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Often compared to platinum, palladium is a precious metal largely found in Russia, South Africa, the U.S. and Canada. Palladium has a variety of uses in several industries, including the jewelry, dentistry and electrical industries, but its most widespread application consists of the manufacture of catalytic converters for the automotive industry. Palladium stocks can be a great investment.

Catalytic converters control exhaust emissions to minimize the pollutants expelled by automobile engines. Because of palladium’s use in catalytic converters, one of the principal drivers of the market for palladium and palladium stocks is automobile production. A whopping 84% of global palladium annual demand comes from the automotive industry, so palladium tends to appreciate when car sales are high.

Despite the initial slowdown in automotive sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for palladium for other uses and the increasing difficulty in sourcing the precious metal has been a key factor in palladium’s recent notable price rise.

Furthermore, according to Statista, 75% of all mined palladium comes from Russia and South Africa, so natural disasters and geopolitical events in those countries could substantially affect global supplies of palladium and hence its price. For example, a contributing factor to the recent sharp rise in palladium prices was the announcement in March 2021 that Russia’s top producer Nornickel experienced flooding at its mines that would reduce its palladium output.

5 Best Palladium Stocks to Invest in

Here are Benzinga’s top picks for the best palladium stocks to invest in right now.

1. Sibanye Stillwater (NYSE: SBSW)

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Weltevreden Park, South Africa, Sibanye-Stillwater Limited is an international precious metals mining concern with global operations in North and South America and Southern Africa. The company’s diverse portfolio of operations include gold mining operations in South Africa, as well as PGM mining operations in Zimbabwe, Canada and Argentina. Sibanye-Stillwater’s mining operations also generate valuable by-products, including iridium, ruthenium, copper, nickel and chrome. The miner owns the Stillwater and East Boulder mines in Montana that are the only palladium mines in the United States.

2. Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX:IVPAF)

Vancouver, Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines Ltd explores, develops and recovers PGMs, other metals and minerals. Mostly operating in Africa, the company owns a 100% interest in the Western Foreland exploration project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and also has holdings in South Africa. Ivanhoe Mines has also partnered with a Japanese consortium and others to own the recently-discovered Platreef project that has substantial deposits of palladium, platinum, rhodium, gold, copper and nickel. In addition, the mining company is involved in upgrading the historic Kipushi mine that is also located in the DRC. At current levels, IVPAF stock qualifies for Benzinga’s stocks under $10 list.

3. Anglo American Platinum (OTCPK:ANGPY)

The world’s leading producer of PGMs, Anglo American Platinum offers complete resource-to-market services including providing mined, recycled and traded products to its global network of customers. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company’s PGM products include palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium. The company’s operations span the globe with offices in Europe, North and South America, China, Finland and South Africa. Anglo American is also the world’s leading global recycler and processor of used and spent PGM catalytic converter materials.

4. New Age Metals (OTCQB:NMTLF)

Formerly known as Pacific Northwest Capital Group, New Age Metals Inc. was founded in 1996 and is involved in the exploration and development of PGM, precious metal and base metal mining properties in Canada. The Vancouver, Canada-based company has a 100% interest in the River Valley Palladium project in the Dana and Pardo townships of Northern Ontario, as well as in the Genesis polymetallic project in Southcentral Alaska. New Age Metals also has interests in 8 lithium projects northwest of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

5. Platinum Gr Metals (AMEX:PLG)

Involved in the exploration and development of palladium and platinum properties, Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is based in Vancouver, Canada, and was incorporated in 2000. The company’s main focus is on properties in South Africa, including a 50% interest in the Waterberg project on the Western Bushveld complex. In addition to its mining and exploration projects, the company develops next-generation battery technology using palladium and platinum. At its current price level, PLG stock qualifies for Benzinga’s stocks under $5 list.

What are Palladium Stocks?

Palladium is the rarest and currently most valuable of the precious metals and has a silvery- white, shiny appearance in its natural form. The chemical element palladium has the symbol Pd and atomic number of 46.

Palladium was discovered by the English chemist William Hyde Wollaston in 1803. Wollaston isolated palladium after dissolving platinum in a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid and then noticing a second metal was left behind. Wollaston named it palladium after the asteroid Pallas that was discovered in 1802, which was named after Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, useful arts and prudent warfare. 

Palladium has the least density and lowest melting point of the platinum group metals (PGMs) that include rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium and platinum. Palladium is most notably used in automobile catalytic converters, as well as in groundwater treatment, various chemical applications, medicine, dentistry, hydrogen purification, electronics and jewelry. 

Approximately 40% of palladium production comes from Russian mines, and other major palladium mines can be found in South Africa. The Stillwater mine in Montana remains the only palladium mine in the U.S, while the Lac des Iles mine in Ontario is the only palladium mine in Canada. 

The price of palladium now trades at the $2,850 per troy ounce level and has almost tripled since 2018 when it traded under $1,000 per troy ounce. Palladium stocks have also rallied significantly recently despite the slowdown in the gas-powered automotive industry.  

Features to Look for in Palladium Stocks

Here are the top features to look for in the best palladium stocks.

Type of Miner 

Palladium mining stocks can be junior mining operations or major miners.

Junior miners: This type of miner depends on feasibility studies and subsequent actions after a study. If the study has positive results, the junior miner’s stock tends to appreciate considerably. Most junior miners sell the mines and stock before the end of the project and cash in on the efforts. 

Major miners:  Major miners consist of miners that have ongoing operations and depend on established mines for  palladium production. Major miners tend to be better capitalized, and the stock prices reflect this.

Fundamentals 

As in other companies that issue stock, the fundamentals of the company can make a difference in the stock’s capital appreciation. If the company currently makes money, how much debt is on its books, as well as its future prospects could indicate whether the stock’s price will rise in the future. A stock’s earnings per share and other fundamentals provide a good indication of whether a stock will perform. 

Partnerships 

Since most palladium is mined in Russia and South Africa, the relationship the company has with foreign companies that lease or allow access to its mines could be an important factor in the success of the company. Also, geopolitical tension could affect production, so it’s an important consideration when picking a palladium mining stock. 

Best Online Brokers for Palladium Stocks

Benzinga’s palladium stock picks include foreign stocks that you can trade through American Depository Receipts (ADRs) that allow you to own foreign stocks in the United States. ADRs generally trade either over the counter (OTC) or on a major stock exchange. 

Make sure you check with your brokerage firm to see if it has access to the palladium stocks you wish to invest in, especially if the broker will need to fill orders in the OTC market for you to trade the OTC stocks on our list. 

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Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

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Leveraged Trading

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81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 is an online CFD broker focusing on contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. 

Plus500 doesn’t charge commission and only profits off the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price of a specific security. But Plus500 is not a broker for beginners — the education materials are sparse and CFDs are risky derivatives capable of sapping out all of an investor’s capital. Only trade these instruments if you understand how they operate and the risks involved with buying them.

The Plus500 CFD platform is for CFDs. The Plus500 Futures platform offers futures for U.S. customers, and Plus500 Invest offers stock trading.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Great mobile app
• Low spreads and commissions
• Unlimited demo account
• Plus500 offers three platforms: Plus500 Futures, Plus500 Invest and Plus500 CFD.

Cons

• Only derivatives are available
• Futures are available to U.S. residents while CFDs are not available for U.S. residents.

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Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

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Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

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Active Short Sellers

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TradeZero is an online broker and free stock trading platform that provides everything you need to successfully share and trade, including round-the-clock customer support. TradeZero provides four different trading state-of-the-art software programs with its services, a locator for sourcing shares for shorting, commission-free trades, and real-time streaming, to name a few of the features promoted on their website. The software is a unique and (potentially) affordable option for anyone interested in stock trading.

Best For

• Traders seeking high transparency and mobility in a stock trading program
• Those attracted to commission-free trades
• Those seeking a free version of a high-quality trading program

Pros

• 24/7 live customer support
• Uses ZeroWeb technology, a powerful level 2 online platform with direct market access
• Mobile app allows users to access stocks and trade in real-time while on the go

Cons

• Enforces Pattern Day Trading restrictions (accounts need to maintain a daily equity balance of at least $25k)
• Mobile app could offer more features

Is Now a Good Time to Buy Palladium Stocks?

The stocks listed above have already seen some pretty hefty gains recently, with PLG stock increasing by +161% over the last year alone as an example. NMTLF is the only penny stock on this list, and it has also shown considerable gains of 173% over the last year. 

Most of these selected palladium stocks have risen significantly during the past 12 months due in part to an acute supply shortage in palladium, which is still one of the rarest of the precious metals with diverse uses that continue to increase with time. 

Prudent investors might therefore want to wait for a pullback in palladium stocks, or the stock market in general, although these stocks still probably represent a good overall long-term investment due to palladium’s scarcity and ongoing industrial uses. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Related content:

• BEST COPPER STOCKS
• BEST PLATINUM STOCKS

The post Best Palladium Stocks by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Invest in the best copper stocks and the rest of the stock market with Interactive Brokers.

Considered a “native metal” due to its natural occurrence in nature as a usable metal, copper has been used by humans for thousands of years. Copper was also the first metal to be smelted from sulfide ores, the first metal to be cast into a mold and the first metal to be alloyed with another metal.  That’s a great reason to learn more about copper stocks.

Copper has unusually high thermal and electrical conductivity, which has made the metal ideal for electrical applications. As a result, copper has multiple uses in the emerging electrical vehicle (EV) industry including in charging stations, vehicles and other EV products and applications. Copper is also a constituent of various metal alloys and is used as a building material. 

Because of its useful qualities, copper can be found in just about any device that relies on electricity, so demand for copper tends to rise when the economy expands. As the global economy emerges from the slump driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of copper and its derivative products have increased based on higher anticipated consumption. 

In addition, expectations of future inflation as a result of stimulus measures taken over the last year have risen, which can boost the price of hard assets like copper. This could make investing in copper mining stocks a prudent choice, both as an inflation hedge and for capital appreciation. Benzinga’s picks for the best copper stocks to invest in are highlighted below.  

5 Best Copper Stocks to Invest in

1. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX)

Phoenix, Arizona-based Freeport-McMoRan was originally incorporated in 1987 and is one of the world’s largest producers of copper. The company is a leading international mining company that specializes in the operation of large, geographically diverse and long-lived assets with notable probable and proven reserves of gold, copper and molybdenum.

The company’s extensive list of assets includes significant mining operations like the Morenci mineral district in Arizona, the Cerro Verde operation in South America and the Grasberg mineral district in Indonesia. The company also recently completed its Lone Star project in Arizona that is expected to produce approximately 200 million pounds of copper per year that will augment the 600 million pounds produced annually at its Cerro Verde operation.

2. Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK)

Founded in 1951 and based in Vancouver, Teck Resources is one of Canada’s leading mining companies. Teck develops mining and mineral properties primarily in North and South America. The company is organized into different segments focused on steelmaking and on mining coal, zinc, copper, lead, molybdenum, silver and other specialty metals.

Teck’s copper operations include the Highland Valley Copper mine in British Columbia, the Carmen de Andacollo copper mine in central Chile and the Quebrada Blanca copper mine in northern Chile. Teck also has an impressive pipeline of other copper projects in different stages of development.

3. COPPER MTN MNG CORP by Copper Mountain Mining Corp. (OTCPK:CPPMF)

Vancouver, Canada-based Copper Mountain Mining Corp. was founded in 2006 and specializes in exploring and developing mineral properties in Canada and Australia. As its flagship asset, the company owns 75% of the Copper Mountain mine in southern British Columbia that produces more than 100 million pounds of copper per year.

Copper Mountain is also in the development stage of its Eva Copper Project in Queensland, Australia. The Eva project is expected to add another 100 million pounds of copper to the company’s annual production. Copper Mountain is also developing a 210,000-hectare mining parcel in the Mount Isa region of Australia. As a copper company, it follows the global trends in copper production and the copper market.

4. First Quantum Minerals (OTCPK:FQVLF)

Vancouver, Canada-based First Quantum Minerals was founded in 1996 with the acquisition of the Bwana Mkubwa mining project in Ndola, Zambia. The miner has since grown to become one of the world’s top 10 copper producers and now operates worldwide with more than 20,000 employees.

First Quantum’s operating mines include Cobre Panama in Panama; the Enterprise, Sentinel and Kansanshi mines in Zambia; Guelb Moghrein in Mauritania; the Las Cruces mine in Spain; the Cayeli mine in Turkey; the Ravensthorpe mine in Australia; and the Pyhasalmi mine in Finland. Projects under development include the Taca Taca mine in Argentina and the Haquira mine in Peru.

5. Solaris Resources (OTCQB:SLSSF)

Originally named Solaris Copper, the Vancouver, Canada-based company changed its name to Solaris Resources in December 2019. Solaris is managed by the Augusta Group that has a track record of creating over CA$4.5 billion in exit transactions over the last 10 years.

