Dukascopy Bank stands as an innovative Swiss online banking institution, with its headquarters situated in Geneva, Switzerland. The bank specializes in providing cutting-edge internet-based and mobile trading services, with a strong focus on foreign exchange, CFDs, and binary options. Additionally, the bank offers a wide range of banking and financial services, all supported by their in-house technological solutions.

Dukascopy Bank was established on November 2, 2004, in Geneva by Andre and Veronika Duka, both Swiss nationals residing in Geneva who continue to maintain a 99% ownership stake in the company. Dukascopy Bank is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA both as a bank and a securities firm.

Dukascopy Bank fully owns Dukascopy Europe IBS AS, a European licensed brokerage company based in Riga and Dukascopy Japan, a Type-1 licensed broker located in Tokyo. In addition to its Geneva Headquarters, Dukascopy Bank has offices in Riga, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Currently, Dukascopy Group employs over 300 staff.

The Dukascopy Group primarily offers online and mobile trading services through the SWFX - Swiss FX Marketplace, which is Dukascopy's proprietary ECN (Electronic Communication Network) technological solution and a registered trademark.

What you will get

Dukascopy offers an exceptional trading experience that is worth every trader's attention. With a client-first approach, Dukascopy provides numerous advantages, making them a standout choice for anyone looking to enter the financial markets. Dukascopy's commitment to cost-efficiency is evident through their low spreads, allowing for savings on trading costs. Swift execution ensures obtaining the best possible prices, providing a competitive advantage in trades. Additionally, with deposit protection of up to CHF 100,000, you can trade with peace of mind.

The unique trading platform, JForex4, Dukascopy's proprietary solution, is user-friendly, making trading accessible even for beginners. JForex4 presents over 200 technical indicators and trading widgets to help in staying informed about potential opportunities. With support for minute timeframes like ticks and seconds, it is perfect for scalping. Dukascopy's 19 years of experience and Swiss banking license instill trust and security. With over 1200 instruments, leverage up to 1:200, and 24/7 live trading support, Dukascopy stands as a trusted partner to guide traders through their trading journey. 

Moreover, Dukascopy offers a great feature – detailed historical price feed data makes it easier to develop and test trading strategies. This data covers various financial instruments, helping traders make informed decisions and reducing the risk of price manipulation. Dukascopy's extensive data archive is a useful resource for creating trading strategies, especially for high-frequency trading, and provides practical insights.

With such a comprehensive offering, Dukascopy is the go-to choice for transparent and professional trading services. Make a smart move and open an account today!

Dukascopy regulations 

Dukascopy is strictly supervised and regulated by esteemed regulatory bodies. The regulatory authorities play a pivotal role in ensuring Dukascopy’s compliance with the highest standards of financial and securities industry practices.

Dukascopy's international presence is underlined by its licenses and oversight by regulatory authorities in different parts of the world:

• Dukascopy Bank SA is licensed and regulated as a bank and as a securities firm by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), which is classified as a Tier-1 regulator.

• Dukascopy Europe IBS AS is licensed and regulated by the Bank of Latvia, also recognized as a Tier-1 regulator. 

• Dukascopy Japan K.K. is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Agency of Japan (JFSA), known as a Tier-1 regulator.

These regulatory bodies set specific requirements for Dukascopy, and the company has diligently complied with them since 2004. It is important to note that failure to comply with these requirements could result in the withdrawal of the bank's license. Regular audits are conducted to ensure adherence to Swiss laws. Dukascopy also ensures client security by providing deposit protection for amounts up to CHF 100,000, in line with Swiss financial service provider requirements.

Dukascopy is widely regarded as one of the safest brokerage firms. They maintain strict safety standards and hold official licenses from respected financial regulators. Routine audits by PKF for internal affairs and KPMG for financial records further solidify their commitment to safety and financial integrity.

In summary, Dukascopy's reputation as a trusted and stable entity is due to its adherence to three top-tier regulations, regular audits, stringent safety standards, and a strong commitment to transparency. These qualities make Dukascopy a reputable choice for investors around the world.

