Swiss Markets
- Trust score
- 4/10
- Legal simplicity
- 5/10
- Min. deposit
- 200
- Payment systems
Features
- Islamic (swap-free) accounts
- Segregated client accounts
- ECN-style accounts
- Scalping permitted
- Affiliate program
- Wide range of trading instruments
Pros
- STP execution with narrow spreads
- Quick, simple account opening and verification
- 100+ stocks available to trade
Cons
- Regulated only offshore
Updated:
Despite the name, Swiss Markets is not Swiss: it operates as BDS Markets out of Mauritius and Seychelles, regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius and the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (SFSA). Founded in 2016, the broker offers MT4 trading on currency pairs, stocks, indices, metals, and energy with leverage up to 1:500. Its offshore regulatory status offers weaker client protection than tier-1 jurisdictions.
Swiss Markets is an offshore forex broker offering Islamic and segregated accounts, ECN-style pricing, scalping, and an affiliate program across a wide range of trading instruments.
Swiss Markets is an offshore forex and CFD broker that trades under the name BDS Markets. The Swiss-sounding brand is misleading: the company is based in Mauritius and Seychelles, not Switzerland, and holds no Swiss license.
Regulation and ownership
Swiss Markets is part of the Swiss Markets Group, founded in 2016, and comprises two entities: BDS Ltd, based in Seychelles and regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (SFSA), and BDS Markets, based in Mauritius and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). Both are offshore regulators with lighter oversight and less client protection than tier-1 authorities such as the FCA or ASIC.
Leverage
Swiss Markets offers leverage up to 1:500 on its most liquid currency pairs, well above the caps set by tier-1 regulators. Higher leverage magnifies both gains and losses, so it calls for careful risk management.
Trading instruments
The broker's instrument range covers:
- Over 50 currency pairs
- Around 130 US and European stocks
- Stock indices, metals, and energy commodities
Trading platform
Swiss Markets runs on MetaTrader 4 (MT4), released in 2005 and still widely used for its custom indicators and Expert Advisors (EAs). Automated trading, mobile trading, and a web terminal are all supported.
Account types and minimum deposit
Two account types are available:
- STP Classic: no commission, spreads from 0.9 pips.
- STP Raw: spreads from 0 pips plus an $11 commission per lot, aimed at more active traders.
The minimum deposit is $200. Supported base currencies are EUR, USD, and GBP, and deposits can be made by bank transfer, Visa/MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, Sofort, or iDEAL.
Account features
Swiss Markets offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts, segregated client funds, an ECN-style raw-spread account, scalping, and an affiliate/partner program. A demo account is available and support runs 24/5. PAMM accounts, social trading, signal services, and VPS hosting are not offered.
Bottom line
Swiss Markets combines competitive spreads and high leverage with an offshore regulatory setup. Traders should weigh the trading conditions against the reduced protection of Mauritius/Seychelles regulation before depositing funds, and compare it against tier-1 regulated alternatives.
