Trading Conditions
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Bringing you an outstanding trading environment
We are dedicated to providing you with the best trading environment and continuous support on every step of your trading journey. We also believe that informed traders make informed decisions and have gathered the below information for your guidance.
Margin Requirements
The current Margin Requirements for Retail Clients are based on the underlying instruments traded, as per ESMA’s product intervention measures, in effect from 1st August 2018. Find out more here.
Tier1FX's Official Notice on ESMA Measures for Retail Clients
Basic terms
Balance (B)
The funds in your account including all deposits, positive swaps and profits from closed trades and less all withdrawals, negative swaps, losses from closed trades and any other commissions/charges.
Equity (E)
Your account balance plus profits or minus loss from currently open trades (unrealized P/L). This is the actual value of your account at any given time and fluctuates with market movement.
E=B +/- Unrealized P/L
Margin (M)
The amount of funds (in your account’s base currency) required to open a trade. M = Position size / L
Margin serves as collateral, ensuring that you can sustain and cover potential losses on your open trades with the funds available in your account.
Margin Level (ML)
The percentage ratio between your account’s Equity and Margin. ML = E / M * 100%
Free Margin (FM)
The funds available for opening new trades. FM = B - E - M
Leverage (L)
The ratio between your own funds and the actual traded position size. E.g 1:50 leverage means that you can buy/sell a currency for 2% of its value.
Margin Requirement Calculation
Margin equals the amount of funds required to open a trade. In account currency terms, this is calculated as Position Value divided by Leverage.
Example:
1 lot EUR/USD
Open Price: 1.16125
Leverage: 1:50
Account Currency: USD
Margin = ((1*100,000) / 50 ) = EUR 2,000 * 1.16125 = USD 2,322.50
* See Orders and Execution - Lot size
Margin Call & Stopout
Stopout Level (Margin Close-Out) is set at 50% of the initial required margin for Retail Clients and 100% for Non-Retail clients. Margin Call level is 100% for all clients.
Once Margin Level reaches or falls below the Stopout Level, the system will automatically begin to close your open positions, starting from the most unprofitable
Tier1FX does not make actual margin calls. Nevertheless, for better protection of your funds, we have set a Margin Call level of 100%. Once it is reached, you would not be able to open new trades, unless for hedging.
Managed accounts that have set up an EPM, are also subject to this general Stopout Level.
In volatile, fast-moving markets, Margin Level may suddenly drop below the Stopout Level. In such instances, a stopout may occur at a lower percentage.
PLEASE NOTE:
Despite our best efforts to to offer better protection of your assets via the automated Stopout Level and EPM functionality for managed accounts, please remember that it is client’s responsibility to monitor their accounts at all times and keep them appropriately capitalised. For further details, please refer to the Tier1FX Client Agreement (p.3) and Annex I. Risk Disclosure (p.31).
Tips to better protect your investments
Monitoring your account at all times
Setting Stop Loss on your trades
Using lower leverage
Trading with caution during important market news
Keeping your account within a reasonable exposure
Setting up your own EPM (managed accounts clients only)
Our certified DMA/STP Market execution guarantee:
Fair and transparent market conditions
Pure Agency Model, no dealer intervention
No re-quotes, only real market pricing
Ultra-fast, fully-automated and reliable direct-to-market execution
Server cross-connection with leading VPS provider Beeks Financial Cloud
Key Facts
Pricing and Spread
As a STP broker, Tier1FX offers you direct market access, ensuring the most competitive and transparent pricing and spreads. See our live quotes and average spreads here.
Limit and Stop Orders
Placed as close as 0.1 pips away from market price
Types:
Pending Orders:
Buy Limit, Sell Limit, Buy Stop and Sell Stop
Stop Loss
Take Profit
Please note that such proximity to market price may lead to your Stop/Limit order to be triggered instantly. As Tier1FX offers market execution, SL and TP can only be set once the trade has been filled.
