It can be difficult and overwhelming to start finding a reputable broker that you can trade with. Luckily, we have got you covered with this review. Here, we provide an overview of a global brokerage firm called Exante, which is headquartered in Malta. For those interested, be sure to keep reading the review to learn more.
What is Exante?
Established in 2011 by founders Anatoly Knyazev Exante, Alexey Kirienko and Gatis Eglitis, Exante is a multi-licensed investment company that offers direct market access to a wide range of financial instruments through its single multi-asset account. The firm mainly provides bespoke and tailored solutions for professionals in the finance sector, including retail traders and investors, brokers, asset managers, banks, and other financial institutions.
Exante provides two versions of its trading platform – the first is a downloadable version that is available for both desktop and mobile devices. The second is a web-based platform that can be opened directly in a web browser.
Exante’s licenses and regulations
You will be pleased to know that Exante is regulated and licensed in all locations it has offices in, making the firm trustworthy and reputable. In Malta, the company is licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This means Exante can provide financial services to both corporate and retail clients, including for both investing and trading purposes.
In London, Exante is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, while in Hong Kong, it is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. In Cyprus, the investment firm is licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. As Exante is also an EU-based investment firm, it is further subject to MiFID II requirements.
In case you are not aware, MiFID II is a legislative framework that helps to regulate financial markets in the EU and improve protections for investors. It covers virtually every asset and profession within the EU financial services industry. The framework regulates off-exchange and over-the-counter (OTC) trading and increases the transparency of costs alongside improving the record-keeping of transactions. On the whole, MiFID II aims to standardise practices across the EU and restore confidence in the financial industry.
Financial instruments Exante offers
Exante boasts over 600,000 financial instruments and over 50 markets that can be directly accessed through its all-in-one trading account. This means traders can trade in the US, EU, and Asian markets from just a single multi-currency account. The financial instruments that Exante currently offers include stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), currencies, precious metals, bonds, and funds. There are also instruments for derivative traders, including futures and options. Overall, Exante boasts 100% live prices on its official website and has transparent pricing with no account maintenance fees. Commissions are instead only for trading and withdrawals. Traders further have the option of using previously employed instruments as leverage to gain new assets. If a user wants more instruments, you can always contact customer support or your account manager and Exante will add them within 24 hours.
Account types Exante provides
There are a few different account types that Exante provides to its clients. They are the demo account, the individual trading account, and the corporate account. Here, we break down the difference between them.
Demo account
When it comes to a demo account it is exactly what it sounds like. Once you register with Exante, you will automatically open a demo account – meaning no documents are required to gain access. You simply just need to sign up and set a password. The demo account only allows users to paper trade with it, meaning all transactions are entirely risk-free. Instead of providing their own personal funds, traders are offered virtual 1,000,000 EUR that they can use to practice their trading skills and strategies. The amount of the web currency can be adjusted by calling Exante’s customer support team.
As the environment is entirely simulated and virtual, this means traders will not be able to potentially profit from any trades they make. Instead, demo accounts are mainly used by traders to get used to a broker’s trading platform and interface. It is also important to note that Exante’s demo account market data is also delayed by at least 30 minutes.
Individual and corporate accounts
If an individual wants to gain access to live trading, they must first choose whether they want to open an individual or corporate account with Exante. The main difference between the two revolves around their required documents and minimal initial funding.
For those looking to open an individual account, documents that must be provided include proof of identity and proof of residence. Moreover, the minimum initial fund should be equal to or exceed 10,000 EUR/GBP.
For corporate accounts, there are a lot more documents needed. Some include proof of registration, incorporation documents, registered office, proof of active status, and more. The minimal initial funding for this account type should be equal or exceed 50,000 EUR/GBP. While this may seem like a lot, Exante does not have any fixed minimum or maximum transfer limit. This means the deposit can be transferred in parts. Do note that you will only receive access to live trading only once you have reached the minimum deposit requirement for your account type.