Vantage Scalping

[Karlotta Neifert]

Vantageis a forex and CFD broker that was founded in 2009 and based in Australia. It holds four regulations, including ASIC and FSCA in South Africa, and offers over 940 instruments across different asset classes.

I performed my tests on a Raw ECN account using the desktop and mobile app versions of the MetaTrader 5 platform. I opened an account with the Vantage Global Limited entity of the broker. Some features and services may vary depending on where you reside and which entity you open an account with.

4How Did We Test the Broker's Trustworthiness?How Did We Test the Broker's Trustworthiness?Assessing a broker's trustworthiness with your funds is vital. To help you make the right decision, we carefully checked each broker's regulatory license and examined how well they protect traders. Moreover, we looked at the broker's stability by studying their business history, corporate structure, and industry experience. Finally, we thoroughly reviewed all of the broker's legal documentation, including terms, conditions, and fees, and evaluated their transparency based on our analysis. Our hands-on approach ensures that even novice traders have the knowledge they need to make smart decisions.

In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker. This allows us to compare their different levels of protection. We rank licenses by various regulatory bodies on a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing indicates the highest level of regulation.

Brokers operate multiple entities because it allows them to serve clients worldwide. However, licenses obtained by regulators in different jurisdictions do not always entail the same degree of protection. Some regulators mandate compliance with the strictest financial frameworks, whereas others are less rigid. That is why traders need to familiarize themselves with the safety mechanisms ensured by the entity they want to open an account with beforehand.

Vantage has one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 regulation and complies with most of the essential safety requirements. It has also implemented a tight stop-out and margin call policy. Overall, I assessed the broker to meet the industry safety standards.

In our tests for the Trust category, we also cover factors relating to stability and transparency. Here, we focus on how long the broker has been in business, how big the company is, and how transparent it is in terms of readily available information.

4.4How Did We Test the Broker's Fees and Commissions?How Did We Test the Broker's Fees and Commissions?Broker commissions and fees can be challenging to understand. To simplify this for you, we carefully examined all the broker's fee-related documentation and presented it in a clear, easy-to-understand format. Furthermore, we conducted hands-on tests on spreads and commissions for the most common instruments during both London and New York trading sessions. We then compared these real-time test results to the market benchmark we've established through our extensive experience evaluating the industry.

Deposits and withdrawals are cost-free with Vantage, though third-party banking fees may apply depending on the chosen payment method. The broker does not charge dormant accounts with an inactivity fee.

4.4How Did We Test the Broker's Trading Platforms?How Did We Test the Broker's Trading Platforms?We understand that platforms play a crucial role in your trading experience. That's why we spent many hours testing the broker's web, desktop, and mobile trading platforms to gain a real understanding of their usability, functionality, and overall performance. From experimenting with different order types to testing execution speeds, charting, and other features, we thoroughly examined every aspect of these platforms based on our trading expertise, helping you make an informed choice.

Vantage incorporates the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with the ProTrader platform. MetaTrader affords easy order execution, though its rugged design makes it somewhat difficult to execute probing technical analysis. In comparison, ProTrader features advanced charting capabilities and various tools for market analysis. Vantage also supports copy and automated trading.

4.7How Did We Test the Broker's Tradable Instruments?How Did We Test the Broker's Tradable Instruments?For this section, we examined the broker's market offering, assessing the variety and depth of instruments and asset classes available for trading. Through our proprietary database, we then compared the results with other brokers. This comprehensive analysis allows you to determine if the broker offers the specific instruments and trading options you're looking for.

Vantage provides a diverse portfolio of over 940 instruments spanning various asset classes such as currency pairs, commodities, share CFDs, indices, cryptocurrencies, futures, and ETFs. This extensive range supports the implementation of a broad spectrum of trading strategies.

I appreciated the wide range of cash indices and futures indices. It favors day traders because they can lock in more favorable entries into trades. Additionally, the impressive assortment of more than 50 lower-risk securities allows day and position traders to hedge their longer-term risk and better manage expected and unexpected changes in volatility.

