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| Feature | Blackbull Markets |
| Minimum deposit: | $200 |
| Withdrawal fee amount: | $5 |
| Inactivity fee charged (Y/N): | N |
| Max leverage: | 500:1 |
| Spread from: | 0.0 pips |
| Number of instruments: | 23,000+ |
| Year founded: | 2014 |
| Time to open account: | 1-2 business days |
| Demo account provided (Y/N): | Y |
| Countries of regulation: | New Zealand, United Kingdom, Seychelles |
| Products offered: |
BlackBull Markets is a dynamic New Zealand based broker with a global client base. Its innovative approach to trading comes from the firm’s management team having heaps of market experience and an appetite to draw on the skills of the fin-tech community of Auckland.
The resulting platform is institution-grade with client-pleasing VPS setups in London, New York and Tokyo. The additional NYC Servers, BeeksFX and API services ensure BlackBull Markets benefit from pioneering low latency levels.
The MetaTrader platforms, MT4 and MT5, are available, so the range of asset classes on offer is strong and includes everything from major and minor foreign exchange pairs to indices and precious metals.
The relatively complex account structure means new users must consider their options when setting up but are ultimately likely to find a better fit.
Its mobile apps are available on both iOS and Android. The broker also has a cutting-edge data solution to ensure modern, fast, and reliable connectivity. The presence of a backup continuity solution means that traders can have confidence that their access to the system will be available, no matter what.
This broker also offers an extensive customer service function with communication options of telephone and live chat. Account set up and cash deposits and withdrawals are easy to process. Deposits incur no charges, but some third-party costs may be involved on withdrawals, depending on the method chosen.
It’s worth noting that there is no one set of rules at BlackBull Markets when it comes to commissions and fees. On the contrary, traders will need to select an account type from the variety on offer – and the financial implications involved in each will vary. The commission-free Standard Account, for example, has a minimum initial deposit of US$200 and spreads begin at the 0.8 level. Micro lot trading is available, and leverage can reach 1:500
Meanwhile, those who go for the Prime account will be faced with a much higher initial minimum deposit of US$2,000. Minimum spread levels will drop to 0.1, though there will also be a commission of US$6 per lot on a ‘round turn’ basis.
It’s also possible to opt for what is known at this broker as an Institutional account, which involves a minimum deposit of US$20,000. Here, spreads can begin from as low as 0.0. However, the commission levels are listed on the broker website as “negotiable”, suggesting that traders may have to ask for more information from the broker’s management before proceeding.
There are, however, some consistencies across the account types. Leverage rates on all three account types are 1:500, and it’s also the case that the minimum lot sizes across the accounts lie at 0.01 per round turn.
Aside from this structure of basic accounts, there are also two specialist accounts or account services on offer. The Islamic account can be activated alongside the Standard or Prime accounts, and in terms of fees, the main difference is that it does not charge swap fees for transactions that are kept open overnight. That is because it would involve an interest-related transaction, which is prohibited under the laws of Islam. The Active Trader account is also worth investigating, as it can offer a variety of specialist services, including a dedicated account manager.
This broker says that it does not charge fees on withdrawing cash. However, there may be some fees levied by payment provider services. It specifies, for example, that credit card withdrawals are likely to incur a fee of 5 units of the base account currency.
The Institutional Account might be out of reach of many traders due to its $20,000 minimum deposit requirement. It’s worth mentioning because it highlights how BlackBull offers both entry-level and institutional-grade trading. Both work off the same platforms and network which is great news for smaller traders looking to piggyback on services that support professional traders.
Platform choice is one of the most positive aspects of using BlackBull Markets. It’s clearly very important to the broker, and traders will see knock-on benefits as a result.
MetaTrader 5 is offered by this broker, which is helpful given the extensive range of features it provides. These include well over 20 timeframes for highly customised price chart analysis, as well as a built-in economic calendar for fundamental analysis of broader financial, economic and political conditions. Customers who are more familiar with the MetaTrader 4 service, which is the previous and less advanced iteration of the system, can still use that if they wish.
However, it’s in the home-grown platforms and technology infrastructure that this broker comes into its own. BlackBull Markets uses what is known as the Equinix Data Centre to store its trading ecosystem, meaning that the service from the firm is very powerful. This allows the firm to customise its operating system offer, which for the trader means precise and bespoke services that meet their exact needs.
The system is powered by fibre-optic internet connections and a series of data systems located in multiple different localities across the globe. These include Shanghai and London. The advantage here is that traders can continue to place trades and access the system even if one part of it breaks down. As an additional layer of support, this system is backed up by ‘Business Continuity Trading Rooms’.
BlackBull Markets offers a series of mobile phone applications so that traders can place trades on the go. One of these apps is aimed at the Android market, and another at the Apple mobile operating system software. Both apps are powered by MetaTrader 4. There’s also a separate app available for iPads and tablet computers.
BlackBull Markets has a respectable array of research, education and resources options for traders, though it is perhaps not as extensive as comparable offers from other brokers. Resources are split into two columns on the client support page – one for ‘Education’ and one for ‘Trading Resources’.
The former contains a series of trading guides, including some presented in video formats – expanding the accessibility of the content and offering traders a choice. A trading glossary also exists and organises content
The latter, meanwhile, contains content such as market reviews and news. An economic calendar is also available here.
If a trader has a question for the client support team, they may well be able to find the answer using the database of frequently asked questions located on the broker’s website. These cover a diverse range of topics, such as information about fund security, account management questions, and more. If this does not answer the question, customers can contact the client support team.
In terms of contact details, BlackBull Markets provides a range of options in the footer of its website. It stipulates its physical address, Level 22, 120 Albert Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. It also lists a New Zealand phone number (+64) 9 558 5142, as well as a freephone alternative. It also provides customers with an email address: support@blackbullmarkets.com.
There is also a ‘live chat’ function available on the site, and this claims to be available 24 hours a day, five days a week, which is the standard foreign exchange trading week timeframe. At the time of writing this review, launching the chat service worked, and it appeared to function well.
Something that also falls under the customer service umbrella is the ease with which a deposit can be made to the broker. Luckily, BlackBull Markets accepts deposits in a wide variety of global currencies. These include some of the most obvious options, such as the British pound, the euro and the US dollar, and the South African rand, the Singapore dollar, and several more.
Regarding payment methods, options such as card payments through Visa and Mastercard are on offer – as are some e-wallet and similar services, such as Neteller and Skrill. Bank Wire is also available. Bank Wire takes several days to go through, but the broker can offer instantaneous transactions when other methods are used.
It’s also worth pointing out that this broker offers a demonstration account option to its customers. The trader can decide to use this if they wish to test out trading strategies without any financial risk – though, of course, this does mean that they will not receive any rewards for successful trades either.
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