Solaris Resources’ focus is on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties, primarily in South America. The company’s largest mining asset is the Warintza property that covers 26,777 hectares in southeastern Ecuador. Other assets Solaris has an interest in include the Ricardo and Tamarugo properties in Chile and the Paco Orco project in Peru.

What are Copper Stocks?

Copper — a soft, ductile, malleable red-hued metal that is one of the most versatile and widely used metals of the modern era — was the first metal to be used by humans.  

Copper is also widely used in the minting of coins and in industrial machinery such as heat exchangers. Copper salts have historically been used as pigments, while other copper compounds have been used as bacteriostatic agents and fungicides. Copper is also an essential mineral for all living organisms and is found in humans primarily in the liver, muscles and bones. 

Because of copper’s use in infrastructure and construction, the price of copper is heavily influenced by the strength of the housing market and the growth rate of countries classified as emerging markets. Unlike other precious metals that mainly tend to appreciate in times of uncertainty, copper prices also increase in thriving economies, which makes copper stocks an attractive investment for market optimists.  

Features to Look for in a Copper Stock

Here are a few factors to look for in the best copper stocks.

Proven Assets and Production

Because of the amount of copper available worldwide, most copper miners rely on their current and future production for an accurate evaluation of the company. For example, Freeport-McMoRan is one of the best stocks on our list because it operates large mining assets that have been proven to contain substantial reserves of copper and other valuable metals. Copper production, then, is an easy way to buy into this base metal instead of buying copper on the precious metals market.

Fundamentals 

As with any publicly traded company, the underlying fundamentals of the company have a strong bearing on whether its stock will appreciate in the future. A company’s operating income, revenue, debt burden and capital expenditures all make a difference and are reflected in the company’s stock price. Check if the stock pays a dividend and look at its earnings per share as useful fundamental indicators of the company’s overall financial health that should be taken into account when investing. In addition, geopolitical and natural disasters in the location of a company’s mines could significantly affect its stock price due to expectations of reduced production. If a copper producer in which you invest is losing value or the share price is not performing, don’t be afraid to exit that position.

Partnerships 

While copper reserves can be found in the U.S., most large copper mines are located in South America. To obtain an interest in a foreign mining asset, companies must generally either obtain the approval of the government of the country where the mine is located or partner with a company located in that country that has or can buy the asset. 

Best Online Brokers for Copper Stocks

Two of Benzinga’s copper stock picks (FCX and TECK) trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and can be traded through any major U.S. stock broker. The other three stocks (CPPMF, FQVLF and SLSSF) trade in the over-the-counter (OTC) market, so you should check that your broker lets you access that market if you are interested in trading them. 

Choosing mining stocks should come with advisor tools that make your life easier, information on each mining company, price targets and even information on copper prices on the worldwide market. When you choose the proper broker, you can more easily enter the copper market.

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Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Leveraged Trading

Overall Rating

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get started securely through Plus500’s website

More Details

Disclosure: 81% of retail accounts lose money

Best For

Leveraged Trading

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1 Minute Review

81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 is an online CFD broker focusing on contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. 

Plus500 doesn’t charge commission and only profits off the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price of a specific security. But Plus500 is not a broker for beginners — the education materials are sparse and CFDs are risky derivatives capable of sapping out all of an investor’s capital. Only trade these instruments if you understand how they operate and the risks involved with buying them.

The Plus500 CFD platform is for CFDs. The Plus500 Futures platform offers futures for U.S. customers, and Plus500 Invest offers stock trading.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Great mobile app
• Low spreads and commissions
• Unlimited demo account
• Plus500 offers three platforms: Plus500 Futures, Plus500 Invest and Plus500 CFD.

Cons

• Only derivatives are available
• Futures are available to U.S. residents while CFDs are not available for U.S. residents.

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Trading Ideas

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Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

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Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

Best For

Active Short Sellers

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TradeZero is an online broker and free stock trading platform that provides everything you need to successfully share and trade, including round-the-clock customer support. TradeZero provides four different trading state-of-the-art software programs with its services, a locator for sourcing shares for shorting, commission-free trades, and real-time streaming, to name a few of the features promoted on their website. The software is a unique and (potentially) affordable option for anyone interested in stock trading.

Best For

• Traders seeking high transparency and mobility in a stock trading program
• Those attracted to commission-free trades
• Those seeking a free version of a high-quality trading program

Pros

• 24/7 live customer support
• Uses ZeroWeb technology, a powerful level 2 online platform with direct market access
• Mobile app allows users to access stocks and trade in real-time while on the go

Cons

• Enforces Pattern Day Trading restrictions (accounts need to maintain a daily equity balance of at least $25k)
• Mobile app could offer more features

Is Now a Good Time to Invest in Copper Stocks?

A difference between copper and investment metals like gold is that copper has a myriad of industrial uses and generally has a high demand. As world economies begin to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, copper and copper mining stocks have a decent chance to appreciate in value. The main risk is that demand for copper may decrease if the global economy weakens again, so now could be a good time to invest in copper stocks if your economic outlook remains favorable. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue reading: 

• BEST DIAMOND STOCKS
• BEST PALLADIUM STOCKS

The post Best Copper Stocks by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Oil tankers are ships designed for transporting bulk oil and/or its derivative products. Tanker ships can be either crude tankers that transport unrefined crude oil or product tankers that transport refined products from refineries to consumer markets. Oil tanker stocks provide investors access to companies that own, operate and/or lease different types of oil tankers and supporting facilities.

Global oil demand decreased from 60 to 70 million barrels per day (BPD) to 30 million BPD due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite that, oil tanker companies saw increased interest in services during the pandemic because oil producers relied on these companies to store oil in the tankers until the oil market improved. Oil sales have since increased somewhat, prompting the rental price for oil tankers to fall from a high of up to $200,000 per day during the pandemic to more normal levels of $25,000 to $40,000 per day.

Benzinga’s picks for the best oil tanker stocks include those of the largest oil tanker shipping companies in the world. These companies’ stocks trade on major U.S. exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Exchange (NASDAQ). 

Quick Look at the Best Oil Tanker Stocks

• Frontline
• DHT Holdings
• Nordic American Tanker Ltd
• Euronav
• Teekay Corp

Overview

Crude oil transportation began in the 1860s when the commodity had to be transported from its source to refineries. Product movement was generally accomplished via the railway system and later through iron and steel pipelines. 

Tanker trucks were more widely used by the 1940s, but oil tanker ships began to dominate the oil transport market as the oil industry expanded and oil was imported from other countries. Full-sized oil tankers can transport a large amount of crude and petroleum products for a very low cost per barrel and are basically the only practical way to transport crude oil across oceans. 

While oil tankers provide the oil industry with transportation and storage capacity, oil tankers carry risk, as evidenced by the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 that caused notable environmental harm. The Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound and released nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil into the nearby waters that then spread some 1,300 miles along the Alaskan coast. 

The oil tanker business can also see fluctuating demand for its services due to the notable price changes seen in the associated crude oil market. Also, the likelihood that demand for oil will decline as electric vehicle sales rise means that buying oil tanker stocks may not be an optimal choice for long-term investors, although short-term traders who keep a sharp eye on oil prices could do well trading these stocks. 

Income investors who prefer to put their money into dividend stocks could also benefit from owning these stocks. Depending on market forces, however, they may not achieve significant capital appreciation in the price of their oil tanker stock holdings and might even see the price of those stocks decline.   

Best Online Brokers for Oil Tanker Stocks

Benzinga’s selected oil tanker stocks all trade on major U.S. exchanges, so you can trade them through any stock broker providing access to those markets. Most major U.S. brokers will also execute commission-free orders in these stocks. The table below provides a comparison of online brokers you can use to trade these stocks. 

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Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Leveraged Trading

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Disclosure: 81% of retail accounts lose money

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Leveraged Trading

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81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 is an online CFD broker focusing on contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. 

Plus500 doesn’t charge commission and only profits off the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price of a specific security. But Plus500 is not a broker for beginners — the education materials are sparse and CFDs are risky derivatives capable of sapping out all of an investor’s capital. Only trade these instruments if you understand how they operate and the risks involved with buying them.

The Plus500 CFD platform is for CFDs. The Plus500 Futures platform offers futures for U.S. customers, and Plus500 Invest offers stock trading.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Great mobile app
• Low spreads and commissions
• Unlimited demo account
• Plus500 offers three platforms: Plus500 Futures, Plus500 Invest and Plus500 CFD.

Cons

• Only derivatives are available
• Futures are available to U.S. residents while CFDs are not available for U.S. residents.

Best For

Trading Ideas

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Trading Ideas

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Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

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Commission-Free Mobile Trading

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Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

Best For

Active Short Sellers

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Active Short Sellers

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TradeZero is an online broker and free stock trading platform that provides everything you need to successfully share and trade, including round-the-clock customer support. TradeZero provides four different trading state-of-the-art software programs with its services, a locator for sourcing shares for shorting, commission-free trades, and real-time streaming, to name a few of the features promoted on their website. The software is a unique and (potentially) affordable option for anyone interested in stock trading.

Best For

• Traders seeking high transparency and mobility in a stock trading program
• Those attracted to commission-free trades
• Those seeking a free version of a high-quality trading program

Pros

• 24/7 live customer support
• Uses ZeroWeb technology, a powerful level 2 online platform with direct market access
• Mobile app allows users to access stocks and trade in real-time while on the go

Cons

• Enforces Pattern Day Trading restrictions (accounts need to maintain a daily equity balance of at least $25k)
• Mobile app could offer more features

Features to Look for in Oil Tanker Stocks

1. Fleet Size: The number and size of oil shipping vessels and the types of products transported have a direct bearing on the bottom line of each oil tanker company. Also important are the maintenance costs and potential liabilities the company might incur if the ships are inactive or fall into a state of disrepair. 
2. Fundamentals: An oil tanker company’s financial statements and quarterly earnings reports can give insight into how viable the company would be as an investment. The company’s earnings per share (EPS), its price-to-earnings ratio and its dividend directly relate to its stock price. 
3. Leases and Contracts: Oil tanker companies’ leases and contracts are generally made with oil producers and refiners located in various countries around the world. Geopolitical events in those countries could be important factors that might directly affect the company’s bottom line and stock price. 

Are Oil Tanker Stocks a Good Investment?

The short answer to this question is probably not. The oil business and global dependence on fossil fuels for energy are gradually ending as newer and more environmentally sustainable technologies increasingly replace oil as an energy source. The oil tanker stocks listed above also produced dismal long-term results for investors in recent years, an example being NAT which saw a decline of 85% over the past decade. Although these stocks may not be a good long-term investment, they can make an interesting vehicle for short-term speculation and day trading due to their volatility.

The post Best Oil Tanker Stocks by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

The global push for green energy has also spurred the growth of emerging technologies that make considerable use of platinum group metals (PGMs). This has the potential to make platinum mining stocks a great long-term investment. For example, electric vehicles (EVs) require PGMs for their lithium-ion batteries. 

Furthermore, another application for PGMs has recently emerged for a new type of automobile known as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. As society transitions to more sustainable energy sources, green hydrogen technologies promise to transform the energy industry, so platinum and the other PGMs are expected to play an important role.

Best Platinum Stocks to Invest in

Best Platinum Stocks

Check out the best platinum stocks below.

Anglo American Platinum (OTCPK:ANGPY)

Johannesburg, South Africa-based Anglo American Platinum is the world’s leader in the production of PGMs and accounts for 38% of the world’s total platinum production. Anglo American is a transnational company with offices in North and South America, China, South Africa and Europe. The company provides complete resource-to-market services, including mining and recycling to its global network of clients. In addition to platinum, the company also produces rhodium, iridium, palladium, ruthenium and osmium. Anglo American is also the world’s primary recycler and processor of used and spent catalytic converter materials.

Impala Platinum Holdings (OTCQX:IMPUF)

Founded in 1966 and based in South Africa, Impala Platinum Holdings or Implats is a holding company with interests in several mining companies that produce platinum, palladium and other PGMs, as well as copper, cobalt and nickel. The holding company’s most important asset is the Impala mine in South Africa’s North West province. Other interests include the Mimosa and Zimplats mines in Zimbabwe, and the Marula and Two Rivers mines in the South African Bushveld Igneous Complex. The company acquired the Canadian North American Palladium company and its mine in Ontario to form Impala Canada.

Sibanye Stillwater (NYSE:SBSW)

Founded in 2013, Sibanye-Stillwater Limited is a global precious metals mining company based in Weltevreden Park, South Africa with operations in Southern Africa and North and South America. The miner’s diverse holdings include gold and PGM mines in Canada, Argentina and Zimbabwe. Sibanye-Stillwater’s U.S. assets include the Stillwater and East Boulder mining operations in Montana, which are the largest PGM mining operations in the United States. As of December 2020, its PGM mining operations in the U.S. had 26.9 million ounces of proven and probable PGM mineral reserves and 86.9 million ounces of mineral resources.

