Market, limit, stop, and trailing stop orders are all supported. Hedging is allowed, and the platform is designed to handle a broad mix of products from Forex Trading and Commodities Trading to Indices Trading, Share Trading, and Cryptocurrency Trading. For anyone who wants to test strategies first, a demo account is available through MT5, giving access to real-time prices without risking money.

Trading Infrastructure

The execution quality takes its backseat to a broker’s trading infrastructure. Focus Markets provides all clients with access to deep liquidity providers and routes trades through reliable servers, to minimise latency. While this may seem trivial, it matters when sessions are fast-moving and the slightest difference between getting a price and slippage can be a matter of milliseconds. Traders using Forex Trading or Forex CFD Products often notice the benefit during busy overlaps, like London and New York. Orders generally fill smoothly in normal conditions. Of course, no setup removes the impact of big news, so spreads can widen, and you may see slippage on market orders. But outside of those moments, execution is consistent. The MT5 platform also supports one-click trading, hedging, and automated systems, all of which depend on steady infrastructure to work properly. For traders running EAs or scalping strategies, having this backbone in place is crucial. Focus Markets makes a point of highlighting execution speed as part of its offering, which is a good sign for anyone relying on timing.

Trading Statistics

Focus Markets focuses on low pricing, but like with any broker, the real picture comes from your own trading statistics. On the website, you’ll see examples of tight spreads on majors during peak hours, especially on the Raw account. That lines up with what most traders expect when looking at Forex Trading or Forex CFD Products. In practice, the experience can vary. Typically during liquid sessions, fills are relatively smooth, and spreads are often close to what’s advertised. During high-impact events, it is expected for spreads to widen, with commodities trading, such as gold or oil as extreme examples, or while trading cryptocurrencies and during spikes of volatility. On longer-term positions, financing charges (swaps) also increase overtime, so monitoring overnight costs in addition to spreads is important. A smart approach is to track your own numbers over time. Export your MT5 statements and look at your true all-in cost: spreads paid, commissions, swaps, and any slippage on execution. That gives you a clearer sense of whether you’re trading as cheaply as you think. Focus Markets provides the basics, but personal record-keeping is what turns data into an edge.

Exclusive Features

Focus Markets Deposit & Withdrawal Methods

When it comes to funding, Focus Markets keep it simple. The broker accepts the usual deposit & withdrawal methods such as bank transfers, debit and credit cards, and e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller. Depending on your region, some options may be quicker or easier than others, but most traders should have at least one familiar choice. The broker itself doesn’t charge deposit or withdrawal fees, which is a plus. Any extra cost usually comes from your bank or the payment provider. Card and e-wallet deposits tend to be almost instant, while bank transfers can take a couple of working days. Withdrawals are processed only during operating hours and the funds will generally be sent back via the same method you did when you made the deposit. To avoid unnecessary delays, try to keep deposits and withdrawals consistently on the same rail and under the same account name, that way things run easier and will likely avoid compliance checks. For anyone trading actively across Forex Trading, Commodities Trading, or even Cryptocurrency Trading, having fast and reliable transfers is important and Focus Markets does a solid job here.

Education and Research

Focus Markets does provide some learning material, though it’s fairly light. There are a few guides for beginners who want to understand the basics of Forex Trading and platform use, plus the occasional webinar or article with market themes. On the research side, most of the heavy lifting comes from the tools already built into MT5 like indicators, charting, and a live news feed. It’s handy for day-to-day trading, but if you’re after in-depth courses or deep analysis, you’ll probably need outside resources.

Customer Service

Focus Markets runs support on a 24/5 schedule, which is standard for most brokers. Traders can reach the team by live chat, email, or phone. Live chat tends to be the fastest way to get answers, especially for small things like account access or funding questions. Email responses can take longer, usually a few business hours, but they’re detailed when you get them back. The support staffs are proficient in English and, depending on the registration location, the broker is also able to provide support in other languages. Like most brokers, when the markets are busy, response times can be prolonged, but generally customer service has the reliability to resolve issues with minimal issues.