Lot Size
For a full list of asset classes and details per instrument, please see Contract Specifications
- 1 standard lot (“lot”, 1.00 on MT4) equals:
FX= 100,000 units of the base currency
CFDs: 1 contract of the CFD
- Min: FX & Commodities = 0.01; CFDs = 1.00
- Max: FX = 50 lots; Oil and Natural Gas = 20 lots: CFDs = 1,000 lots
- Max number of open trades: no limitations, subject to Internal Risk Assessment
Expert Advisors (EAs)
EAs are allowed on both MT4 and JForex platforms. As JForex is a Java based platform, EAs applied to JForex accounts need to be in Java programing language.
Choosing, evaluating, using and monitoring an EA is entirely at client’s own discretion and should not be in violation of Tier1FX Trading Rules and Regulations.
For more details on Tier1FX EA Policy, please read here.
Scalping
Scalping strategies are allowed
There are no limitations on the number of trades placed and on the number of pips in profit/loss.
Pending orders, SL and TP can be placed as close to market as 0.1 pips.
Note: Tier1FX does not allow arbitrage.
Hedging
You can hedge your position at any time, as long as your Free Margin is positive (Margin Level>100%).
When all positions are fully hedged, the Margin Requirement will be zero.
Please note however that even if your positions are fully hedged, you are still responsible for the spread cost and a stopout can still be triggered.
News Trading
Our fast and reliable execution, direct access to market liquidity and outstanding technology allow for an appropriate trading environment for the news trader.
While Tier1FX imposes no limitations on news trading, please remember that due to high market volatility during (and shortly before and after) major economic releases, news trading carries a high level of risk. Please note that while we endeavour to provide fast and flawless execution, high market volatility may cause slippage (orders may get filled at a price, other than the one specified) and may lead to excessive losses.
Leverage
Leverage represents the ratio between the funds required to open a trade and the actual size/cost of that trade. For example, 1:50 leverage means that you can buy/sell a currency for only 2% of its value, i.e. in order to buy 1 lot EURUSD or 100,000 EUR, you only require 2% margin, or 2,000EUR.
Leverage Schedule
Tier1FX offers leverage based on the Client’s Categorization in terms of MiFID II* and ESMA* (the European Securities and Markets Authority)’s product intervention measures relating to contracts for differences, as follows:
Client Categorization
Retail Clients
Tiered leverage, based on the underlying instrument traded**
1:30
for major currency pairs - pairs which include 2 of the following: EUR, USD, GBP, CAD, CHF, JPY
1:20
for non-major currency pairs, gold (XAUUSD) and major indices; (UK100, FRA40, GER40, US30, US500, JPN225, AUS200, EUSTX50, NAS100)
1:10
for commodities other than gold and for non-major equity indices
1:2
for CFDs on Cryptos (XBT/USD, XBN/USD, XET/USD, XLC/USD, XRP/USD)
Retail Clients
Electing to be treated as Professional
1:100
Max. Leverage
1:2
for CFDs on Cryptos (XBT/USD, XBN/USD, XET/USD, XLC/USD, XRP/USD)
All Other Clients
1:200
Max. Leverage
1:2
for CFDs on Cryptos (XBT/USD, XBN/USD, XET/USD, XLC/USD, XRP/USD)
PLEASE NOTE:
* For details on MiFID II Client Categorization, please refer to our Client Categorization Statement. For Tier1FX Official Notice on ESMA Measures for retail clients, please see here.
For further assistance, please contact us at support@tier1fx.com
** While daily statements may indicate account leverage of 1:33, please note that this is only a general setting of the account. The actual leverage is assigned and calculated per instrument and based on the ratios stated above.
Important: Tier1FX may need to adopt temporary leverage restrictions during times of extreme market volatility, major economic events or other circumstances. Such restrictions shall be duly communicated to all clients via email and published on our website.
Rollover
Rollover (swap) is the interest paid or earned for holding a position overnight. Remember, as Forex currencies are traded in pairs, you are simultaneously buying one currency and selling the other: for example, when you trade EUR/USD, you are buying EUR and selling USD.
If the interest rate of the currency you are buying (in this case EUR) is higher than the interest rate of the currency you are selling (in this case USD), you would earn interest and positive Rollover will be applied to your account. If the opposite is true and the interest rate of the currency you bought is lower than the interest rate of the currency you sold, you would pay interest (negative Rollover will be charged to your account).