Vale (NYSE:VALE)

Founded in 1942 as the Brazilian state-owned Companhia Vale do Rio Dolce, Vale S.A. became a private company and eventually one of the largest mining companies in the world. Rio de Janeiro-based Vale operates in approximately 30 countries and is the world’s largest producer of iron ore, pellets and nickel. In addition to its mining operations, Vale provides infrastructure development services that include constructing ports, railways, terminals and steel and energy manufacturing facilities. As the world’s 2nd largest nickel producer, Vale can extract platinum as a byproduct of its extensive nickel mining operations. The company currently produces approximately 134,000 ounces of platinum annually. 

Platinum Gr Metals (AMEX:PLG)

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Platinum Group Metals Ltd. was founded in 2000. The company explores and develops platinum and palladium properties. In addition to its Canadian mining interests, Platinum Group Metals also develops South African mining properties, including the Waterberg project on the Northern Limb of the Western Bushveld complex. Platinum Group Metals also develops next-generation battery technology that uses platinum and palladium. At current prices, PLG stock qualifies for Benzinga’s best stocks under $5 and stocks under $10 lists.

Overview: Platinum Stocks

Platinum is a ductile, malleable metal with a silvery-white appearance. It has the symbol Pt and the atomic number 78. The precious metal is among the least reactive metals and has high resistance to corrosion even at elevated temperatures. This qualifies platinum as a “noble metal.” 

First used by pre-Columbian South American civilizations for making artifacts, native platinum can be sourced in the alluvial sands of rivers. The metal was referenced as early as the 16th century, but it was not investigated until a report was published by Antonio de Ulloa in 1748. 

South Africa produces approximately 80% of the world’s platinum, which totals just a few hundred metric tons globally every year, thereby making the metal a relatively rare commodity. In addition to its major use in autocatalytic converters, platinum has a number of other uses including, electrodes and electrical contacts, dentistry equipment, jewelry and platinum resistance thermometers.   

Platinum’s spot price has fluctuated between $800, where it traded in June 2020, to a high of $1,310 in February 2021. The metal’s current spot price is $1,067.77. Platinum and other PGMs rank among the precious metals alongside gold and silver, with their industrial uses increasing as innovation and new technologies emerge.  

Despite the economic slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, platinum miners and their stocks have recovered significantly, with production now approaching normal levels. Since many investors consider diversifying into precious metals a prudent strategy, buying platinum stocks could make sense, especially if you think platinum will rise in value. 

Best Online Brokers for Platinum Stocks

Most brokers will let you purchase American Depository Receipts (ADRs), but if you intend to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, make sure your broker provides access to that market, and ask what commissions they charge for that type of trade. Check out a broker comparison table below. 

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Best For

Active and Global Traders

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Best For

Active and Global Traders

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1 Minute Review

Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Leveraged Trading

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Plus500’s website

More Details

Disclosure: 81% of retail accounts lose money

Best For

Leveraged Trading

N/A

1 Minute Review

81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 is an online CFD broker focusing on contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. 

Plus500 doesn’t charge commission and only profits off the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price of a specific security. But Plus500 is not a broker for beginners — the education materials are sparse and CFDs are risky derivatives capable of sapping out all of an investor’s capital. Only trade these instruments if you understand how they operate and the risks involved with buying them.

The Plus500 CFD platform is for CFDs. The Plus500 Futures platform offers futures for U.S. customers, and Plus500 Invest offers stock trading.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Great mobile app
• Low spreads and commissions
• Unlimited demo account
• Plus500 offers three platforms: Plus500 Futures, Plus500 Invest and Plus500 CFD.

Cons

• Only derivatives are available
• Futures are available to U.S. residents while CFDs are not available for U.S. residents.

Best For

Trading Ideas

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get started securely through public.com’s website

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Best For

Trading Ideas

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1 Minute Review

Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

Overall Rating

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get started securely through Robinhood’s website

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Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

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1 Minute Review

Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

Best For

Active Short Sellers

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through TradeZero’s website

More Details

Best For

Active Short Sellers

N/A

1 Minute Review

TradeZero is an online broker and free stock trading platform that provides everything you need to successfully share and trade, including round-the-clock customer support. TradeZero provides four different trading state-of-the-art software programs with its services, a locator for sourcing shares for shorting, commission-free trades, and real-time streaming, to name a few of the features promoted on their website. The software is a unique and (potentially) affordable option for anyone interested in stock trading.

Best For

• Traders seeking high transparency and mobility in a stock trading program
• Those attracted to commission-free trades
• Those seeking a free version of a high-quality trading program

Pros

• 24/7 live customer support
• Uses ZeroWeb technology, a powerful level 2 online platform with direct market access
• Mobile app allows users to access stocks and trade in real-time while on the go

Cons

• Enforces Pattern Day Trading restrictions (accounts need to maintain a daily equity balance of at least $25k)
• Mobile app could offer more features

Features to Look for in a Platinum Stock

Knowing what to look for in platinum stocks can help you align your stock picks with your investing goals. Here is what to look for in platinum stocks.

Type of Miner 

Because of platinum’s rarity, most pure-play platinum mining stocks consist of small microcap companies that can pose significant risks for investors. Some investors, therefore, prefer to select major miners that obtain most of their profits from mining other metals. They might also choose to invest in automotive or jewelry manufacturing companies that use large amounts of platinum in producing their respective goods.  

Fundamentals 

The underlying fundamentals of any publicly traded company tend to influence whether its stock will appreciate in the future. Take into account a company’s current profitability, its level of debt, future prospects for its products, its management and other fundamental considerations when selecting a stock to invest in. The stock’s earnings per share and other fundamental metrics can serve as useful indicators when determining if a stock’s price is likely to rise or fall in the future. 

Partnerships 

While smaller platinum reserves can be found in the U.S. and Canada, Russia and South Africa account for roughly 90% of world production. Most miners situated outside of those two key producing countries need to partner with or lease mines from local companies. Platinum mining can be affected by geopolitical events and natural disasters that occur where platinum deposits are located.  

Are Platinum Stocks Good Investments?

With the global move toward greener and more sustainable energy and transportation options, the use of platinum and other PGMs will likely increase in the future. This could make investing in platinum miners an excellent opportunity for investors looking to profit from this technological trend, while companies that use platinum in manufacturing their products can have a notable exposure to a rise in the metal’s price.

The stocks of the mining companies reviewed above also represent relatively “pure” platinum plays, which means that the firms directly benefit from platinum mining operations, exploration and production. Among our platinum stock selections, only PLG does not qualify for Benzinga’s stocks under $20 category, and they all represent solid investments in the platinum industry. 

Most automakers rely heavily on platinum for the catalytic converters used in gas-powered vehicles. Automakers also own most of the patents for hydrogen fuel cells that will probably power new technologies in the industry. Jewelry makers also have a considerable exposure to the price of platinum. Companies that could have their profits hurt by higher platinum prices include automakers like General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Toyota (NYSE: TM) or jewelry makers like Tiffany’s (NYSE: TIF). 

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Top Performing Platinum Stocks by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Are you looking to make informed trading decisions and stay ahead of the crowd operating in the forex market? If so, forex analysis is your key to success. 

By evaluating market trends and predicting future movements, forex analysis empowers traders like you to maximize profits and minimize risk. This article will explore the topic of forex analysis, showcasing the top market analysis techniques for making strategic trading choices. Get ready to uncover the analytical secrets behind profitable forex trading that market professionals use.

What Is Forex Analysis?

Forex analysis, also known as foreign exchange analysis, involves assessing various aspects of the currency market to make informed decisions, recognize trends and anticipate market movements. Currency market analysts use different strategies to interpret financial data, helping traders understand where prices might go next. 

Keep in mind that accurate forex analysis is essential for long-term profitability as a forex trader because it allows you to capitalize on both rising and falling exchange rates while avoiding adverse market moves.

How Does Forex Analysis Work?

By reviewing financial news, statistical reports and exchange rate charts in their forex analysis, traders can forecast upcoming shifts in currency pair exchange rates. These predictions can enable them to execute well-timed transactions at favorable exchange rates, generating trading revenue from even minor market swings. 

Three primary approaches to forex analysis exist — technical analysis, fundamental analysis and sentiment analysis — and each method provides unique insights to help guide your trading choices. These methods will be described further in the next section. 

Best Types of Forex Analysis

Three common methods exist for analyzing the foreign exchange market: technical analysis, fundamental analysis and sentiment analysis. Skilled forex traders combine these approaches to better understand market dynamics, make informed decisions and capitalize on opportunities. Take a closer look at each strategy and learn how they contribute to successful trading.

Technical Analysis

Forex technical analysis focuses on interpreting past exchange rate movements and trends through visual representations known as charts. They also use quantitative measures known as indicators that are calculated based on forex market observables like exchange rates, trading volume and open interest. 

This popular forex market analysis method assists traders in identifying recurring exchange rate patterns, estimating probabilities of directional moves and determining trade entry and exit points.

Fundamental Analysis

Forex fundamental analysis concentrates on reviewing the various economic, political and social factors that influence currency pair exchange rates. 

By studying relevant economic data releases, official central bank policies and relevant reports, news and announcements, forex traders can gain considerable insight into the fundamentals of a nation that can then impact the relative value of the currency it issues. 

In particular, fundamental analysis can help forex traders identify long-term economic trends, national growth prospects and geopolitical risks associated with particular currencies and the currency pairs that involve them.

Sentiment Analysis

Forex market sentiment analysis explores the emotions, beliefs and behaviors of currency market participants to evaluate the overall market mood. Analyzing trader psychology often sheds light on the collective opinions driving the forex market’s momentum. 

When optimism prevails, upward pressure builds on exchange rates making them rise. When pessimism takes hold, downward forces dominate to push exchange rates lower.  Also, market corrections often occur when sentiment is overwhelmingly one-sided. 

By reviewing official market sentiment reports like the weekly Commitments of Traders (COT) report issued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)  and assessing forex market sentiment as conveyed through surveys, market commentaries, expert opinions, social media buzz, options positioning and crowd behavior, forex traders can preemptively identify major shifts in market trends and exploit resulting trading possibilities.

Real-World Example of Using Forex Analysis

Now consider a concrete illustration of how currency traders can apply forex analysis in their everyday market operations. This example will focus on using technical analysis, where trading decisions are based on historical price data or exchange rate data and the levels of computed technical indicators.

A forex trader operating primarily in the GBP/JPY pair routinely inspects the pair’s bar charts for several different time frames to search for agreement between different technical indicators. They also identify prevailing short-, medium- and long-term trends both visually and using moving averages to smooth the market action. 

On one occasion, they identified a symmetrical triangle pattern on the daily GBP/JPY exchange rate chart within an overall bearish trend that appeared to be close to its breakout point. A recent bearish crossover was also observed on the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) indicator. 

Correctly perceiving these technical signs as a potential sell signal, they wait patiently for a breakout to the downside from the triangle pattern before initiating a short position at ¥149.50 protected by a stop-loss order just above the upper bound of the triangle at ¥150. 

After six days, their bearish forecast pans out, as the GBP/JPY pair descends further after falling below a support level she observed at ¥147.25. The trader then closes out her trade at ¥147, yielding a net profit of ¥2.50. 

This example demonstrates the usefulness of incorporating technical chart analysis, trend detection, chart points and trading signal confirmation when executing successful technical analysis-based trading decisions.

How to Apply Forex Market Analysis

Effectively applying forex market analysis is a key element of successful currency trading. To do this, you can follow these helpful steps:

Understand Market Drivers and Monitor Market Conditions

Understanding market drivers and monitoring market conditions helps make informed trading decisions. Different factors drive the forex market, such as economic indicators, political events, benchmark interest rates and central bank monetary policy. Monitoring these factors will enable traders to stay aware of trends and anticipate changes that could impact their trades.

Some key forex market drivers include:

• Economic indicators: Strong economies generally experience appreciation in their currencies. Traders should pay attention to data releases like employment reports, inflation figures and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates.
• Political events: Political stability tends to attract foreign investment, pushing currency values higher. Geopolitical issues or elections can cause volatility and result in rapid price movements.
• Central bank monetary policy: Interest rate decisions made by central banks directly affect relative valuations of the relevant national currency they pertain to. Forex traders should watch for official speeches and policy statements from influential central banks like the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank or the Bank of England.

Keep in mind that continually monitoring market conditions helps keep you prepared for market shifts and can create a sense of rhythm and pace for your trading activities. Tools like real-time news feeds, economic calendars and social media discussions can be helpful resources for actively monitoring the forex market.

Chart Currency Pairs

Active forex traders should review exchange rate charts for the major currency pairs, including EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY and USD/CHF and the minor pairs including AUD/USD, NZD/USD and CAD/USD. 

