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Multi-Asset Brokers and Why You Should Consider Them



Aug 12, 2021  
Multi-asset brokers can be a great choice if you like to trade with different instruments. What are the advantages?

More and more traders realize that forex isn't the only market to trade. Other assets can potentially bring profit. This fact has intrigued people to experience other markets. Trading with multiple instruments is also beneficial for asset diversification and hedging. This is where a multi-asset broker comes in handy.

In short, multi-asset brokers are brokerage firms that allow investors and traders to access various assets. For example, a forex broker allows you to trade in the foreign exchange market. Still, a multi-asset broker enables you to trade in forex, cryptocurrency, bonds, and even commodities within the same platform.

 

Should You Consider Switching?

Nowadays, more and more traders realize the importance of asset diversification and hedging. By doing this, traders can minimize the risk of losing all their money when the market is unpredictable. Using a multi-asset broker is always great to have different assets in your portfolio. Let's say you suffer a huge loss in one market, your risk can be minimized if you trade in a market with a negative correlation to the losing one. 

Why must you consider multi-asset brokers? Why don't you trade different assets with different brokers? The answer to this question is that using a multi-asset broker is way simpler, cheaper, and easier to watch over your trading assets. Here are five reasons why trading multi-asset in a broker is great.

 

1. More Instruments = Good Brokers

The competition among brokers forces traders to be smarter. Nowadays, investors prefer multi-asset brokers that allow them to trade in different markets; they are considered more flexible and adaptable to the ever-changing needs of modern traders. Therefore, a broker's initiative to provide access to multiple markets becomes important. The more instruments they can provide, the more impressive their flexibility is.

Many experienced brokers have answered this demand by expanding their service to other markets. Some expand to cryptocurrency, stock, commodity, ETF, etc.

 

2. Range of Opportunity

Asset diversification isn't new in the trading community. It's widely known that some assets are connected, which means their price may affect each other. When one market is falling, another market will rise. Traders who only stick to one asset may lose the opportunity to exploit this correlation.

With a multi-asset broker, traders will have more choices to trade with. For example, you could hold a long-term stock trading or day trade in the crypto market or vice versa. That way, your trading activity will be more diverse.

 

3. Hedging

In simple terms, hedging is a risk management strategy traders use to reduce loss in investment. Usually, this strategy is done by taking an opposite position in a related asset. Ideally, the asset should have negative correlations, such as USD and gold.

Let's say you hold a long position in USD but are worried about the upcoming NFP release. You decided to take positions in the gold market to minimize your loss because the price is negatively correlated with USD. That way, if the USD price goes down, you still gain profit from gold. Hedging is a common strategy among traders. Doing it with the same broker will be easier, so you can monitor your positions easily.

 

4. Risk Diversification

Another reason to use a multi-asset broker is risk diversification. In short, it's a strategy investors use to manage risk in trading. The main idea is to spread your money across many different assets. That way, if one market is in turbulence, the other will balance it out. Not to be confused with hedging, diversification is a strategy to minimize the risk of trading while maximizing profit at the same time.

Before doing this, traders usually study the correlations of each asset. Then, they will try to open positions in several instruments simultaneously. Sometimes, they must try several times to determine which ones work for them. However, doing this can be hard if you don't use a multi-asset broker.

 

5. Buying Power

Trading in multiple markets within the same broker also affects your buying powers. Normally, multi-asset brokers offer their clients a margin account for leveraged derivatives trading. Traders with more experience will prefer to trade with leverage because it's an efficient use of their capital. Not only will leverage allow traders to access unaffordable markets, but it will also amplify their potential profits.

 

List of Multi-Asset Brokers You Can Try

Multi-asset brokers are not hard to find these days. However, choosing the best one might be a different question. Here are some recommendations that you can try:

 

1. Pepperstone

Pepperstone is a well-regulated broker. This broker offers fast and reliable service without intervention in the dealing desk process. As a multi-asset broker, their service covers forex, cryptocurrencies, shares, indices, commodities, and many more.

For traders looking for a low spread, Pepperstone allows you to enjoy a spread as low as 0.0 pips with no requotes. Furthermore, this broker is also novice-friendly. They offer educational content for new traders barely diving into the market.

 

2. FP Markets

FP Markets is an Australian-based brokerage that has been around since 2005. This broker allows you to trade with instruments such as forex, metals, and indexes. ASIC and CySEC regulate FP Markets, so your safety is guaranteed. They also offer a different range of payment method, which includes Bitcoin, Credit/Debit Cards, Ethereum, FasaPay, Local bank transfer, Neteller, Ripple, Skrill, Tether (USDT), and Wire Transfer.

 

3. InstaForex

InstaForex is a seasoned player in the field, as it has been around since 2007. It is now considered one of the biggest brokers among retail FX traders. This broker offers a variety of derivatives such as FX, stocks, indices, precious metals, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies. They also have a wide range of payment options. InstaForex has disadvantages; transactions with this multi-asset broker can be slow and costly. 

 

4. CMC Markets

CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and is based in London. This broker is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Multi-asset brokers offer options such as forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, shares, share baskets, and treasuries. They also have a very well-laid-out support center. However, this isn't a 24-hour service; you can contact them during normal working hours. 

This multi-asset broker has many ways to fund your account. You can use a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer. The time for processing transactions will be between one and five days. 

 

5. Saxo Bank

The FCA regulates Saxo Bank, an online broker since 1998. Since then, this multi-asset broker has continued to evolve, allowing their traders to trade in different markets. You can trade assets with Saxo Banks are forex, stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, and CFDs. 

Although they offer various investments, they only have one payment option. This can be a disadvantage if you seek a broker with different payment options.

 

6. IG

This multi-asset broker was founded in 1974 and under the regulations of various top financial watchdogs. You can access many financial markets through IG, such as forex, shares, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, etc. This broker is mainly focused on CFD trading. They even proclaim themselves to be the number one CFD provider in the world. 

 

7. XTB

XTB allows their traders to experience different instruments such as forex, silver, metals, indexes, oil, and even gold. Multiple regulatory bodies have also licensed this multi-asset broker. They offer different payment methods such as Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, and Wire transfer.

 

8. FBS

FBS operates as a versatile multi-asset broker, enabling trading across assets encompassing forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and commodities. Forex trading is notably prominent on the platform, with different account options available, such as the Standard account with a 2-pip spread, the Cent account featuring a 4-pip spread, and the Zero spread account guaranteeing a 0-pip spread albeit with a $12.90 commission per lot.

Beyond forex, FBS extends its offerings to CFDs spanning stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and commodities, with spreads varying by asset type, generally lower than those observed in forex trading.

 

After Thought

Although multi-asset brokers have a lot of advantages, some risks come with that. Using their service means you're most likely to trade in multiple markets. While that can be a good thing, it also comes with disadvantages.

Trading multiple assets is tricky since it requires a good intermarket analysis. Most new traders are not equipped with this set of skills. Therefore, before jumping into multi-market trading, learn more about how the intermarket correlation works and gain experience with the strategy so that you won't lose too much.

 

No matter what kind of trading style you do, choosing the right broker is important as it can influence your trading activities and strategies. Make sure your broker is legit. Find out if your broker is a scam by observing the red flags.