BlackBull Markets Review 2024
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BlackBull Markets is #14 in our rankings of CFD brokers. |
Top 3 alternatives to BlackBull Markets |
BlackBull Markets Facts & Figures |
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BlackBull is a New Zealand-based CFD broker providing diverse trading opportunities on over 26,000 instruments. After undergoing a rebrand in 2023, it now sports a modern look and feel complete with professional-grade trading tools and ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms. |
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Cons |
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Awards |
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Instruments | CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto |
Demo Account | Yes |
Min. Deposit | $0 |
Mobile Apps | iOS & Android |
Trading App |
BlackBull offers one of the most complete mobile trading ecosystems we’ve seen, providing active traders with first-rate charting tools and the broker’s impress execution speeds of <100ms on a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView apps, catering to diverse preferences. |
iOS App Rating | |
Android App Rating | |
Payments | |
Min. Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Regulated By | FMA, FSA |
MetaTrader 4 | Yes |
MetaTrader 5 | Yes |
cTrader | Yes |
DMA Account | No |
ECN Account | Yes |
Social Trading | Yes |
Copy Trading | Yes |
Auto Trading | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cTrader Automate |
Signals Service | BlackBull Research stock recommendation service |
Islamic Account | Yes |
Commodities |
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CFDs | BlackBull is an obvious choice for CFD traders, providing leveraged trading up to 1:500, low spreads from 0.0 pips, and 24/7 support that performed excellently during testing, providing a sense of confidence for active traders operating in fast-moving markets. |
Leverage | 1:500 |
FTSE Spread | 1.5 |
GBPUSD Spread | 0.5 |
Oil Spread | 1.5 |
Stocks Spread | Variable |
Forex | BlackBull offers 64 currency pairs with excellent pricing through its ECN accounts, with the Standard commission-free spread starting from 0.8 pips. BlackBull also ensures its rapid execution carries through to MT4, which still stands as the industry’s most popular platform with active forex traders. |
GBPUSD Spread | 0.5 |
EURUSD Spread | 0.3 |
GBPEUR Spread | 0.8 |
Assets | 64 |
Stocks | BlackBull offers CFD trading on a market-leading range of 26000+ company shares, along with a growing selection of indices now featuring Asian equity indices. Spreads are competitive based on tests, with Apple coming in at 0.04. BlackBull has also introduced BlackBull Invest, providing direct share dealing for alternative trading options. |
Cryptocurrency | BlackBull supports short-term trading on 11 cryptos including Bitcoin and Ethereum with up to 1:5 leverage. Digital tokens are paired with USD, while the broker’s ‘Daily Opportunities’ excel for their excellent insights into emerging trends in the cryptocurrency space. |
Coins |
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Spreads | 245 |
Crypto Lending | No |
Crypto Mining | No |
Crypto Staking | No |
Auto Market Maker | No |
BlackBull Markets is a good ECN and STP broker that offers access to over 26,000 tradeable instruments via the MT4, MT5 and TradingView platforms. With no minimum deposit and tight spreads, there are plenty of opportunities for investors of varying abilities and goals. This 2024 broker review will delve into BlackBull Markets’ assets, deposit and withdrawal methods, leverage rates, customer support and more.
BlackBull Markets is a competitive broker for UK investors, offering thousands of CFD and equity products with low spreads, advanced trading platforms and sophisticated educational resources. Copy trading is also available.
Company History & Overview
BlackBull Markets is a New Zealand (NZ)-based broker with a head office in Auckland, although it does have staff and tech bases elsewhere around the world. Founded in 2014, the brokerage has grown to serve tens of thousands of traders from over 180 countries, including the UK. Its goal is to become the leading online financial technology and foreign exchange broker.
Our experts found that BBG Limited is the official company name, which is registered in Seychelles under company number 857010-1. The share trading side of its business is registered in New Zealand.
On the downside, the trading firm is not regulated by the FCA.
Markets & Instruments
Traders at BlackBull Markets have access to a wide range of markets, including cryptocurrencies. That said, DeFi enthusiasts may be disappointed by the depth of that market, with just a dozen crypto assets on offer.
Available assets:
- 9 Metals – including gold and silver
- 10 Indices – including the UK 100 (FTSE) and US 30
- 72 Forex Pairs – including majors, minors and exotics
- 26,000+ Equities – including Tesla, Amazon and Apple
- 9 Cryptocurrencies – including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple
- 5 Energy Commodities – including Brent crude oil and natural gas
- 8 Agricultural Commodities – including soybeans, coffee and sugar
Platforms
The main trading platforms at BlackBull Markets to download (or use webtrader versions of) are MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView, a strong offering.
To maximise trade execution speeds, the broker’s servers are located as close as possible to the most important global exchanges like London, New York and Tokyo. In addition, as an ECN broker, liquidity providers compete against one another to lower average spreads.