4.7How Did We Test the Broker's Customer Support?How Did We Test the Broker's Customer Support?Traders often underestimate the importance of customer support, yet it proves to be a critical aspect during times of crisis. We put the broker's customer support to the test ourselves using all possible channels, such as chat, phone, and others. Our evaluation focused on the accessibility of live agents, as well as the helpfulness and professionalism of their responses. This way, we provide you with comprehensive insights into whether a broker can deliver full support when you need it most.

Vantage offers multilingual 24/5 support via live chat, email, and phone. The broker incorporates the sophisticated VIVA chatbot, which quickly and effectively answers most types of questions. Getting in touch with a real agent may take up to 10-20 minutes. Vantage also has a pretty exhaustive FAQ section for more general queries.

I conducted my test on 17 January at around 12:39 CET via live chat. After I typed in my name and email address, I was immediately connected to the VIVA chatbot. I found it quite sophisticated and intuitive.

4.9How Did We Test the Broker's Deposit and Withdrawal Process?How Did We Test the Broker's Deposit and Withdrawal Process?The deposit or withdrawal process can be tricky since you may encounter hidden fees or longer than expected processing time. To assess the broker's offerings, we examined their deposit and withdrawal options and conditions. Using our proprietary database, we then compared these results with those of other brokers.

Vantage offers a variety of payment methods, including via bank wire, credit or debit card, multiple e-wallets, and crypto-wallets. The broker does not apply a handling fee on deposits or withdrawals, though third-party banking fees may apply. Processing times vary but generally fall within the norm.

4.9How Did We Test the Broker's Account Types and Terms?How Did We Test the Broker's Account Types and Terms?When it comes to achieving your trading goals, choosing the proper account is essential. We initiated our evaluation by personally opening an account with the broker, which allowed us to gain firsthand experience of the process and accurately asses, how fast and easy it is. In addition, we carried out an in-depth analysis of the account types and features offered by the broker, including spreads, maximum leverage, minimum deposits, and more. For a comprehensive comparison, we turned to our proprietary database and examined how this broker's account offerings and processes stacked up against other brokers.

Vantage provides two retail and one professional account, featuring ECN and STP pricing. It also offers swap-free Islamic accounts. With a minimum deposit of $50 and multiple base currencies, the broker supports various trading strategies. Account opening is quick and easy.

Your account should reflect your goals, needs, and ambitions on the market. You should take into consideration several factors, such as whether the account type has a minimum deposit requirement, its spreads and commissions, the execution method, and more.

The Raw ECN account features the second-best conditions, and its extremely low deposit requirement makes it easily accessible to a wide variety of traders. I found this account type suitable for all kinds of trading strategies.

Although Vantage is registered as a market maker, it primarily sources its liquidity from external entities, specifically banking institutions in the interbank market. Consequently, it functions more like an ECN (Electronic Communication Network) broker, offering its clients raw spreads directly from these external liquidity providers.

ECN brokers utilize electronic execution of client orders since they operate as Over-the-Counter (OTC) derivatives brokers. The advantage of OTC trading over trading on an Exchange is that there is no need for a dealing desk, and client orders are filled much faster.

4.8How Did We Test the Broker's Research Tools?How Did We Test the Broker's Research Tools?Research options offered by brokers may not be seen as the most important feature for some traders, but they can provide a competitive advantage. To assess the broker's research offerings, we personally explored and tested both proprietary and third-party tools and content, such as Fundamental and Technical Analysis, Market News, educational videos, and webinars. After evaluating the availability and quality of the overall research offering, we compared the results with our benchmark to provide a comprehensive analysis of the broker's research capabilities.

The ProTrader basket of tools comprises different features, such as an economic calendar, market buzz, featured ideas, technical insights, and more. The market buzz tracks the number and frequency of social interactions and mentions of various instruments (a market sentiment gauge), which helps traders better understand how and where volatility is likely to increase or decrease.

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