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Review

ETX Capital (aka OvalX) Reviewed: Lots To Like About This Technical Trading Platform. Here’s The Detail

Risk Warning: Your Capital is at Risk.

OvalX (formerly ETX Capital) is an online broker offering Contracts-for-Difference (CFDs), forex, and spread betting. CFDs can be traded across five different asset classes and over 5,000 instruments.

You can choose from two mobile and two desktop platforms, one of them being MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Maximum leverages vary for retail traders based on their location — for example, UK traders get a 30:1 maximum leverage.

This FCA and FSCA-regulated broker’s parent company has over 50 years of industry experience offering trading products and financial services.

Read on to find out about what you can trade, account types, fees, and to dig into an in-depth platform review.

Pros & Cons

ProsCons
Tick IconWide range of available instruments (5,000+)Fewer analysis tools than other comparable brokers
Tick IconFour different platforms to choose fromCosmetic buy/sell signals are confusing in the asset browsing window
Tick IconFree withdrawals on amounts over £100 (up to 5 times a month)Live chat didn't work when we tried it, several times
Tick Icon50+ years of company history
Tick Icon24/5 customer support via phone, live chat, and email

OvalX / ETX Capital: Key Facts

ETX Capital Logo
⭐ Overall Rating
🛍️ ProductCFDs
Spread Betting
📉 Markets Forex
Indices
Shares
Commodities
Bonds
Interest Rates
Cryptocurrencies
🗺️ Availability100+ countries (Read more)
💳 Minimum Deposit£100
💰 FeesBid/ask spread, Swap charge (Read more)
🛡️ Regulator(s)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySec), Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II)
📞 Customer Support24/5 via email, phone, and live chat
🎮 Demo AccountYes

Start Trading Now at OvalX

Products & Spreads

Contracts-for-difference (CFDs) is one of the products available with OvalX. You don’t own the underlying asset, instead, you place a trade and ‘bet’ on a directional price movement.

IMPORTANT: CFDs are not available in the USA due to local regulation, and regulated brokers do not accept US citizens or US residents as clients.

You can also place spread bets on most instruments offered as CFDs. Both are a marginal form of trading. However, CFDs are subject to Capital Gains Tax, while spread betting is not.

A spread is the amount charged for buying and selling a trading instrument. It is made up of the difference between the buy and sell prices of a product often referred to as ‘pip‘.

On instruments like forex pairs, you can also trade forwards contracts — these have a future expiry date.

Here are the available CFD instruments at OvalX’s in-house TraderPro platform, as of January 2022. We included any information that is unlikely to go out of date anytime soon.

Forex CFDs

Minimum spread and minimum margin rates for forex pairs may change over time. Refer to OvalX’s website to ensure they’re up-to-date. Minimum bet sizes are less prone to variation.

See all forex majors.

Minimum / Premium SpreadMin. Bet SizeMin. Margin
AUD/USD0.810p0.05
EUR/CHF1.650p0.0333
EUR/GBP0.850p0.0333
EUR/JPY0.850p0.0333
EUR/USD0.610p0.0333
GBP/EUR1.810p0.0333
GBP/JPY250p0.0333
GBP/USD1.210p0.0333
NZD/USD1.650p0.05
USD/CAD1.850p0.0333
USD/CHF0.850p0.0333
USD/JPY0.810p0.0333

See all forex minors.

Minimum / Premium SpreadMin. Bet SizeMin. Margin
AUD/CAD2.40.10.05
AUD/CHF1.90.10.05
AUD/JPY1.90.10.05
AUD/NZD30.10.05
CAD/CHF30.10.0333
CAD/JPY20.10.0333
CHF/JPY2.90.10.0333
EUR/AUD2.60.10.05
EUR/CAD3.30.10.0333
EUR/NZD50.10.05
GBP/AUD2.90.10.05
GBP/CAD40.10.0333
GBP/CHF30.10.0333
GBP/HKD250.10.05
GBP/NZD4.90.10.05
GBP/ZAR1900.10.05
NZD/CAD2.50.10.05
NZD/CHF4.90.10.05
NZD/JPY20.10.05
USD/HKD100.10.05
USD/SGD40.10.05

See all scandinavian and emerging forex pairs.

Minimum / Premium SpreadMin. Bet SizeMin. Margin
EUR/DKK90.10.05
EUR/SEK480.10.05
EUR/NOK380.10.05
GBP/NOK500.10.05
GBP/SEK600.10.05
USD/DKK90.10.05
USD/NOK250.10.05
USD/SEK300.10.05
EUR/CZK300.10.05
EUR/HUF300.10.05
EUR/PLN280.10.05
EUR/TRY100.10.05
EUR/ZAR1200.10.05
GBP/CZK220.10.05
GBP/PLN360.10.05
SGD/JPY40.10.05
USD/CNH100.10.05
USD/CZK240.10.05
USD/HUF300.10.05
USD/MXN900.10.05
USD/PLN350.10.05
USD/RON600.10.05
USD/RUB4800.10.05
USD/TRY100.10.05
USD/ZAR950.10.05

Index CFDs

See the OvalX website for up-to-date minimum spreads, trading hours, and lot sizes for these indices.