You can also review a chart of the US Dollar Index (USDX) to see how the U.S, dollar is performing relative to a basket that contains the Euro, British pound, Swiss franc and Japanese yen. 

If your broker does not provide a full-featured technical analysis platform, you can use the free MetaTrader suite to provide you with extensive and detailed exchange rate charts. Experiment with different chart types bars, lines, tick or candlestick charts and time frames to find those that work best for your trading strategy. 

Remember that currencies and their pairs all have unique features, so maintaining flexibility in your analysis style and methodology is helpful when looking at different currency pairs. 

Look for a Consensus in Multiple Markets

Experienced traders often search for a consensus in multiple markets to identify potential trends and turning points relevant to the currency market of interest. By charting other instruments on the same weekly or monthly basis as currency pairs, traders can compare forex market behavior with stock indices, commodities and interest rate markets to find confirming trends or possible future reversals to inform trading decisions.

Certain currency pairs react more strongly to commodity market shifts. For example, the AUD/USD exchange rate tends to be positively correlated with the price of gold, while the USD/CAD exchange rate tends to be inversely correlated with the price of oil. 

When reviewing multiple markets, remember that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Make sure you collect enough market data and consult only authoritative sources before reaching and acting on any conclusion, although it may help you to engage in peer discussions as well to confirm your analysis.

Pick and Time Your Trades Wisely

Selecting optimal entry and exit points is essential in forex trading. Reviewing exchange rate charts with longer time frames can help traders determine trends and locate turning points, while technical forex indicators can help you fine-tune entry points when trading. 

Some common technical indicators forex traders use include moving averages, the relative strength index (RSI) and Fibonacci retracement levels. Remember to treat these technical analysis tools as guides rather than absolute truths when using them in your trading plan and look for confirmation between them.

Adopting a systematic approach, monitoring the market closely and practicing patience tend to improve your chances of making a successful trade. Avoid rushed decisions motivated by emotions like fear or greed. Establish a structured trading plan, follow it consistently and periodically reassess your progress and change your plan if necessary.

Use Fundamentals to Identify Economic Trends

Fundamental analysis plays a significant role in identifying economic trends. Important fundamentals include benchmark interest rates, unemployment rates and the GDP. Government budget announcements, political changes and central banks’ monetary policy meetings can also affect the forex pairs they pertain to. 

Reviewing this information regularly can help forex traders gauge the health of economies and make more informed decisions when trading currency pairs. Also, remember to consult only well-respected financial publications, websites or blogs to stay informed.

When trading forex, generally remain cautious and don’t lose sight of the bigger picture in the face of countless details and short-term market noise. Do your best to focus on meaningful indicators and refrain from dwelling on trivial matters. Achieving a balance between your technical and fundamental analysis will typically lead to more educated and self-assured trading decisions.

Know the Direction of the Underlying Trend

Determining the direction of the underlying trend is generally essential for long-term success in forex trading. By examining historical data on longer-term exchange rates and identifying consistent patterns or movements, traders can overlook minor market fluctuations and better assess the overall trend and when it seems likely to shift.

You can begin your trend analysis by reviewing a long-term chart of historical data for the selected currency pair. The dataset used to create this chart should cover years of data, preferably including multiple market cycles. Graphing this data on a chart allows traders to visually inspect the overall trend direction and assess how consistent it appears.

When analyzing historical exchange rate data for trends, consider the following:

• Time frames: Opt for longer time frames, such as weekly or monthly charts, to obtain a wider perspective on the trend. Short-term fluctuations can distract you from seeing the bigger picture.
• Support and resistance levels: Identify areas where the currency pair finds difficulty crossing either upwards or downwards. Support levels correspond to buyers stepping in, preventing the decline, while resistance levels denote sellers intervening to prevent appreciation.
• Draw trend lines: Connect consecutive lows or highs to define an uptrend or downtrend. Upward-sloping trend lines indicate a bullish trend while declining lines suggest a bearish trend.
• Moving averages: Calculate average closing exchange rates over defined periods and plot them over the exchange rate, such as 50-, 100- or 200-day moving averages. Observe how these averages are moving overall to gauge the general trend direction.

Once the baseline trend is determined, acknowledge any fundamental factors that may influence the observed trend and its future continuance, including:

• Market conditions: Periods of high volatility, tight ranges or breakouts might challenge the existing trend. Resolve to remain flexible and update your trend analysis based on changing market conditions.
• Economic indicators: Data releases, such as inflation, GDP and employment figures, can impact trends by indicating unexpected shifts in an economy’s underlying health.
• Significant events: Major news events, such as elections, referendums, wars, natural disasters or pandemics, can introduce drastic shifts in currency pair trends, so watch out for them and plan accordingly, if possible. 

Regularly updating your market trend analysis helps you maintain alignment with the latest market conditions, thereby improving your chances of trading successfully. By knowing the direction of the underlying trend, traders can better position themselves to take advantage of prevailing directional market moves and reduce their exposure to detrimental market movements.

Forex Analysis is an Indispensible Trading Tool

Forex analysis helps equip traders with indispensable tools for identifying trading opportunities and navigating the currency markets successfully. 

Understanding the details of technical, fundamental and sentiment analyses will equip you with actionable information that will let you take advantage of promising trade setups and avoid nasty pitfalls. 

With diligent practice, patience and persistence, attaining mastery of these analytical disciplines should significantly improve your ability to trade the forex market successfully. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Forex Analysis: What it is & Best Analysis for Trading by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

When eToro priced its shares at $52 and debuted on the Nasdaq under the ticker ETOR in May 2025, much of the revenue behind that roughly $620 million offering came from a product most of its American users are not allowed to touch.

That product is the contract for difference, or CFD, one of the most popular ways to trade markets in Europe, Australia, and much of Asia.

Understanding what a CFD is, and why the door to it stays locked in the United States, explains a great deal about how leverage and speculation actually work.

What Is CFD Trading?

A contract for difference is an agreement between you and a broker to exchange the difference in an asset’s price between the moment you open a position and the moment you close it.

You never take ownership of the underlying stock, currency, commodity, or index.

You are trading on the direction the price moves, and the cash difference settles the result when you close out.

If you expect the price to rise, you go long, and if you expect it to fall, you go short.

That ability to profit from falling prices, without borrowing shares to short them the traditional way, is a big part of why CFDs caught on overseas.

How a CFD Trade Actually Works

Picture gold trading at $2,400 an ounce.

You open a CFD position on 10 ounces because you expect the price to climb.

If gold rises to $2,450, you collect the $50 move on each ounce, or $500 before costs.

If gold slips to $2,350 instead, you owe the $50 move on each ounce, or $500.

The important part is that you never put up the full $24,000 value of that position.

CFDs trade on margin, so a broker might ask for only 5% or 10% of the position’s value as a deposit.

That small deposit controls the entire trade, which means your gains and your losses are both calculated on the full position size rather than the amount you actually put down.

Leverage is what makes a modest price move feel enormous, in either direction.

What CFD Trading Costs

The spread, meaning the gap between the buy price and the sell price, is the cost baked into nearly every CFD trade.

Share CFDs sometimes add a separate commission on top of that spread.

Any position held past the daily cutoff usually incurs an overnight funding charge, since you are effectively borrowing to hold a leveraged trade.

Those overnight fees make CFDs expensive to hold for weeks or months, which is why most CFD activity is short term by design.

Why You Cannot Trade CFDs in the US

This is the part that matters most for American readers.

CFDs are effectively unavailable to US retail traders, and the reason traces back to the 2008 financial crisis.

Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010, which brought over the counter derivatives under federal oversight by the SEC and CFTC.

Under those rules, CFDs can be classified as swaps or security based swaps, and offering them to everyday investors is only permitted if the trade happens on a registered US exchange.

Almost every CFD in the world is traded over the counter, directly between a broker and a client, rather than on an exchange.

That single requirement effectively shuts retail CFD trading out of the country.

Most offshore CFD brokers respond by simply refusing to open accounts for US residents.

It is also why eToro, whose record breaking Nasdaq debut was built on a business that leans heavily on CFDs abroad, strips the product out for its US customers and offers stocks, options, and crypto to its American accounts instead, a difference from the multi asset platform it runs internationally.

The Risk Regulators Worry About

The concern behind the rules is not abstract.

European regulators found that between 74% and 89% of retail CFD accounts lose money, a statistic that pushed that region toward strict leverage caps rather than an outright ban.

Leverage cuts both ways, and a position that moves against you by only a few percent can erase your entire deposit.

Some traders have historically lost more than they deposited when markets gapped violently overnight, which is exactly why negative balance protection later became mandatory across Europe.

Legal Alternatives for US Traders

American traders are not shut out of leverage or short selling, they simply reach them through different, exchange traded instruments.

Regulated futures contracts offer leveraged exposure to commodities, indexes, and currencies, and they clear through established exchanges such as the CME.

If you want to see how the platforms stack up, we compare the best futures trading platforms on commissions, margin requirements, and execution quality.

Exchange traded options let you speculate on stocks and indexes with clearly defined risk, and we’ve ranked the best brokers for options trading by pricing and platform tools.

Spot forex is available through brokers registered with the National Futures Association, and we break down the best forex brokers for US clients if currency markets are your focus.

Futures come closest to replicating the CFD experience, since both let you go long or short with leverage across a wide range of markets.

The main difference is transparency: futures prices are set on a central exchange, while CFD prices are set by your broker.

If the leveraged, go anywhere trading that draws people to CFDs overseas is what you are after, TradeStation gives US traders direct access to futures and options on a single regulated platform, which is the closest legal equivalent most Americans will find.

Before funding any leveraged account, it pays to check the minimums, since many futures brokers now let you start with micro contracts that require only a fraction of the margin a full sized contract demands, sometimes as little as a few hundred dollars.

The post What are CFDs? CFD Trading Explained for Beginners by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

If you have ever placed a trade on Robinhood and paid nothing for it, you have probably wondered how an app that charges zero commission still turns a profit.

Robinhood reports its second-quarter results after the closing bell today, July 29, 2026, with Wall Street expecting more than $1.2 billion in revenue, which makes the question of where that money comes from worth answering plainly.

How Does Robinhood Make Money?

Robinhood makes money through three main channels: transaction-based revenue led by payment for order flow, net interest revenue from customer cash and lending, and subscription fees, mostly from Robinhood Gold.

Trading revenue is the largest single bucket, which is why swings in the stock and crypto markets move Robinhood’s results so sharply.

The company is, at its core, a commission-free brokerage app, and it earns almost nothing directly from the trades you place.

Instead it monetizes the flow of orders, the idle cash in your account, and the premium features layered on top.

That model produced a record $4.5 billion in revenue in 2025, up 52% from the prior year, alongside net income of $1.9 billion.

Momentum carried into 2026, with first-quarter net revenue rising 15% year over year to $1.07 billion, though a sharp drop in crypto trading pulled profit below what analysts wanted.

Payment for Order Flow

Payment for order flow, or PFOF, is the engine behind Robinhood’s biggest revenue line.

When you buy or sell a stock, Robinhood does not fill the order itself.

It routes that order to a large trading firm called a market maker, and the market maker pays Robinhood a small fee for the right to execute it.

The firms on the receiving end are names like Citadel Securities, Jane Street, and Hudson River Trading.

The payment is often a fraction of a penny per share, but across billions of shares it adds up to real money.

Options trades pay Robinhood more than plain stock trades do, which is one reason the company pushes so many features toward active options traders.

Crypto works on a similar principle, where Robinhood collects a rebate on the spread rather than a formal PFOF payment.

Transaction-based revenue reached roughly $2.6 billion in 2025, up about 60% from the year before, and it remains the company’s largest income source.

The practice is legal but controversial, and the SEC requires brokers to disclose their order routing and any payments they receive under Rule 606.

Critics argue the arrangement gives brokers an incentive to send your order to the highest bidder rather than the venue that fills it best, a debate that flared during the 2021 meme-stock episode and has never fully cooled.

Net Interest Revenue

The second pillar is interest, and it is bigger than most users realize.

Robinhood earns interest on the cash sitting in customer accounts, on the cash it holds in reserve, and on the securities it lends out to other institutions.

It also lends money to customers who trade on margin, charging them interest on the borrowed balance.

As of July 2026, Robinhood’s margin rate ran from 5% on balances up to $50,000 down to 3.95% for the very largest borrowers.

Those rates float with the federal funds rate set by the Federal Reserve, so when rates are high, the spread Robinhood keeps on customer cash widens and this line becomes very profitable.

Securities lending adds another steady stream, where Robinhood lends the shares in your account to firms that want to short them and collects a fee in return.

You still own the stock and can sell it anytime, but Robinhood earns money on it in the background.

If you want to understand how these mechanics differ across platforms, we’ve compared the best stock brokers in the US on commissions, margin rates, and execution quality.

Robinhood Gold and Subscriptions

The third pillar is subscriptions, and it is the one Robinhood is leaning on hardest to smooth out the volatility of trading revenue.