We recommend beginners start with one of the MetaTrader platforms as these are intuitive but still allow for development towards more advanced trading once you feel more comfortable. Clients can also benefit from a demo account on MT4 and MT5.
While using TradingView, we found it to be another reliable platform with plenty of technical analysis features. It is particularly suitable for traders interested in the social side of trading and those who look closely at what others in the market are doing.
MetaTrader 4
- VPS support
- Nine timeframes
- 23 analytical objects
- Autochartist integration
- Financial news and alerts
- Trading signals and copy trading
- Algorithmic trading using expert advisors (EAs)
- 30 technical indicators (more available on the MetaTrader Market)
- Windows, Mac, iOS (not currently available on the App Store), Android, MT4 WebTrader and MT4 MultiTerminal
MetaTrader 5
- VPS support
- 21 timeframes
- Autochartist integration
- Trading signals and copy trading
- 80+ indicators and analytical tools
- News reports and economic calendar
- Algorithmic trading using expert advisors (EAs)
- Additional indicators available on the MetaTrader Market
- Create your own indicators with the MQL5 programming language
- Windows, Mac, iOS (not currently available on the App Store), Android and WebTerminal
How To Place A Market Order On MT5
- Use the client login area to access the MetaTrader 5 platform using your Blackbull Markets account details
- Find the asset you want to trade in the list of instruments on the left
- Right-click on the asset
- Click New Order
- A pop-up box will appear in which to enter the details of the trade, set any parameters like stop loss or take profit and confirm the order
- Alternatively, you can use one-click trading by utilising the Buy and Sell buttons on the asset price chart itself
TradingView
- 30m+ users
- 12 chart types
- Custom time intervals
- Up to eight charts per tab
- Replay historic price movements
- 100+ fundamental fields and ratios
- Charting platform and social network
- 100+ pre-built indicators and 100,000+ community-built indicators
- Web, desktop and mobile/tablet versions available (from the App Store and Google Play)
How To Connect To TradingView
Investors will first need to sign-up for a TradingView account if they do not already have one. Next, they can use their BlackBull Markets account number and password to connect directly within the trading platform’s interface.
Account Types
BlackBull Markets has a refreshingly simple account structure with three profiles available. Islamic/swap-free accounts are also offered as halal alternatives to each standard type. There are eight base currencies to choose from, including GBP, which will help UK investors avoid currency conversion charges when transferring funds from UK bank accounts.
We recommend the ECN Standard account for beginners as there is no commission and no minimum deposit. More experienced traders will likely benefit from the tight spreads on the ECN Prime account.
ECN Standard
- No commission
- £0 minimum deposit
- Spreads from 0.8 pips
- Minimum lot size of 0.01
ECN Prime
- Spreads from 0.1 pips
- Minimum lot size of 0.01
- £2,000 minimum deposit
- Commission from £6 per lot
ECN Institutional
- Spreads from 0.0 pips
- Minimum lot size of 0.01
- Complimentary VPS access
- £20,000 minimum deposit
- Commission from £3 per lot
- 24/7 dedicated customer support
How To Register For A Real Account On BlackBull Markets
- Complete the application form after clicking the Visit button at the top or bottom of this BlackBull Markets review. This consists of personal details, questions about employment and the source of your funds, as well as other information
- The application form also requires you to verify your identity using a photo ID and a supporting document like a bank statement or telephone bill
- Verify your email address by clicking on the link in the email you receive from BlackBull Markets
- Wait for approval (usually within 24 hours)
- Deposit funds into your account and begin trading
Fees & Charges
Even with the zero commission ECN Standard account spreads start quite low at BlackBull Markets from just 0.8 pips. More experienced traders can access even tighter spreads starting from just 0.1 pips with the ECN Prime account, with a commission of £6 per lot.
Swap rates may apply for positions held overnight. When using the broker, we did not find any account opening or inactivity charges.
Overall, the fees on BlackBull Markets are reasonable and certainly make trading at this broker accessible to beginners.
BlackBull Markets App
The BlackBull Shares Trading app is available on iOS and Android, providing client access to the equities markets while on the go. There are 23,000 shares offered from over 80 international markets.
MT4, MT5 and TradingView also have apps for mobile and tablet devices, although the first two are currently not available on iOS – only Android. TradingView is available both from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Payment Methods
Deposits
There are no minimum deposit limits or deposit fees with BlackBull Markets. This is not always the case with other brokers, so it is a clear benefit of using this company.
Traders should note that some deposit methods do have minimum limits. For credit and debit cards, this is £50. Share trading accounts also have a £1,000 minimum deposit requirement.
The following deposit methods are available to UK clients:
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Wire transfer
- Credit/debit card
- SEPA bank transfer
- Crypto (including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin)
SEPA bank transfers, Neteller and Skrill are instant methods. Bank wire transfers take 3-5 business days. Processing times for other deposit methods can vary.