See all daily index CFDs.

Trade Size (Lots)Min. Margin
Euro Stocks 5010.05
France 400.10.05
Germany 400.10.05
Hong Kong 500.20.1
Italy 400.10.1
Japan 22510.05
Russell 20000.10.05
SP 5000.10.05
Spain 350.50.1
UK 1000.10.05
US Tech 1000.10.05
Wall Street0.10.05

See all futures index CFDs.

Trade Size (Lots)Min. Margin
Dollar Index10.1
Euro Stocks 5010.05
France 400.10.05
Germany 400.10.05
Germany Mid 5010.1
Germany Tech 3010.1
Hong Kong 500.20.1
Italy 4010.1
Japan 22510.05
Russell 200010.05
Spain 3510.1
SP 5000.10.05
Switzerland Market Index10.1
UK 10010.05
US Tech 10010.05
Volatility Index10.1
Wall Street0.10.05

Share CFDs

OvalX offers two categories of shares, those that are charged a commission, and commission-free shares.

See all share CFDs.

CommissionMin. ChargeMin. Margin
Eurozone0.001EUR 100.2
Czech Republic0.001CZK 3000.2
Denmark0.001DKK 1000.2
Hungary0.001HUF 35000.2
Norway0.001NOK 1000.2
Poland0.001PLN 500.2
Singapore0.004SGD 150.25
Sweden0.001SEK 1000.2
Switzerland0.001CHF 100.2
United Kingdom0.001GBP 100.2
United States2 centsUSD 150.2
Wall Street Shares0.10.050.2

There are over 200 commission-free shares across the categories listed above, including companies like Tesla, Apple, Rolls Royce, and Amazon.

Commodity CFDs

CFDs on commodities are offered as daily rolling contracts and futures CFD contracts.

There are four daily rolling CFD products at OvalX:

Minimum Trade Size (Lots)Margin Requirement From
Gold0.10.05
Silver0.10.1
Brent Crude0.10.1
Nymex Crude0.10.1

All other commodity CFDs are futures-based:

EnergyMin. SpreadMin. Trade Size (Lots)Min. Margin
Brent Crude Oil0.060.10.1
Carbon Emissions0.0810.1
Natural Gas0.020.10.1
Nymex Oil Futures0.060.10.1
Metals
Copper0.40.10.1
Gold0.60.10.05
Palladium20.10.1
Platinum20.10.1
Silver0.30.10.1
Agricultural
Corn110.1
Cotton0.2410.1
London Cocoa410.1
Lumber1.610.1
Orange Juice0.310.1
Robusta Coffee610.1
Soybean1.510.1
Soybean Oil0.0810.1
US Cocoa610.1
US Coffee 'C'0.410.1
US Sugar (no.11)0.0410.1
Wheat110.1

Crypto CFDs

All cryptocurrency CFDs at OvalX come with variable spreads and tiered margin requirements. These are:

Please Note: Availability subject to regulations. Cryptocurrency CFDs are not available to UK retail traders.

Bond & Interest Rate CFDs

Here are all interest rate and bond CFDs offered:

Interest RatesMin. SpreadTrade Size (Lots)Min. Margin
Euribor0.0110.2
EuroSwiss0.0110.2
Short Sterling0.0110.2
Bonds
10 Yr UK Gilt0.0110.2
Euro Bobl0.0110.2
Euro Bund0.010.50.2
Euro Schatz0.0110.2
French Oat0.0110.2
US T Bond0.0110.2
US 2 Year0.0110.2
US 10 Year0.0110.2

Start Trading Now at OvalX

Account Types & Fees

There are two live trading accounts available at OvalX. The trading account you register for determines which of the three available trading platforms you can use.

You can choose between these accounts:

  • ETX TraderPro Account: Benefit from lower spreads than with an MT4 account. Access the OvalX proprietory trading platform via web and mobile apps (iOS and Android). You can also access ETX Connect, a newly released social trading app.
  • MetaTrader 4 Account: Access to advanced trading and automation tools via MT4, though you’re charged higher spreads. Further access to a remastered version of MetaTrader 4, and the MT4 mobile app.

The main differences between the two account types are:

  • Varying Spreads: TraderPro is cheaper to use.
  • Technical Analysis Tools: MT4 may be preferred by those with prior experience using the software.
  • Social Trading: MT4 account holders don’t get access to ETX Connect.

