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This secure framework acts as a base for some of lowest cost trading in the market with trade execution backed up by some very impressive behind the scenes infrastructure designed to offer the best access to the financial markets. Read the full review of Tickmill
ALB.com is a peculiar patch of color on the map of the European online Forex/CFD industry.
Launched only in 2017 – which makes it a rookie, in theory – the operation has already picked up a number of prestigious European financial industry awards.
It has been deemed The Best Forex Company and Trade Execution House in Europe in 2017 and it has also picked up the Best Newcomer Award at the 2017 Chinese Forex Expo.
The company has struck up a regional partnership with football team Borussia Dortmund in Italy .
Long story short: ALB have been very busy on the marketing front following their launch and they have accomplished impressive feats over a remarkably short time in this regard.
The corporate entity was registered on 28.02.2017 and the MFSA license was issued on 30.03.2017.The company address is 48, Casa Roma, Sir Augustus Bartolo Street, Ta’Xbiex, Malta. Its company ID is C 79767
ALB Ltd. is authorised and licensed by the MFSA (Malta Financial Services Authority) to provide investment services under the Investment Services Act. It holds a category 3 licence and is authorised to provide 2 investment services; dealing on own account and the execution of orders on behalf of other persons. It caters to retail clients, professional clients (including collective investment schemes) as well as eligible counterparties.
The MFSA is an EU regulator, which means that the license it has granted to ALB.com gives the latter the right to operate all over the EEA – obviously, with the exception of countries that have banned online trading for most intents and purposes.
With that, we can safely conclude that the regulatory footings of the operations are very solid.
ALB.com’s approach to conquering the European markets is proficient, well executed and effective.
Why would you want to pick these guys over their – possibly more experienced – competitors?
ALB.com takes great pride in the technology it employs. Indeed, the trading platforms are cutting-edge ones and the trading conditions are more than decent as well.
In addition to that, the broker is a trusted and regulated one – as pointed out above – and it is a member of the Investor Compensation Scheme, in compliance with EU Directive 97/9.
The funds deposited by traders are kept in segregated accounts. The financial statements of the operation are audited regularly by Price Waterhouse Coopers.
While it does not produce its own analysis and educational material, the broker provides access to third party suppliers of such services and perks.
Perhaps most importantly: the broker claims to offer negative balance protection. The best possible way to trade securely is to choose a regulated broker, as regulation requires that the broker protects a customer’s negative balance, thus clients cannot lose more than they have initially deposited. As a regulated broker ALB provides this. Moreover, as a member of the Investor Compensation Scheme (ICS), customers enjoy the protection of a rescue fund in the event that the firm ceases to operate due to failure.
ALB.com Trading Platforms
The trading platform selection of the broker is truly impressive: it has some of the best and most popular platforms lined up, including MT4, MT5 and MetaQuotes’ WebTrader – catering for every possible need on the part of the traders.
Those who know their trading platforms, know too well that this selection is most likely not happenstance: every one of the featured platforms caters for different needs.
MT4 is beyond doubt, the most popular and arguably: the most capable trading platform.
In addition to superb charting capabilities, not to mention a fully customizable trading environment, MT4 supports automated trading too, through EAs. EAs are indeed among the best-liked features of the MetaQuotes platform suite and they work best in conjunction with a good and reliable VPS service.
MT4 is available for mobile devices too.
MT5 might sound like the natural evolutionary iteration of MT4, but it is a little different in several regards.
That said, it does offer a superb set of features and capabilities, such as outstanding technical analysis made easy by over 80 built-in technical indicators.
There’s an economic calendar available through the platform as well, which is VERY handy in regards to fundamental analysis.
No fewer than 8 order types are supported by the platform: stop loss, take profit, sell/buy stop limit, sell limit, sell stop, buy stop and buy limit.
The user interface is available in scores of different languages.
Like MT4, MT5 is available in a mobile version as well. This version comes with some 30 preinstalled technical indicators, and it too supports no fewer than 3 chart types and 9 time frames.
The WebTrader is for those who can’t be bothered to download and install anything on their local machines. The browser-compatibility of the Web Trader is superb: all one really needs to access it is an internet connection.
Features-wise – though it is definitely not the equal of the full MT4/MT5 platforms – the WebTrader covers 9 time frames and some 30 of the most popular and useful technical indicators.
Through Market Watch, it delivers real time market quotes.
Deposit/Withdrawal Methods
In this regard, ALB.com accepts credit cards and bank wire transfers.
Furthermore: for credit cards, EUR and USD deposits are accepted. As far as wire transfers go, users can deposit in EUR, USD, CHF and GBP.
Withdrawals are said to be processed on the day when the request is received.
All client funds deposited with ALB are fully segregated from the company’s own funds and are kept in separate bank accounts. ALB ensures that funds belonging to clients cannot be used for any other purpose. Furthermore, ALB has its interim and annual financial reports audited by Price Waterhouse Coopers, a leading global financial auditor.
Market Coverage and Trading Conditions
The market coverage of the broker is excellent. It handles the usual main categories of currency pairs, indices, energies, commodities and cryptos.
As usual, FX pairs feature some of the best trading conditions. The spread on the EUR/USD pair is 8. More than 100 currency pairs can be traded, and as far as account-types go, there’s a raw spread account as well as an ECN one at traders’ disposal.
Agricultural commodities such as wheat, soybean and corn can be traded, as well as energies such as oil and natural gas.
In regards to cryptocurrencies: a total of 5 are available: bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, XRP and bitcoin Cash. The spreads on this asset class are rather substantial though which – considering the volatility of these digital assets – is understandable.
It is important to point out that no actual crypto purchases can be made at ALB.com. This asset class is traded through a financial derivative.
European, North American and Asian indices are also available for derivative-based trading.
ALB Conclusion
ALB.com may be a new player on the online FX/CFD court, but it is by no means a greenhorn.
The broker has put together a very attractive overall trading package, with superb platforms and an outstanding market coverage.
The fact that ALB.com is Malta-regulated and that it offers multiple layers of investor-protection, cannot be overlooked either. There’s the Investor Compensation Scheme membership, the negative balance protection and the protection entailed by the use of segregated accounts for client monies.
To ensure a personalised service is given to each customer with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism, ALB services its clients in 8 different languages with a personal account manager available in live chat and phone support.
Please be advised that certain products and/or multiplier levels may not be available for traders from EEA countries due to legal restrictions.
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