Trading terms for Dukascopy clients

Traders opt for Dukascopy due to its well-established reputation for providing a secure trading environment. Dukascopy Bank SA, headquartered in Switzerland, operates under the regulation of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). This regulatory oversight ensures strict adherence to financial standards and secures client accounts up to CHF 100,000.

Dukascopy takes pride in delivering favorable trading terms to its clients. By offering narrow spreads, cost-effective commissions, and access to abundant liquidity from numerous providers, Dukascopy enables traders to execute trades at competitive rates, ultimately increasing their profitability.

Dukascopy also permits traders to select from a range of trading accounts, including Standard, ECN, and Islamic accounts, to suit various trading styles and preferences.

Furthermore, in addition to the widely-used MT4 platform, Dukascopy presents its proprietary JForex4 trading platform, available for both desktop and mobile devices. This platform grants traders the flexibility to monitor and participate in the markets from anywhere, ensuring they never miss a trading opportunity. Dukascopy's JForex4 mobile platform offers real-time quotes, comprehensive order management features, and full account accessibility.

With Dukascopy, you can transfer funds directly from the JForex platform to a multi-currency banking account (MCA), without any associated fees. The MCA account supports various payment methods, including card and cryptocurrency transactions.

What is Swiss Markets？

Swiss Markets, a subsidiary of BDS Swiss Markets Global Services Ltd, is an online forex and CFD broker that has been operational since 2016. It provides investors with various trading assets, including Forex, Metals, Energy, Commodities, and Indices. The company is registered in Mauritius and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC).

Despite being a regulated entity, Swiss Markets has been identified on a list of blocked websites issued by the Ministry of Trade, Indonesia, on February 2, 2022, citing unauthorized commodity futures trading. This is a significant red flag for potential investors considering using their platform.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• It is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC), ensuring it adheres to strict regulatory standards.

• It offers appealing spreads and commissions, which can help traders keep their trading costs low.

• It supports the popular MT4 trading platform, which provides advanced charting tools, automated trading through Expert Advisors (EAs), and a secure trading environment.

• It provides various methods for deposits and withdrawals, offering flexibility and convenience to clients.

Cons:

• It has been marked out on the WikiFx warning list, which can raise concerns about its credibility and reliability. It's always important for traders to do their due diligence when choosing a broker.

Is Swiss Markets safe or scam？

Swiss Markets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC), which generally offers a degree of reassurance that they adhere to specific regulatory standards for fair trading and client transparency. However, despite regulation status, Swiss Markets have been flagged up due to their presence on a warning list issued by WikiFX, a platform providing broker service information and more.

Swiss Markets is part of a list of brokers that have been flagged as potentially dangerous by a regulatory authority. On February 2, 2022, these brokers had an adverse disclosure issued by the Ministry of Trade in Indonesia. This listing blocks several websites due to their participation in illegal commodity futures trading and gambling under the pretense of trading.

The exposures concerning Swiss Markets generally focus on issues related to withdrawals and deceptive practices. Users commonly reported experiencing troubles when trying to withdraw their funds - unexpected fees were sometimes introduced and withdrawals would either take an excessively long time or not be processed correctly, often leading to additional costs. Furthermore, some users also pointed out concerns relating to the handling of deposits and unexpected trade anomalies after depositing significant amounts. The issues were not satisfactorily resolved, even after multiple complaints, casting doubts about the platform's reliability and trustworthiness.

Market Instruments

• Forex: This involves trading in the global currency market, offering a range of currency pairs for trading.

• Metals: This category allows users to trade in precious metals such as gold and silver.

• Energies: Swiss Market clients have the opportunity to trade in energy commodities, including crude oil and natural gas.

• Indices: This platform provides global indices allowing traders to gain exposure to various sectors of different economies.

• Equities: Clients can also opt to trade in equities, providing an opportunity to invest and trade in various company shares.