Rollover rates are updated and applied daily at 21:00 GMT
Swaps applied on Wednesday at 21:00 GMT are multiplied by three (3), in order to compensate for the weekend. This is so, as Forex spot transactions settle two (2) business days from the date of the actual trade. Triple swap for CFDs is applied on Friday.
Some instruments do not have triple swap and subject to National Holidays in the respective country or volatile market conditions, the day on which triple swap is applied or swap amount itself, may change.
Rollover rates are updated weekly on our website and are expressed in USD per 1 standard lot. See a full list of swap rates per instrument here.
Forex
| INSTRUMENT | TRADING HOURS (SERVER TIME)* |
|---|---|
| All FX MT4 | Mon-Fri and Daily: 00:10 - 23:55 |
| All FX JForex | Mon-Fri: 00:00 - 24:00 |
| Cryptos | Mon-FRI AND DAILY: 00:10 - 23:55 |
Important: Trading hours may change from time to time or subject to National Holidays or unexpected liquidity circumstances. Please make sure to check our website for notifications on changes of trading hours.
* Server time can be viewed as GMT+2 from autumn to spring and GMT+3 from spring to autumn (subject to Daylight Saving Time). 00:00h Server Time corresponds to 17:00h EST.
Metals
| INSTRUMENT | TRADING HOURS (SERVER TIME)* |
|---|---|
| XAU/USD | MON-Fri and Daily: 01:05 - 23:55 |
| XAG/USD | MON-Fri and Daily: 01:05 - 23:55 |
| XTI/USD | MON-Fri and Daily: 01:05 - 23:55 |
| XNG/USD | MON-Fri and Daily: 01:05 - 23:55 |
| XBR/USD | MON-Fri and Daily: 03:05 - 23:55 |
Important: Trading hours may change from time to time or subject to National Holidays or unexpected liquidity circumstances. Please make sure to check our website for notifications on changes of trading hours.
* Server time can be viewed as GMT+2 from autumn to spring and GMT+3 from spring to autumn (subject to Daylight Saving Time). 00:00h Server Time corresponds to 17:00h EST.
CFDs
| INDEX | TRADING HOURS (server Time) | DAILY BREAK TIME (server time) |
|---|---|---|
| EUSTX50 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 18:25h - 18:40h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| GER40 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| SPA35 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 18:25h - 18:40h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| SWI20 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 18:25h - 18:40h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| UK100 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 18:25h - 18:40h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| JPN225 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 08:55h - 09:10h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| US30 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 22:55h - 23:10h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| US500 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 22:55h - 23:10h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| NAS100 | MARKET OPENS AT 01:00 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:55 FRIDAY | 22:55h - 23:10h & 23:55h - 00:10h DAILY |
| UKOIL | MARKET OPENS AT 03:15 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:45 FRIDAY | 23:45h - 03:15h DAILY |
| USOIL | MARKET OPENS AT 03:15 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:45 FRIDAY | 23:45h - 03:15h DAILY |
| USBKT*** | MARKET OPENS AT 03:15 ON MONDAY AND CLOSES AT 23:45 FRIDAY | 23:45H - 03:15H DAILY |
Important:
- Trading hours may change, subject to National Holidays or unexpected liquidity circumstances. Please make sure to check our website for notifications on changes of trading hours.
- For better protection against adverse market moves and volatility during market open and close, Tier1FX has introduced a daily trading break for all MT4 instruments, during which pricing and trading is not available:
FX: from 23:55h until 00:05h
XAGUSD, XAUUSD, XTIUSD & XNGUSD: 23:55h until 01:05h
XBRUSD: 23:55h until 03:05h
CFDs: please refer to table above
Nevertheless, some pairs may still experience thin liquidity conditions during certain market hours.
* Server time can be viewed as GMT+2 from autumn to spring and GMT+3 from spring to autumn (subject to Daylight Saving Time). 00:00h Server Time corresponds to 17:00h EST.
** Most JForex pairs are tradable without interruption, however, some have trading breaks and might be interrupted due to liquidity limitations during Off Market Hours.
*** Not available to retail clients.