Robinhood Gold costs $5 per month or $50 per year, with a 30-day free trial, and it bundles the features power users care about.

Gold members earn a higher yield on uninvested cash, recently around 3.35%, compared with almost nothing on the free tier.

They also get a 3% match on retirement contributions, $1,000 of interest-free margin, Level II market data, and research from Morningstar.

Each subscription is predictable, recurring revenue that does not depend on whether markets are calm or wild.

That reliability matters because average revenue per user climbed to about $191 by the end of 2025, up 16% year over year, showing Robinhood is squeezing more from each account even as it adds new ones.

Crypto and the Rest of the Business

Crypto is the wild card in Robinhood’s revenue mix.

When trading is hot, crypto rebates can be one of the largest contributors to the transaction line.

When it cools, the drop is brutal, and that is exactly what happened in early 2026 when crypto revenue fell 47% to $134 million in the first quarter and dragged the whole quarter down.

For a sense of how commission-free crypto platforms stack up against each other, we’ve broken down the best crypto exchanges and apps by fees, coin selection, and security.

Robinhood also collects interchange fees on its debit and credit card products and earns smaller amounts from services like instant transfers.

If you are shopping for a home base to invest from, we’ve ranked the best investing apps on features, costs, and ease of use for beginners.

Why the Model Faces Pressure

The same features that make Robinhood profitable also make it fragile.

Because so much revenue depends on trading activity, a quiet market or a crypto slump hits the top line immediately.

Payment for order flow is banned in the United Kingdom and has drawn repeated scrutiny from U.S. regulators, so a rule change could force Robinhood to rebuild a chunk of its business.

Net interest income, meanwhile, shrinks whenever the Federal Reserve cuts rates.

The company’s answer has been to diversify, pushing into prediction markets, a Gold credit card, retirement and custodial accounts, and even the contracted build of the government’s new Trump Accounts interface.

If the idea of a broker profiting from your order flow bothers you, it is worth knowing that some competitors have taken the opposite approach, and Public built a commission-free investing app that stopped selling order flow to route trades differently.

The bigger picture is that Robinhood has spent the last three years turning a single clever trick, free trades funded by order flow, into a layered financial company that now holds more than $300 billion in customer assets.

Whether that diversification is paying off is the exact thing investors will be reading in today’s earnings report.

The post How Does Robinhood Make Money? by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

If you plan on getting involved in day trading, then having access to reliable and feature-rich charting platforms can be an essential tool. With numerous day trading chart providers available in the market, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. To assist you in this endeavor, Benzinga has compiled a comparison list of some of the leading day trading chart providers, including Benzinga Pro and TradingView. By examining each charting platform’s key features, charting tools, data accuracy, user-friendliness and customization options, you can select the most suitable solution to meet your specific needs. 

Quick Look at the Top Day Trading Charts:

• Best for all trading levels: Benzinga
• Best for comprehensive charts: TradingView
• Best for advanced suite of trading Tools: ChartPrime
• Best for forex investing: thinkorswim
• Best for various technical tools: MetaTrader
• Best for advanced futures trading: NinjaTrader

6 Best Day Trading Charts

In the fast-paced world of day trading, the ability to anticipate market movements is one of the main keys to success. Incorporating day trading charts into your analytical toolkit will enhance your decision-making process and help improve your chances of thriving in the exciting realm of day trading. The following sections introduce some of the very best day trading chart providers that you can use when day trading. 

1. Best for All Trading Levels: Benzinga

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Benzinga is a prominent financial media and data provider that offers a range of tools and resources for day traders, including day trading charts. Benzinga provides an intuitive and user-friendly platform for accessing day trading charts. The site offers real-time charting capabilities, allowing day traders to track price movements and analyze various technical indicators. 

Benzinga’s charts are highly customizable, enabling users to adjust timeframes, add indicators, draw trendlines and annotate the charts to suit their specific trading strategies. The platform offers a variety of chart types, including candlestick charts, line charts and bar charts to cater to different preferences.

Fees: Basic plan $37/month; Streamlined $147/month; Essential $197/month (monthly billing).

Why we picked it: Benzinga’s day trading charts provide a user-friendly and customizable platform for traders to analyze price movements and incorporate technical indicators into their day trading strategies. 

2. Best for Comprehensive Charts: TradingView

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TradingView is one of the most widely used platforms for financial charts, technical analysis and trading. It gives 100M traders and investors access to interactive charts, screeners, alerts, watchlists, market data, community ideas, paper trading and broker integrations in one web-based platform.

Whether you trade stocks, ETFs, Bitcoin, gold, futures, forex, cryptocurrencies or options, TradingView helps you analyze markets with professional-grade charts and real-time market data.

Best For

• Professional investors
• Investors with programming experience
• Traders who need minute-by-minute updates

Pros

• Impressive selection of research tools
• Comprehensive stock screening
• Free accounts available
• Wide selection of engaging educational resources

Cons

• Customer service choices not all-inclusive
• Higher-tier plans out of some investors’ budgets
• Certain areas of the website poorly organized

TradingView is an online platform that provides comprehensive day trading charts and a wide range of tools for technical analysis. TradingView offers a robust and feature-rich platform for accessing day trading charts. 

The platform provides real-time and historical price data for various financial instruments, including stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies and more. Traders can choose from a variety of chart types, including candlestick, bar and line charts. They can customize their charts with a wide range of indicators, drawing tools and other technical analysis features. 

The TradingView platform allows for collaboration and social interaction, enabling users to share charts, ideas and insights with the trading community

Fees: Free tier available; paid plans with additional features (plus data-feed add-ons).

Why we picked it: TradingView provides a powerful and user-friendly platform for day traders to access comprehensive charts and perform technical analysis. The platform’s extensive range of tools, social community and cross-device accessibility contribute to its popularity among traders, and it offers a robust solution for day traders looking for advanced charting capabilities and collaboration within the trading community.

3. Best for Advanced Suite of Trading Tools: ChartPrime

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In the dynamic world of financial markets, the tools in your trading toolkit can profoundly influence your trading journey and success, regardless of your trading experience, skills, technique or risk management strategy. ChartPrime’s state-of-the-art trading toolkit equips traders of all levels with the requisite resources and technology to enhance their trading strategies, analyze and predict the markets and make informed trading decisions, ultimately leading to improved trading performance.  

With its cutting-edge trading suite, ChartPrime transforms complex technical analysis into actionable insights, empowering traders to identify trading opportunities and gain a competitive advantage in the market. Despite being a relatively young company, ChartPrime’s combination of algorithms and active community via its Discord servers and its training and educational resources fast-track learning and growth, making it a valuable tool for diverse traders. 

ChartPrime offers a universal advantage, adaptable to diverse markets and tradable instruments. Whether you’re a forex dealer seeking forex indicators to support your trading strategies or a stock and crypto trader, ChartPrime is a versatile solution that suits all. Read on for a comprehensive review of ChartPrime’s trading suites, the pros, cons, core offerings and how it compares with competitors. 

Best For

• Beginners and expert traders seeking robust indicators and effective technical analysis tools to support their trading strategies and turbocharge investment potential
• Forex traders, equity and cryptocurrency investors looking for advanced suites of trading toolsets for enhanced market insight and profit maximization
• Proprietary trading firms seeking sophisticated technical analysis toolkits to help improve the performance of their properties
• Traders or investors looking for an interactive and community-oriented trading equipment marketplace with excellent training and educational resources to fast-track learning and growth
• Those who prioritize technical over fundamental market analysis and so require access to premium indicators and other advanced toolkits with regular upgrades for optimal performance

Pros

• Advanced or cutting-edge premium trading suite, including multipurpose indicators and other tools
• Excellent training, educational and research resources via interactive weekly classes, tutorials and blogs
• Community-oriented Discord channel to facilitate collaboration and sharing of trading ideas, fast-tracking learning and growth
• Consistently and automatically updated with new features and tools, ensuring traders or investors have access to the latest technologies
• Access to daily trade signals and setups by the company’s team of professional analysts
• 7 days money-free trial
• Excellent and professional customer support

Cons

• Relatively costly and out of reach for undercapitalized traders
• An average trader may not easily understand how the algorithm works
• Works only with the TradingView platform
• Might not be suitable for all trading styles

ChartPrime is a cutting-edge suite of trading tools that helps guide your investments to perfection. You can analyze assets, review market trends, improve your portfolio and inform yourself about the markets rather than depending on someone else for every alert or storyline. 

Each toolkit points to a different type of trader, and you can try as many of those toolkits as you like. Plus, you can create a TradingView account that connects you with the alerts and data you need.

Fees: Premium account: $67/month, $143/quarter and $489/year.

Why we picked it: ChartPrime combines algorithms and a Discord community so that you can see all the information you need. Stock traders, forex traders, crypto traders and more can all benefit from using ChartPrime, with its incredible indicators, charting and automatic updates, you can get started right away.

4. Best for Forex Investing: thinkorswim

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This publicly listed discount broker, which is in existence for over four decades, is service-intensive, offering intuitive and powerful investment tools. Especially, with equity investing, a flat fee is charged, with the firm claiming that it charges no trade minimum, no data fees, and no platform fees. Though it is pricier than many other discount brokers, what tilts the scales in its favor is its well-rounded service offerings and the quality and value it offers its clients.

Best For

• Novice investors
• Retirement savers
• Day traders

Pros

• World-class trading platforms
• Detailed research reports and Education Center
• Assets ranging from stocks and ETFs to derivatives like futures and options

Cons

• Thinkorswim can be overwhelming to inexperienced traders
• Derivatives trading more costly than some competitors
• Expensive margin rates

Thinkorswim is a trading platform developed by TD Ameritrade (now owned by Charles Schwab) that provides robust day trading charts with a range of features. Thinkorswim offers an advanced charting interface with numerous tools for technical analysis. 

The platform provides real-time and historical data for various financial instruments, including stocks, options, futures and forex. Traders can choose from a variety of chart types, including candlestick, bar and line. 

The charts are highly customizable, allowing users to add indicators, draw trendlines and apply technical studies to analyze price action. Thinkorswim provides features such as multiple timeframes, chart pattern recognition and customizable watchlists to enhance the trading experience.

Fees: No separate platform fee for using the software; zero commission for US stocks/ETFs; options – $0.65 per contract; futures – $2.25 per contract (plus exchange/regulatory fees).

Why we picked it: Thinkorswim offers advanced day trading charts with a wide range of technical analysis tools and customization options. The platform’s real-time data, paper trading feature and backtesting capabilities are particularly valuable for day traders. Thinkorswim provides a comprehensive solution for day traders seeking powerful charting capabilities and a wealth of technical analysis tools within a supportive trading community.

5. Best for Various Technical Tools: MetaTrader

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Considered the gold standard among trading platforms, MetaTrader 4 is a free platform for trading forex and other financial instruments such as CFDs, futures, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. MetaTrader4 is available for retail traders through specific brokers, which individually license the platform. According to its developer, MetaQuotes Software, the platform is available through over 750 brokers and banks and services millions of traders.

Best For

• Beginning traders looking to dip their toes into data
• Advanced traders who want a data-rich experience

Pros

• Ease of deployment
• Platform doesn’t overload the computer
• User-friendly design for beginner investors
• Compatible with several operating systems such as Linux, Mac and Windows as well as iOS and Android
• Cost effective VPS

Cons

• Comprehensive historical data for backtesting isn’t available
• Execution speed is not great and is unsuitable for high-frequency trading
• Its nascent web platform does not allow automated trading
• Charting package does not provide for a custom timeframe

MetaTrader is a widely-used trading platform that provides day trading charts and various features for technical analysis catering to day traders across different financial markets, most notably those operating in the retail forex market. 

Both of MetaTrader’s active 4 and 5 versions offer a comprehensive charting package that provides real-time price data, historical charts and a variety of chart types including candlestick, bar and line charts. 

Day traders can access an extensive library of technical indicators and drawing tools to conduct in-depth analysis and identify trading opportunities. MetaTrader allows for the customization of timeframes, chart layouts and color schemes to suit individual preferences and trading strategies.

Why we picked it: MetaTrader provides a powerful charting platform with a wide array of technical analysis tools, customization options, backtesting and automated trading capabilities. Its forex focus and extensive user community make it particularly appealing to currency traders. MetaTrader is an especially strong choice among traders seeking advanced charting and analysis features.

6. Best for Advanced Futures Trading: NinjaTrader

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NinjaTrader is a powerful derivatives trading platform specializing in futures, forex and options. The platform has a number of unique trading tools. A free version does exist without the extra goodies provided by Trader + and OrderFlow + but users can still break down charts, backtest strategies and trade without upfront payment. NinjaTrader hosts its own brokerage services but users have their choice of several different brokerage options. Accounts have minimums depending on the securities traded and commissions vary depending on the version of the platform. Advanced derivatives traders will have endless fun with the platform’s mighty array of tools and analyzers.