Account Types

Swiss Markets offers two primary account types, the STP Classic and the STP Raw, both with a minimum deposit of $200. The STP model is a mechanism in the financial market that allows direct trades between buyers and sellers without going through an intermediate exchange or any other form of processing. This implies a non-dealing desk environment where trade orders are automatically processed by the system, eliminating the need for a manual dealing desk.

Leverage

Swiss Markets offers different levels of leverage depending on the account type and the market instrument being traded. For Forex trading, the leverage is quite high - it can go up to 1:500 for the STP Classic account and up to 1:200 for the STP Raw account. For other trading categories, such as Metals, Energies, Indices, and Equities, the leverage is set at 1%, or equivalently a ratio of 1:100. This applies uniformly on both STP Classic and STP Raw account types.

It's important to note that while higher leverage can magnify profits, it can also increase potential losses. Therefore, it should be used judiciously and traders should have a well-thought risk management strategy in place.

Spread & Commission

Swiss Markets operates with two different account types, STP Classic and STP Raw, each with its unique spread and commission structure. They have designed these structures to cater to a diverse range of trading needs.

For the STP Classic account, spreads are set low and no commissions are charged across Forex, Precious Metals, and Energies trading. However, there is a minimal fixed commission for Stock Indices.

Conversely, in the STP Raw account, they offer extremely low or even zero spreads in Forex trading. This tighter spread is also evident in Precious Metals and Energies trading. This lower spread does come with a commission fee. In the case of Stock Indices, like with the STP Classic, spreads are fixed with a small commission charge.

Trading Platforms

Swiss Markets offers the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) trading platform, a comprehensive platform that offers a variety of features to aid traders in executing their strategies, one of the most popular and widely used trading platforms in the world. It's available across multiple devices including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, offering flexibility and convenience to its users.

Deposit & Withdrawal

Swiss Markets offers a diverse range of deposit and withdrawal methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Postepay, Giro Pay, Swift, Sofort, EPS, iDeal, Przelewy24, Skrill, and Neteller. Most methods support various currencies and process deposits immediately. Swift,however, can take 1-4 working days for deposits to process.

When it comes to withdrawals, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, and Swift manage this within 24 hours. Postepay, Giro Pay, Sofort, EPS, iDeal, and Przelewy24 do not support withdrawals.

For a detailed breakdown of the deposit and withdrawal methods, supported currencies and timeframes, clients can refer to the table provided.

Conclusion

Swiss Markets is a broker that is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. They offer broad accessibility with a user-friendly interface, multidimensional trading analysis tools via the MT4 platform, and diverse methods for deposits and withdrawals. They prioritize client fund safety, with a minimum deposit of $200, and ensure swift processing of transactions. However, being flagged on the WikiFx warning list signals the need for users to conduct their own due diligence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How much money do I need to put in to open an account？

A: The minimum deposit for starting a new account is $200.

Q: Is Swiss Markets regulated？

A: Yes, the broker is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC) however recently was flagged by the Ministry of Trade in Indonesia for unauthorized activity.

Q: What trading platform does Swiss Markets use？

A: Swiss Markets uses the MetaTrader 4 platform, under a white-label license.

Q: Why is Swiss Markets on a warning list？

A: The Ministry of Trade in Indonesia listed Swiss Markets on a warning list for illegal commodity futures trading.

Q: How can I contact Swiss Markets？

A: Swiss Markets can be contacted via phone: +44 (20) 36709704; +49 3021446981; +34 (91) 0756974; +357 25262934; Email: support@swissmarkets.com. And online messaging on the website is also available.

Risk Warning

Online trading involves significant risk, and you may lose all of your invested capital. It is not suitable for all traders or investors. Please ensure that you understand the risks involved and note that the information provided in this review may be subject to change due to the constant updating of the company's services and policies.

In addition, the date on which this review was generated may also be an important factor to consider, as information may have changed since then. Therefore, readers are advised to always verify updated information directly with the company before making any decision or taking any action. Responsibility for the use of the information provided in this review rests solely with the reader.