OvalX offers a professional account for traders with £500,000+ capital and trade history of at least 10 significant trades within the past quarter annum.

A free demo account is also available, though you need to provide the same details as to when you open a live account.

Account Fees

OvalX is one of the better brokers sporting a simple fee structure. Here is a summary of fees you’d expect to apply to a standard account, aside from the previously discussed trading costs.

How the Fee Works
Deposit FeeDeposits are NOT charged. The only charges you could incur are from your bank or building society.
Withdrawal FeeFive free withdrawals of any amount over $100 every year, $10 for each withdrawal thereafter.
$10 for any single withdrawal below $100.
Swap ChargeInterbank rates + 1.35% per annum. Charged when positions are left open overnight (10PM GMT)
Inactivity Fee£25 per month for dormant accounts with available funds. An account is dormant when it's inactive for 365+ days.

OvalX receives most of its compensation through the market bid/ask spread and commission on share CFDs.

Start Trading Now at OvalX

How to Register & Verify Your Account

Once you select the ‘Create Account’ option, you’ll need to provide the following details prior to the eligibility survey:

  • Country of residence and tax registry
  • Nationality
  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Mobile number
  • Email address

Then, you’ll be asked to choose your:

  • Preferred platform (MT4 or TraderPro)
  • Account type (CFD or Spread Betting)
  • Currency

The same requirements apply to opening a free demo account.

Once you’ve registered, you need to verify your account before you make a deposit. To complete the process, you need:

  • Proof-of-identification — like a passport, driver’s license, or national identity card.
  • Proof-of-address — a recent document showing your current address, like a bank statement or utility bill.

Start Trading Now at OvalX

Deposits & Withdrawals

You can deposit funds into your OvalX account via credit/debit card, bank transfer, or other online payment methods.

Available CurrenciesDeposit Processing TimeWithdrawal Processing Time
Credit/Debit CardGBP, USD, EUR, ZAR, PLN, NOK, DKK, CZK, CHFInstant

  • UK: 2-3 business days

  • Europe: 3-5 business days

  • Other: Within 7 business days

Bank TransferGBP, USD, EUR, ZAR, SGD, SEK, RON, PLN, NOK, JPY, HRK, HKD, DKK, CZK, CHF, CAD, AUDWithin 2 hours

  • UK: Within 24 hours

  • Europe: Up to 3 business days

  • Other: Up to 7 business days

Skrill, Neteller, Union Pay (China)GBP, USD, EUR, ZAR, PLN, NOK, DKK, CZK, CHF, CNYInstantWithin 24 hours

There is no deposit fee, but there is a minimum deposit of £100 (or currency equivalent).

Withdrawals have no additional cost for up to five transactions above £100 per year. Any more than five transactions or any transaction under £100 in value incurs a fee of £10.

Margin Requirements & Margin Calls

OvalX sets margin requirements based on the asset category and instrument you trade. The margin is shown as a percentage and represents the amount of cash you need to trade an amount higher than your initial deposit.

For example, OvalX’s margin rates start at 20% for share CFDs.

If you want to buy a CFD worth £1,000 at a margin of 20%, you need to deposit £200, while you borrow the rest from the broker.

Margin trading is risky, and a broker can close your position when your account balance drops under a defined percentage of the required margin for your open trades. This is called a margin call.

OvalX proceeds with margin calls when your cash balance drops under 50% of your initial deposit. Positions can be re-opened when additional funds are added to met the required margin.

Start Trading Now at OvalX

OvalX Mobile & Desktop Platform Review

We tested the Trader Pro platform across several categories. If you trade with OvalX, you will encounter all of the below features at one point or another. Here’s our review and what you can expect.

etx capital mobile trade ticket
Mobile trade ticket with take-profit limit. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.
  • Trading Ticket: Regular/trailing stop-loss and limit-order functionality on both mobile and desktop. There are informational pop-ups that explain how each field works, so it caters to all seasoned and traders-in-training. When you submit an order at a price other than the current market price, you can set an order expiry date.
  • Charting Tools & Analytics: Available tools include variations of bollinger bands, linear regression indicators, MACD, and more. All analytics tools and drawing features are available on both mobile and desktop versions of TraderPro.
etx capital analytics
Bollinger band analysis on desktop chart. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation. This screenshot is only an illustration. Current market prices can be found on the provider website.
  • Position Management: On desktop, this displays under the main asset browsing screen and shows you the quantity, opening price/date, current price, margin, limits placed, and current profit/loss standing. If you didn’t add a stop-loss or take-profit limit when you opened the trade, you can do so afterwards by editing an open order. Order history and alerts are available in the same tab.
etx capital position management
Position management on desktop. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.
  • Customizability: Every window within the trading dashboard has it’s pre-defined place. You can adjust certain views, like the asset browsing screen — instruments can be viewed in rows or blocks. To create new layouts, you need a live account. Watchlists can be made on mobile and desktop, the design is basic and works as it should.
etx capital asset browsing on mobile
Asset browsing on mobile. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.
  • Customer Support: OvalX didn’t have live chat just over a year ago. We tested the live chat functionality several times as an unregistered user, and the chat software couldn’t connect to any agents. A representative did attempt to reach out via e-mail afterwards.
  • Educational Material: Aside from a dedicated Trading Academy, OvalX offers eBooks, platform guides, webinars, and other specific guidance to trading fundamentals. The educational content and trading glossary are available for free, even for unregistered visitors.