The free version, which is included with all brokerage accounts is a great starting platform for new traders without the financial commitment. As you grow in your trading and are ready for more tools and functionality, you can add more complexity.

Best For

• Futures Traders
• Traders looking for 24/7 action
• Advanced Traders

Pros

• Powerful analysis tools
• Free download and simulated trading
• Open source trading apps to enhance experience

Cons

• Can only trade derivatives like futures and options

NinjaTrader is a robust trading platform that offers comprehensive day trading charts and a range of features for technical analysis. The platform provides a powerful charting interface designed to cater to the needs of day traders. 

The NinjaTrader platform offers real-time and historical data for various financial instruments, including stocks, futures and forex. Traders can choose from multiple chart types, such as candlestick, bar and line charts, in addition to gaining access to a wide range of technical indicators and drawing tools. 

NinjaTrader’s charts are highly customizable, allowing users to create personalized chart layouts, apply multiple indicators and analyze price action with precision.

Fees: Free software download; trading commissions vary: e.g., $0.39 per Micro contract, $1.29 per Standard contract (per side) for the free plan; other tiers: monthly fee (e.g., $99/month) for reduced commissions; lifetime license.

Why we picked it: NinjaTrader provides a feature-rich trading platform with comprehensive day trading charts. Its advanced charting features, market replay, backtesting capabilities and order entry functionality will appeal to active day traders. NinjaTrader offers a robust solution for day traders seeking advanced charting and analysis features, customization options and the ability to develop and automate their own trading strategies.

The Best Day Trading Patterns

Day trading patterns play an important role in helping traders identify potential market opportunities and make informed trading decisions. Some of the best day trading chart patterns are shown in schematic diagram format in the image below and listed in the following sections along with details about their characteristics and how to trade them. 

Schematic diagrams of some classic reversal and continuation chart patterns. Source: KingPrudien. 

Bull Flag and Pennant Patterns

The bull flag and pennant patterns are continuation patterns that typically occur after a strong upward price movement. They consist of a flagpole that represents the initial surge in price and which is followed by a consolidation period where the price either forms a flag pattern between parallel trend lines or a triangular pennant pattern between converging trend lines. Traders often look for a breakout above the upper trendline of the flag or pennant as a potential buy entry point for a long trade since they would expect the upward trend to resume.

Bear Flag and Pennant Patterns

Bear flag and pennant patterns are continuation patterns that occur after a significant downward price movement. They both consist of a flagpole that arises from the initial decline and is followed by a period of consolidation where the price either forms a flag between parallel trend lines or a triangular pennant pattern between converging trend lines. Day traders can watch for a breakout below the lower trendline of the flag or pennant as a potential sell entry point for a short trade since this would signal the continuation of the downward trend.

Double and Triple Tops and Bottoms

Double and triple tops and double bottoms are reversal patterns that signal a potential trend change. A double top occurs when the price reaches a high point, retreats and then retests the same high without breaking above it, while a triple top has an extra peak at the same high point. Conversely, a double bottom occurs when the price reaches a low point, bounces back and then retests the same low without falling below it, with the triple bottom having another trough at the same low point. Traders often look for a breakout below support at the neckline in the case of a double or triple top or above resistance at the neckline in the case of a double or triple bottom to confirm the reversal and enter trades in the direction of the new trend.

Head and Shoulders Tops and Bottoms

The head and shoulders pattern is another reversal pattern. The head and shoulders top consists of three peaks, with the middle peak being higher than the other two. The pattern gets its name because it resembles a person’s head and two shoulders. Traders observe a breakout below support at the pattern’s neckline after the formation of the right shoulder to confirm the pattern. This breakout often signals a bearish reversal and prompts traders to enter short trades. The head and shoulder bottom looks like an upside-down head and shoulders top, and a break above the resistance level marked by its neckline is a bullish signal. 

Channels

Channels are a common day trading pattern that occurs when a stock’s price moves within parallel trendlines over a defined period. Channels consist of an upper trendline that acts as resistance and a lower trendline that serves as support. Day traders can use channels to identify potential buying and selling opportunities. Buying near the lower trendline with a stop-loss order below it allows for potential gains if the price bounces back towards the upper trendline. Conversely, selling near the upper trendline with a stop-loss order above it allows for potential profits if the price retreats towards the lower trendline. Channels provide day traders with a useful framework for assessing price ranges, anticipating breakouts or breakdowns and setting risk management parameters for their trading strategies.

Rectangles

Rectangles are known as trading ranges or consolidation patterns, and they are a common day trading chart pattern characterized by horizontal price boundaries. Rectangles occur when the price of an asset trades within a relatively tight range to create parallel lines of support and resistance. Rectangles indicate a period of indecision in the market as buyers and sellers are evenly matched. Day traders often look for a breakout from the rectangle pattern, either to the upside or downside, since it signifies a potential trend continuation. Rectangles provide valuable information for day traders that allows them to identify areas of price consolidation and plan their entry and exit points accordingly.

Triangles

Triangles are a commonly-observed day trading pattern characterized by converging trendlines. They form when the price of a stock experiences a series of lower highs and higher lows that creates a triangle-like shape on the chart. Triangles can be either symmetrical, ascending or descending depending on the slope of the trendlines. These patterns suggest a period of consolidation and indicate that a potential breakout is imminent. Day traders often monitor triangle formations to identify entry and exit points. A breakout above the upper trendline signals a potential bullish move that could prompt day traders to initiate long positions, while a breakout below the lower trendline suggests a potential bearish move that could prompt day traders to consider short positions. By analyzing triangles, day traders can anticipate price volatility, set appropriate stop-loss levels and take advantage of potential trading opportunities.

Cup and Handle Patterns

The cup and handle pattern is a bullish continuation pattern that resembles a cup followed by a handle. The cup part of the pattern is formed by a gradual downward movement followed by a rounded bottom, while the handle portion forms during a small subsequent consolidation period. Traders look for a breakout above the handle as a potential entry point for long trades since they would expect the upward trend to continue.

Ascending and Descending Wedges

Wedges are a day trading pattern characterized by converging trendlines that slope in the same direction. An ascending wedge is typically bearish and forms when the price experiences a series of higher highs and higher lows, while a descending wedge is usually bullish and forms when the market shows a set of lower highs and lower lows. Wedges signify a period of consolidation and indicate a potential breakout in the near future. Day traders can closely monitor wedges to identify potential trade entry and exit points. A breakout above the upper trendline of an ascending wedge suggests a bullish move that can prompt traders to consider long positions, while a breakout below the lower trendline of a descending wedge suggests a bearish move, leading traders to consider short positions. Wedges provide day traders with insights into potential trend reversals and let them set appropriate stop-loss levels and capitalize on trading opportunities arising from the anticipated price move once a breakout occurs.

These classic chart patterns offer just a few examples of the best day trading patterns you can use. Remember that no chart pattern guarantees a successful trade, so proper risk management and confirming analysis should generally be used as well. By studying and understanding these useful day trading patterns, you can enhance your ability to identify potential trading opportunities and improve your overall trading performance.

How to Use Stock Charts to Mitigate Risk

When it comes to mitigating risk in trading, using stock charts effectively can provide valuable insights. Several helpful tips for traders on how to use stock charts to mitigate risk include the following:

Tip #1: Identify Support and Resistance Levels

Stock charts help day traders identify key support and resistance levels, which are price levels at which the stock tends to find support from buyers or resistance from selling pressure. These levels act as barriers that can influence future price movements. By analyzing stock charts, traders can identify key levels and adjust their risk management strategies accordingly. Setting stop-loss sell orders just below support levels or profit-taking sell targets just before resistance levels are reached can help limit potential losses and secure trading gains in a timely manner.

Tip #2: Use Technical Indicators

Stock charting platforms typically provide a wide range of technical indicators that can yield trading signals and offer day traders detailed insights into market trends, momentum, trading volume and volatility. Using technical indicators like moving averages, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator can help traders assess the strength of a stock’s price movement and the potential for a market reversal. By combining technical indicators with price analysis and the classic chart patterns mentioned in the previous section, day traders can make more informed decisions and mitigate their trading risk.

Tip# 3: Monitor Price Patterns

Classic chart patterns that form on price charts like triangles, flags or wedges can offer day traders clues about potential breakouts or reversals. By monitoring these patterns on stock charts, day traders can identify favorable entry or exit points and set appropriate stop-loss orders. Additionally, recognizing patterns like head and shoulders or double tops or bottoms can provide insights into potential trend reversals and help day traders adjust their risk management strategies accordingly.

Tip #4: Implement Timeframe Analysis

Stock charts offer various timeframe options, ranging from minutes to daily, weekly or monthly time intervals. Day traders will probably want to analyze stock charts across different timeframes to gain a comprehensive understanding of the stock’s price action. Shorter timeframes can provide insights into intraday price movements, while longer timeframes offer a broader perspective on trends. This multi-timeframe analysis helps day traders make more well-rounded decisions and effectively manage risk across different trading horizons.

Tip #5: Perform Volume Analysis to Confirm Pattern Breakouts

Volume is an important aspect of analyzing stock charts since it indicates the level of market participation in a particular stock. Analyzing volume patterns alongside stock price movements can offer valuable insights, especially when it comes to confirming breakouts. In general, significant price changes accompanied by high trading volume often indicate strong and reliable buying or selling pressure. Traders can use volume analysis to confirm the strength of a price move and confirm the probable validity of chart pattern breakouts or market trend reversals.

Tip #6: Use Stop-Loss Orders

Regardless of what form of chart analysis a trader uses, implementing stop-loss orders is a vital risk management practice for long-term success. Setting appropriate stop-loss levels based on chart patterns and support/resistance levels helps limit potential losses in case the trade does not go as planned. Stop-loss orders should be placed at levels that indicate a significant change in the stock’s price direction. This process lets day traders exit the losing position gracefully and preserve their capital for future trades that can make them money.

By incorporating these tips into your day trading strategy, you can harness the power of stock charts to make more money and mitigate your trading risk more effectively. Remember that risk management should always be a priority when trading stocks and performing a thorough analysis of stock charts can greatly assist you in making better-informed and more appropriate trading decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Best Day Trading Charts in May 2026 by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Switzerland has a relatively strict regulatory environment, so if you choose a foreign broker, make sure it is also well-regulated within its local jurisdiction. Several online brokers have offices in Switzerland and many foreign brokers also open accounts for traders who reside in the country.

Remember that not all forex brokers are created equal, so make sure to carefully determine your specific needs as a trader. Once you know what you need, you can assure your needs will be met by a broker before opening a forex trading account.

Best Swiss Forex Brokers

If you’re from Switzerland and looking for a reliable online forex broker, choose from among the well-regulated brokers shown below. Here’s a short list of some top online forex brokers to consider:

Best for CFD Trading: Vantage Markets

Best For

Dedicated CFD Traders

Pairs Offered

40+

Trade Now securely through Vantage Markets’s website

More Details

Account Minimum

From $50

Pairs Offered

40+

1 Minute Review

Established in 2009, Vantage is a CFD broker with over 15 years in the industry and is trusted by 5,000,000+ traders. Vantage Markets is an excellent choice for both beginner and seasoned traders, offering features tailored to diverse needs. With a low $50 minimum deposit, no account maintenance fees, and access to over 1,000 tradable instruments, it appeals to those seeking affordability and variety. Advanced tools like MetaTrader 4 and 5, TradingView, and proprietary platforms cater to professional traders, while copy trading and educational resources support beginners. Negative balance protection and segregated accounts ensure enhanced security.

Best For

• Professional investors in need of an all-in-one broker
• Those who are keen to learn more with free trading education resources
• Intermediate and advanced traders with a small amount of capital

Pros

• Spreads from 0.0 pips on FX, no overnight fees, and $0 commission on US shares
• 1,000+ CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and bonds to diversify your portfolio
• Leverage options vary from 100:1 to 1000:1, tailored to the regulatory requirements of each region
• Trade like professionals at a low cost with our copy trading tool
• One-click trading, comprehensive TradingView charts, expert market analysis, and real-time price alerts all within the same platform
• Free articles, interactive courses, educational videos, podcasts, and webinars, covering everything from how the markets work, to complex technical strategies
• Real-time market analysis and insights
• Intuitive mobile app with extensive functionality
• Negative balance protection
• 24/7 customer service is ideal for international account holders
• Convenient and seamless deposit and withdrawal process
• ASIC, FSCA, the FCS and VFSC regulations
• Funds withdrawal: 2-5 business days
• Promotional Campaign: Gain an extra 50% on your deposit or up to 100% when you make your first-time deposit to a Perpetual Account

Cons

• Product range could be increased

Vantage Markets is a dynamic online broker that provides access to over 1,000 CFD trading products. It supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, and the Vantage App, offering traders a range of user-friendly tools for web and mobile trading. Through its Vantage Academy, the platform also delivers educational resources, including webinars, eBooks, and courses to help traders expand their market knowledge. Additionally, Vantage offers promotional perks, like deposit bonuses and loyalty rewards, to enrich the trading experience.

Vantage Markets excels with its copy trading feature, enabling users to follow and mirror the strategies of experienced traders. With a strong 15-year reputation for reliability and service, it attracts a global audience looking for flexible trading options. Its diverse range of financial instruments and educational resources make it an appealing choice for both beginners and experienced traders.

Best for Accessible CFD Trading: Plus500

Best For

Leveraged Trading

Pairs Offered

60+

get started securely through Plus500’s website

More Details

Disclosure: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The trading of futures is available through Plus500US Financial Services LLC d/b/a Plus500, a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA ID number 0001398).

Account Minimum

$100

Pairs Offered

60+

1 Minute Review

Plus500 is a CFD broker with a wide portfolio of 2800+ CFDs, 2700+ Shares, and a variety of Futures (Crypto, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest Rates, Energy, and Equity Index). For those who are new to the market, CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. U.S. customers can, instead, take advantage of the US-based Plus500 Futures platform. There’s also the Plus500 CFD platform for CFDs and the Plus500 Invest platform for stocks.

Plus500 US offers a deposit bonus of up to $200, which allows you to trade without paying commissions until the deposit amount is used up. The bonus only applies to your first deposit. In addition, there are:

• No Data fees
• No Platform fees
• No Deposit and withdrawal fees (except wire withdrawal)
• No Routing fees

Remember, however, that there could be overnight funding, currency conversion, guaranteed stop order, and inactivity fees.

81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Low spreads and commissions and no withdrawal fees
• Web platform and mobile app offer robust charting capabilities, ensuring a consistent experience across all devices
• Unlimited demo account & 24/7 customer support
• Plus500 offers three platforms: Plus500 Futures, Plus500 Invest and Plus500 CFD.

Cons

• Lacks some advanced tools making it less attractive for active traders
• Higher fees than competitors, which include currency conversion, overnight funding and more fees

Plus500 is a multi-asset broker that gives Swiss traders access to more than 2,800 CFDs across forex, shares, commodities, indices, crypto and other markets through its proprietary web platform and mobile app. The broker offers 60+ currency pairs, commission-free CFD trading, a $10 account minimum and an unlimited demo account, making it an accessible option for traders who want to get comfortable before trading live. 

Plus500 also supports users with 24/7 customer service and educational resources, which include videos, webinars, eBooks and market insights.

Why We Picked It: Plus500 stands out for its simple platform design, broad CFD offering and low entry point for traders who want a straightforward experience. Its web and mobile platforms are easy to navigate, the demo account has no time limit and traders can access a wide range of markets without paying commissions on trades. While highly active traders may prefer brokers with more advanced tools, Plus500 is a solid choice for Swiss traders looking for a user-friendly CFD and forex trading platform

Best for High Volume Traders: Tickmill

Best For

MT4 and MT5 Traders

Pairs Offered

60+

Get started securely through Tickmill’s website

More Details

Account Minimum

$100

Pairs Offered

60+

1 Minute Review

Tickmill is an award-winning, multi-regulated investment firm offering trading in a plethora of asset classes including, CFDs in forex, precious metals, indices, stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies and bonds.

USD base rate is 1.75%, GBP is 1.75% and EUR is 2.00%.

Apart from offering various platforms, Tickmill caters to traders of all levels by providing competitive pricing, leverage up to 1:500 depending on the entity and client classification, dedicated support, exclusive market analysis and a wide array of trading tools and education.  This low-spread broker offers fast execution, several payment methods and no restrictions on trading strategies such as hedging or scalping.

Futures and Options are offered with Direct Market Access across multiple globally regulated Futures exchanges including CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX, EUREX, ICE Futures Europe and more. Real Futures include Stocks, Indices, Forex, Metals, Cryptos and Energies like the Micro E-Mini S&P 500, Micro E-Mini Nasdaq 100 and Micro Bitcoin Futures.

Future and Options are offered with probably the lowest fees and transparent commission structures in the industry, ultra-low latency, and seamless trading solutions for high volume trading with reliable, flawless order routing underpinned by advanced technologies.

Tickmill has become a trusted market-leading broker because of its commitment to seeking regulations in several jurisdictions. Traders have access to forex, stocks, commodities, cryptocurrency and bond markets as well as Futures and Options.

Free educational content and advanced tools are available for novice and experienced traders to help them enhance their trading strategies and achieve their trading goals.

The 20+ awards received are a testament to Tickmill’s commitment to providing optimal trading conditions for retail and institutional clients. Besides offering low spreads and fast execution, Tickmill ensures no trading restrictions, access to CFDs and occasionally runs campaigns (under Tickmill Ltd) to reward traders for their loyalty and activities.

Best For

• Forex, stocks, commodities, precious metals, bonds and crypto with competitive conditions
• Futures & Options trading with probably the lowest fees in the industry
• Retail and institutional clients
• Traders seeking various platforms and accounts
• Beginners wanting free trading tools and educational material
• Traders incorporating advanced tools and algorithm systems

Pros

• Strongly regulated broker
• Swap-free accounts available
• Enables access to various markets and asset classes
• Fast execution speed in milliseconds
• Crypto trading available 24/7 with 0 Commissions, 0 Swaps
• Deposits and withdrawals in BTC, ETH and USDT
• Free educational content
• Negative balance protection
• Mobile app available for account management
• User-friendly client area
• Free demo accounts
• Regulators: Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), DFSA UAE, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA),

Cons

• Live chat is unavailable on weekends
• Simple news feeds available

Tickmill is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in Seychelles (FSA), ensuring that they adhere to strict financial regulations and guidelines to protect investor funds. They offer competitive spreads and low trading fees, making it a cost-effective option for Swiss traders looking to maximize their profits in the forex market. Tickmill offers a transparent and fair trading environment, with no requotes and fast order execution.

The broker also provides a wide range of trading instruments, including major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies. Tickmill offers advanced trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. They provide excellent customer support in multiple languages, including English, German, and French. Customer support is available 24/5 via live chat, email, and phone.

Best for Dedicated Forex Traders: FOREX.com

Best For

Excellent Trading Conditions and Overall Offerings

Pairs Offered

80+

get started securely through FOREX.com’s website

More Details

Disclosure: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The products and services available to you will depend on your country of residence and the FOREX.com entity that holds your account, as well as any as well as any applicable regulatory guidelines. To verify the availability of any products or features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly

Account Minimum

$100

Pairs Offered

80+

1 Minute Review

FOREX.com is a highly trusted global broker for forex and CFD traders. With a massive range of tradable currencies, low account minimums and an impressive trading platform, FOREX.com is an excellent choice for traders searching for a home base for their currency trading. New traders and seasoned veterans alike will love FOREX.com’s extensive education and research center that provides free, informative forex trading courses at multiple skill levels.

FOREX.com is regulated by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and member of the National Futures Association (NFA) in the U.S. They also are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK among other regulators including CIRO, ASIC and more.

Best For

• Beginner forex traders
• Active forex traders

Pros

• Impressive, easy-to-navigate platform
• Up to 30:1 leverage
• Access to 80+ FX pairs and 80+ technical indicators
• Trade to your full capability with the mobile app with quality execution with one-swipe trading, advanced TradingView charting and analysis tools, real-time trade & order alerts and full account management features
• Exclusive trading tools including Trading Central, TradingView, Smart Signals and Performance Analytics
• EUR/USD spread as little as 0.0 and low commissions
• 30 indicators for technical analysis, nine timeframes and graphical objects such as Line Studies and Shapes on MT4
• Various tradable asset classes including forex, shares CFDs, crypto CFDs, commodities and indices

Cons

• No negative balance protection
• $15 per month inactivity fee after no trading activity for 12 months

FOREX.com is a top broker with respect to client assets. While it may not be regulated by FINMA, it is regulated by the NFA and CFTC in the United States, in addition to the U.K., Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Cayman Islands.

The broker segregates client accounts from its own and offers an Islamic account option. The company has several desktop, mobile, and web-based platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms from MetaQuotes.

With respect to leverage, FOREX.com has a rather low (but safe) maximum leverage ratio of 50:1 available to clients trading currency pairs. You can visit the broker’s official website for more information at FOREX.com.

Best for Traders of All Skill Levels: Capital.com

Best For

Market-Leading Spreads

Pairs Offered

N/A

get started securely through Capital.com’s website

More Details

Disclosure: CFD trading involves a high level of risk. 74% of retail investors lose money.

Account Minimum

N/A

Pairs Offered

N/A

1 Minute Review

Capital.com is an award-winning global contract for difference (CFD) broker offering more than 3,000+ tradable markets using instruments like CFDs, and spread bets for U.K. clients. Ideal for day traders, Capital.com has an app available for both Apple and Android smartphones, and trading is always commission-free (other fees may apply). With 24/7 customer service and a wealth of trading guides and educational materials, Capital.com is a great CFD broker, although you’ll need to make sure the product you wish to trade is available in your particular location.

Best For

• Derivatives traders
• Day traders
• Traders located in the United Kingdom or Ireland
• Traders with expertise in complex instruments like CFDs

Pros

• Competitive bid/ask spreads
• 24/7 customer service
• Intuitive mobile app available at Google Play and Apple App Stores

Cons

• Not available for United States residents
• High-risk investments for retail traders

Capital.com is a popular choice for traders due to its user-friendly platform, a wide range of tradable instruments and caters to both beginners and experienced traders. 

Beginners can use the user-friendly demo account offered by the broker to learn about charts, positions and indicators. For experienced traders, Capital.com provides intuitive charts, drawing tools and over 75 indicators to improve analysis skills. The broker has fast execution times, quick withdrawal processing and responsive customer service. In addition, the platform offers educational resources and 24/7 support for traders. Traders can also manage their exposure comfortably with flexible position sizing.

Best for Low-Spreads: TMGM

Best For

IRESS Trading

Pairs Offered

50+

Get started securely through TMGM’s website

Founded in 2013, TMGM is an Australian forex and CFD broker serving traders globally. The company provides a wide variety of instruments on MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms. TMGM offers rapid order execution, competitive pricing, and an array of supporting tools. TMGM allows you to trade with 60 different currency pairs and ultra-low spreads. Users have access to multiple markets such as forex, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, indices, and shares.

Trading Forex in Switzerland

The Swiss national currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), which is divided into 100 smaller denominations. Since Switzerland is a multilingual country, this 1/100 of a franc denomination is known as a rappen in German, a centime in French, a centesimo in Italian and a rap in Romansh.

According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Swiss franc was the seventh most-traded currency in 2016, making up around 4.8 percent of overall forex market turnover that year. The CHF also ranked eighth among the world’s most popular reserve currencies, amounting to roughly 0.15% of total central bank reserves in the third quarter of 2018, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

With respect to Swiss financial sector regulation, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) supervises the financial system in Switzerland that includes online forex brokers. The regulator oversees financial institutions and aims to protect investors by making sure that Switzerland’s financial markets function well. Financial institutions need to be authorized by FINMA before commencing operation.

When it comes to trading currencies, Switzerland has several reputable forex brokers based in the country itself, although Swiss residents can easily deposit money and trade forex via accounts held with foreign brokers.

Keep in mind that if you do choose a foreign forex broker, it will generally be overseen by one or more regulators in the country, so make sure to select a foreign broker with a reputable and reasonably strict regulatory organization.

What to Look for in a Swiss Forex Broker

You can also choose among foreign brokers that are regulated abroad but still accept Swiss clients, such as FOREX.com, for example. If English is not your first language, then you will probably want to select a broker that has its website translated into your preferred language, as well as a customer service desk staffed with people who speak it.

All of the Swiss brokers and most of the top foreign forex brokers already have their English websites translated into German, French or Italian. Remember that if a broker has established an office in Switzerland and is regulated by FINMA, then that would be ideal since that tends to make a broker act more responsibly because legal action can be taken against them in Switzerland. Litigating abroad can be challenging and cost you extra time and money to seek justice if problems arise.

Additionally, whether a broker is based in Switzerland or elsewhere, the best online brokerage will generally have the following 11 characteristics:

• A good reputation
• Will accept you as a client
• Well regulated
• Requires a minimum deposit you can afford
• Offers all currency pairs and assets you wish to trade in
• Allows a sufficient leverage ratio for your preferred trading strategy
• Makes prices with competitive dealing spreads
• Provides negative balance protection
• Has minimal order slippage
• Segregates client accounts from its own
• Has intuitive deposit and withdrawal procedures

Another key factor to take into account when looking for a suitable online forex broker is what type of trading software the broker supports. Many brokers offer proprietary trading platforms to clients, while some rely on third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5 from MetaQuotes.