How to Access MetaTrader 4 (MT4) with OvalX

Before you can use MetaTrader 4 with OvalX, you need to ensure that you’ve registered an account that specifically opts in for the software’s use.

Then you’ll have access to MT4 web. mobile, as well as a remastered version of MT4. You can download the MT4 app from the OvalX website for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

The main differences using MT4 versus TraderPro are the spreads and technical analysis tools. Pips are higher on MT4 so you pay more to trade. There are 30+ technical indicators — TraderPro has a similar set of tools.

Start Trading Now at OvalX

Who Regulates OvalX?

OvalX is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) allows the company to operate as a regulated entity throughout the European Union.

OvalX is regulated by two other financial regulatory bodies:

  • Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa under license number 50246.
  • Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySec) in Cyprus under license number 096/08.

The FCA regulates OvalX’s activities in the United Kingdom — it is one of the most rigorous financial organizations in the world. Here’s an overview of what this means for British traders:

RegulatorCountries CoveredProtection OfferedAdditional Protection Offered
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UKAll client funds are held in a segregated client bank accountFinancial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) may cover up to £50,000 if ETX Capital fails.

OvalX’s customers in the United Kingdom are protected by the UK-based scheme Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which was established to protect consumers when authorized financial services firms fail.

FSCS pays compensation up to £50,000 to customers in the United Kingdom if OvalX is unable to pay.

OvalX’s Financial Services Register reference number is 124721.

Where Does OvalX Operate?

The broker operates in 100+ countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

OvalX does NOT accept traders from the United States, Belgium, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, alongside other countries not covered under the FCA, FSCA, MiFID, and CySec licenses.

The website and platform are available in seven languages:

  • English
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Czech
  • Italian
  • Danish
  • Slovakian

Start Trading Now at OvalX

Other Brokers Compared

Unsure about OvalX? Here’s a direct comparison to two other UK-based brokers:

ETX CapitalCMC MarketsHYCM
Ways to TradeCFDs, Spread bettingCFDs, Spread betting, Real sharesCFDs, Spread betting
Instruments5,000+11,000+300+
Fixed Spreads Available
Account Opening Fee
Inactivity Fee£25/mo after 365 days£10/mo after 365 days$10/mo after 90 days

None of these UK brokers have deposit fees, except in exceptional cases of bank transfers. All have free withdrawal allowances, after which tailored charges apply.

If OvalX’s selection of 5,000+ instruments is not enough for you, CMC Markets is worth researching.

Start Trading Now at OvalX.com

FAQs

Is OvalX legit?

Regulated by four financial organizations, OvalX (formerly ETX Capital) is considered a legitimate online broker. The company is UK-based and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in aid of British traders. Other regulatory agencies with whom OvalX holds a license include the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySec), and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID).

Who owns OvalX?

OvalX & ETX Capital are the trading names of a company known as Monecor (London) Ltd. Originally, the company was founded as Dusrolgraph Ltd. on June 16, 1965. Key executives currently include Philip Adler (CEO) and Nicholas Iggulden (CFO). Across the board of listed company directors, ownership of the company is not publicly declared.

Does OvalX allow scalping?

There is no specific information on OvalX’s website on the practice of scalping. Scalping is the act of buying and selling trading products within unusually short timeframes, with the aim of executing trades with narrow spreads and minimal pips. Despite the lack of guidance, traders should do their own research.

Is OvalX a market maker?

While OvalX seems like a market maker, it is actually an online brokerage service that connects traders with market makers. Market makers are larger institutions or exchanges. Brokers like OvalX are third-party mediums people can use to access the products listed by such market makers.

Plus500 is not available in the US

Legitimate CFD brokers, like Plus500, cannot accept US clients by law

US traders welcome at these brokers:

Cryoptocurrencies:

  • Trade 14+ major crypto coins
  • Includes Bitcoin, Ethereum & Ripple
  • Super simple setup

Accepts traders in the USA

Start Trading at eToro

Forex, Gold & Silver:

  • Trade gold and silver
  • Trade over 90+ currencies
  • Major US broker

Accepts traders in the USA

Start Trading at Forex

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