Final Thoughts on Swiss Forex Brokers

If you live in Switzerland, choose a well-regulated broker that segregates clients’ accounts from its own accounts and deposits with a top-tier bank. Regulation by FINMA is strong and highly recommended, while the NFA and CFTC also provide strict oversight. Select a forex broker if your margin deposit will be kept safe. Any trading gains will be promptly sent to you when asked. Research the client reputation ratings of each broker and check to see if account holders have any unresolved issues with the broker.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Best Swiss Forex Brokers by Jay and Julie Hawk appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

A contract for difference (CFD) is an agreement to exchange the cash difference between the initial and closing price of a position. Although a CFD’s value depends on the price of a specific underlying asset, it remains a derivative financial instrument that does not involve actually buying or selling the asset.

Are you looking for a way to trade CFDs in Canada? How you trade CFDs is just as important as the broker you use to trade, so make sure you carefully select a Canadian CFD broker. 

Quick Look: Best CFD Brokers in Canada

• Best for Online Trading Platform: VT Markets
• Best for Leverage Trading With Many Instruments: IFC Markets
• Best for Excellent All Around Offerings: FOREX.com
• Best for Beginners: AvaTrade
• Best for Market-Leading Spreads: Capital.com
• Best for Sophisticated Investors: Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

Best Brokers for CFD Trading in Canada

When looking for the best online broker to trade CFDs through from Canada, you can review the list of our top picks below to choose one that optimally fits your overall requirements.

1. Best for Online Trading Platform: VT Markets

Best For

Online Trading Platform

Overall Rating

Get started securely through VT Markets’s website

More Details

Best For

Online Trading Platform

N/A

1 Minute Review

VT Markets gives traders the opportunity to invest in a wide range of assets, including share CFDs. The platform supports MT4 and MT5 along with their proprietary app, and there are account types that are functional for all types of traders.

Best For

• Indices and share CFDs
• All types of traders
• Desktop or mobile trading

Pros

• Over 1,000 assets to choose from, including share CFDs
• Supports MT4 and MT5
• Account types that work for all types of traders

Cons

• The platform may not feature assets in which you prefer to invest

VT Markets gives traders access to more than 1,000 instruments across forex, indices, commodities, share CFDs, and cryptocurrencies. The broker supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), as well as its proprietary VT Markets App and TradingView integration, making it easy to trade on desktop or mobile.

Traders can choose between two account types — the Standard STP account, ideal for beginners and casual traders, or the Raw ECN account, which offers tighter spreads and lower trading costs for those who demand precision and speed.

Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), VT Markets combines global market access with trusted oversight.

2. Best for Leverage Trading With Many Instruments: IFC Markets

Best For

Low Fees

Pairs Offered

49

Get Started securely through IFC Markets’s website

IFC Markets supports nearly 200,000 clients in 80 countries who want to trade unique assets like forex and CFDs based on stocks, indices, oil, gold, etc. There are over 650 trading instruments from which you may choose, spreads as low as 0.4 floating and 1.8 fixed, instant execution for volume traders and no hidden fees or commissions.

Regulated by The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC) and the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA) in Malaysia, IFC Markets is a safe place to trade for every investor in Canada, and a massive platform where you can  learn more about your investments, study currency pairs and monitor the scope of your portfolio.

Plus, did you know that IFC has won eight international awards for its services? Even better is the GeWorko Portfolio Quoting Method that allows traders to create synthetic assets they can use to bolster and diversify their portfolios. You can create as many of these instruments as you like and take leverage up to 1:400.

3. Best for Excellent All Around Offerings: FOREX.com

Best For

Excellent Trading Conditions and Overall Offerings

Pairs Offered

80+

Get started securely through FOREX.com’s website

More Details

Disclosure: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76%-78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The products and services available to you will depend on your country of residence and the FOREX.com entity that holds your account, as well as any as well as any applicable regulatory guidelines. To verify the availability of any products or features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly

Account Minimum

$100

Pairs Offered

80+

1 Minute Review

FOREX.com is a highly trusted global broker for forex and CFD traders. With a massive range of tradable currencies, low account minimums and an impressive trading platform, FOREX.com is an excellent choice for traders searching for a home base for their currency trading. New traders and seasoned veterans alike will love FOREX.com’s extensive education and research center that provides free, informative forex trading courses at multiple skill levels.

FOREX.com is regulated by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and member of the National Futures Association (NFA) in the U.S. They also are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK among other regulators including CIRO, ASIC and more.

Best For

• MetaTrader 4 users
• Beginner forex traders
• Active forex traders
• All types of traders

Pros

• Impressive, easy-to-navigate platform
• Up to 50:1 leverage
• Access to 80+ FX and pairs 80+ technical indicators
• EUR/USD spread as little as 0.0 and low commissions
• 30 indicators for technical analysis, nine timeframes and graphical objects such as Line Studies and Shapes on MT4
• Trade to your full capability with the mobile app with quality execution with one-swipe trading, advanced TradingView charting and analysis tools, real-time trade & order alerts and full account management features
• Exclusive trading tools including TradingView and Performance Analytics
• Various tradable assets including forex, stock CFDs, commodity CFDs, indices CFDs and ETF CFDs

Cons

• No negative balance protection
• $15 per month inactivity fee after no trading activity for 12 months

FOREX.com lets you trade CFDs on a wide range of global stock market indices and numerous commodities, including metals, softs and energies. You can also use this broker to trade over 80 currency pairs in several account types aimed at traders with differing needs.

FOREX.com requires just a $250 minimum deposit to get started trading CFDs, although a direct market access (DMA) account requires a $25,000 initial deposit. The broker also offers an extensive array of useful research and educational material for traders.

This broker’s supported trading platforms include MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and NinjaTrader, in addition to its own proprietary ForexTrader Pro platform for desktops. Platforms are also available for web browsers and mobile devices. 

4. Best for Beginners: AvaTrade

Best For

Non U.S. Forex & CFD Traders

Pairs Offered

50+

get started securely through AvaTrade’s website

More Details

Account Minimum

100 EURO

Pairs Offered

50+

1 Minute Review

AvaTrade is a highly trusted and globally recognized brand known for its wide range of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders. They provide exceptional educational content, so much so they earned the Best in Class rating for Education and Beginners again in 2024.

A fully regulated broker with a presence in Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, British Virgin Islands, Australia and Japan. AvaTrade deals with mainly forex and CFDs on stocks, commodities, indexes, forex and cryptocurrencies. This brokerage is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and began offering its services in 2006. It offers multiple trading platforms and earns mainly through spreads.

Best For

• Beginners
• Advanced traders
• Traders looking for a well-diversified portfolio

Pros

• Controlled by regulatory agencies of multiple countries
• Choice offered in terms of trading platforms
• Support available in 14 languages and trading platforms in 20 languages
• Practice/demo account available
• Breadth of trading assets
• Excellent educational resources

Cons

• Does not accept customers from the U.S. as it isn’t regulated in the U.S.
• Transferring funds to the account may take up to five days; withdrawals could take up to 10 days

AvaTrade offers a reliable and user-friendly forex trading platform with a range of features and tools to suit traders of all levels. With their extensive selection of trading instruments, educational resources, and responsive customer support, AvaTrade is a solid choice for anyone looking to enter the world of forex trading.

AvaTrade is regulated by multiple financial authorities, including the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Central Bank of Ireland and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. This provides traders with peace of mind knowing that their funds are held in segregated accounts and that the platform operates in accordance with strict regulatory guidelines.

5. Best for Market-Leading Spreads: Capital.com

Best For

Market-Leading Spreads

Pairs Offered

N/A

get started securely through Capital.com’s website

More Details

Disclosure: CFD trading involves a high level of risk. 74% of retail investors lose money.

Account Minimum

N/A

Pairs Offered

N/A

1 Minute Review

Capital.com is an award-winning global contract for difference (CFD) broker offering more than 3,000+ tradable markets using instruments like CFDs, and spread bets for U.K. clients. Ideal for day traders, Capital.com has an app available for both Apple and Android smartphones, and trading is always commission-free (other fees may apply). With 24/7 customer service and a wealth of trading guides and educational materials, Capital.com is a great CFD broker, although you’ll need to make sure the product you wish to trade is available in your particular location.

Best For

• Derivatives traders
• Day traders
• Traders located in the United Kingdom or Ireland
• Traders with expertise in complex instruments like CFDs

Pros

• Competitive bid/ask spreads
• 24/7 customer service
• Intuitive mobile app available at Google Play and Apple App Stores

Cons

• Not available for United States residents
• High-risk investments for retail traders

When you use Capital.com, you can trade CFDs on the NASDAQ 100, gold, oil, Tesla and about 6500 other places. Plus, Capital.com makes trading affordable, simple and safe with:

• Tight spreads
• No commissions
• Fast order execution
• High privacy and security standards
• Educational tools
• Current news items

Capital.com is regulated by:

• Financial Conduct Authority
• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
• National Bank of the Republic of Belarus

The platform also uses your trading behavior to make suggestions and inform you of what might improve your results. The AI technology steps in to help, in much the same way an online retailer makes product suggestions. You can check your account at any time, review educational information, check the news once again and invest in as many CFDs you like.

6. Best for Sophisticated Investors: Interactive Brokers

Best For

Professional Traders

Pairs Offered

100+

Get started securely through Interactive Brokers’s website

More Details

Account Minimum

$0

Pairs Offered

100+

1 Minute Review

Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 160 global markets, allowing you to access the forex market with ease. Options, futures and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to foreign markets
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simpler
• Massive range of accounts and assets

Pros

• Quality desktop platform and mobile app mirrors the desktop platform
• Tight spreads as narrow as 1/10 PIP
• Industry-leading product and service portfolio featuring ultra-low trading fees
• Algorithmic trading available
• Asset selections that cover over 160 financial markets
• More regulated globally than any other broker
• Deep liquidity and real time quotes from 17 of the world’s largest FX dealers
• Low commissions, 0.08 to 0.20 bps times trade size, with no hidden spreads or markups

Cons

• The scope of this platform may intimidate some traders
• Only accepts institutional traders in the U.S.
• Lack of forex charts on the web platform

You can operate in an unusually large number of global financial markets under the Canadian branch of Interactive Brokers. Interactive Brokers’ Trader WorkStation (TWS) platform is also one of the best-rated platforms for CFD trading. 

Interactive Brokers makes CFDs on forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities and treasuries available to its trading clients. Review Interactive Brokers’ CFD Product Listings for a full listing of the stocks you can trade, which include large- and medium-cap stocks from the U.S., Japan, Western Europe and Nordic countries.

Some of the more liquid small-cap stocks are also available in many markets.  

Interactive Brokers’ commission schedule is a bit complicated, although its fees remain among the industry’s most competitive. The broker also makes its extensive educational material and research available to clients. Interactive Brokers charges an inactivity fee if you leave your account idle and also requires you to make a $10,000 initial deposit to open an account.  

What to Look for in a Canadian CFD Broker

Any acceptable CFD broker operating in Canada will be regulated by the IIROC, as well as potentially by a local regulator in the province they are based in. The broker may also submit to regulatory oversight in other well-regulated countries or regions such as the U.S., Great Britain and the European Union. 

Online CFD brokers in Canada also provide a different set of services and assets you can trade, so choose one that has the best features and supports the CFD markets you want to operate in. The following list covers additional things that the best CFD brokers typically offer. 

Good Trading Platform

All decent online CFD brokers should offer easy-to-use trading software free of charge. Many online brokers like FOREX.com have a proprietary platform, although you can trade CFDs through the popular MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms you can download for free from MetaQuotes’ website.

You can enter orders, draw charts, perform fundamental and technical analysis, test strategies over historical data, create your own indicators and automate your trading plans on these similar platforms.

Customer Service

You’ll want your CFD broker to have a responsive customer service department if you encounter a trading error or have an important question to ask. You should be able to contact your broker via phone, live chat, email and fax. Your broker should also provide a FAQ with detailed answers to questions clients often ask.

Low Dealing Spreads, Commissions and Fees

Most CFD brokers make their money from the dealing spread, but some may also charge trading fees or commissions. These transaction costs should be as low as possible, although longer-term CFD traders may not be as sensitive to this. 

Research and Educational Materials

Most top CFD brokers have a research department that provides fundamental and/or technical analysis for their clients. They may also offer trade ideas and educational materials that those newer to CFD trading may appreciate. 

Take Your Pick of CFD Forex Brokers in Canada

CFD trading on a variety of underlying assets and asset types is available in Canada through a wide range of online brokers, including the especially reputable brokers listed above. 

Canadian CFD traders benefit from the relatively high security of their local regulatory environment and an impressive protected deposit amount of CAD $1 million, in addition to wide options when CFD trading. 
While safer, this strict regulation can make CFD trading more challenging if you use high leverage ratios as part of your trading strategy.

Several provincial financial regulators in Canada can also complicate regulatory matters for traders who live in the affected provinces of Ontario, Québec and British Columbia. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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