How To Deposit On BlackBull Markets
- Click on Wallet Deposit in the Secure Client Area (the main portal)
- Choose a wallet from the available options
- Select a funding method
- Enter the desired amount
- Confirm the payment
Withdrawals
Withdrawals are usually processed within 24 hours on BlackBull Markets. Clients must withdraw using the same method used to deposit funds.
There is a £5 charge in the base currency of your account for withdrawals using credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill and international wire transfers. Traders should therefore plan withdrawals carefully to avoid paying this fee too regularly.
Demo Account
BlackBull Markets has a £100,000 30-day demo account where traders can use virtual money to practise trading and test new strategies, although these accounts are fairly common in the online investing industry.
The broker lets customers choose between the MT4 and MT5 platforms. Note that the demo account is not available on TradingView.
How To Open A Demo Account On BlackBull Markets
- Click on Try A Free Demo under the Trading tab
- Complete the application form
- Download the trading platform (MT4 or MT5)
- Login to the trading platform using the details received by email
Bonuses & Promotions
We were disappointed by the lack of promotions and bonuses for BlackBull Markets’ traders, particularly as BBG Limited is regulated offshore, which usually means the broker is not as restricted in providing a bonus or discount to traders as some licensed firms are. With that said, our experts found a one-month free trial for the BlackBull Research tool subscription.
UK Regulation
BBG Limited, which trades as BlackBull Markets, is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles under license number SD045.
BlackBull Markets is also registered under the company name Black Bull Group Limited, which is incorporated in New Zealand. The share trading side of the business is Black Bull Trade Limited and is a registered Financial Services Provider in New Zealand.
In 2020, the broker announced it had received a derivatives issuer license from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand.
Importantly, the trading company is not regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is a key drawback for British traders.
Leverage
Leverage rates are available up to 1:500 on BlackBull Markets. This is high, particularly compared to European-regulated brokers, which must limit leverage to 1:30 for retail traders.
Remember that margin trading increases risk as well as potential returns and that some markets may have lower maximum leverage ratios.
Extra Tools & Features
When we used BlackBull Markets, we found an excellent range of market analysis resources, some of which are free and others subscription-based.
Market analysis is crucial for traders at all levels. Alongside educational articles and videos, there is BlackBull Research, which features expert analysis, recommendations and model portfolios for a fee.
Fundamental analysis is supplemented by the provision of an economic calendar.
Another of this broker’s products is BlackBull Social, where investors can copy the positions of experts around the world. The broker is also linked to ZuluTrade and Myfxbook where traders can access similar features.
Other products available on BlackBull Markets include:
- Autochartist integration with MetaTrader 4 & 5
- FIX API for experienced and institutional traders
- Educational trading guides at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels
- Free VPS to reduce latency (must be on Prime account, £2,000 minimum deposit and 20 lots traded across forex pairs or metals per month)
How To Install Autochartist On MT4 & MT5
- Download and log in to the MetaTrader 4 or 5 platform
- Separately access the Autochartist MetaTrader installer
- Choose your desired primary language, e.g. English
- Check the box against each MetaTrader platform that you wish to install this plugin on
- Click Install and then Finish
BlackBull Markets Opening Hours
Trading hours on BlackBull Markets vary depending on the market. The hours for stocks usually depend on the exchange they trade on. Forex can be traded 24 hours a day on weekdays.
Always check the market first before trading. Also, note that some hours are better for investors as there is more liquidity in the market. This is usually the case when major forex trading sessions overlap.
Customer Service
There is 24/7 customer support on BlackBull Markets, which is more extensive than that provided by many other online brokers. The following support options are available:
- Live Chat – logo on website
- Phone – +44 207 097 8222
- Email – support@blackbullmarkets.com
While using BlackBull Markets, the support team were responsive and helped with various account and platform queries.
Client Safety
This broker uses segregated bank accounts, meaning client funds are kept separate from those belonging to the firm. This is standard policy for reputable brokers. Negative balance protection is also provided.
BlackBull Markets will only contact its customers on numbers from New Zealand (country code is +64). This helps protect against scammers over the phone. ANZ Bank is a New Zealand financial institution that manages the broker’s operational liquidity.
MetaTrader and TradingView have adopted their own security measures and encryptions on their respective platforms.
Should You Trade With BlackBull Markets?
BlackBull Markets has low spreads and provides access to a huge range of investment products from markets around the world. MT4, MT5 and TradingView give investors the tools needed to undertake advanced technical and fundamental analysis. This is supplemented by the broker’s own market analysis and educational resources.
The main drawback for the firm is the offshore license in Seychelles but, with its main operations in New Zealand, UK traders should still consider registering with BlackBull Markets.
FAQ
Is BlackBull Markets A Scam?
We are not aware of any evidence to indicate that BlackBull Markets is a scam. The broker was founded in 2014, has a large customer base across the world and has a strong operational presence in New Zealand and the UK, despite part of the business being registered in Seychelles.
When Do Margin Calls Take Effect On BlackBull Markets?
Margin calls are received when your account capital margin drops below 70%. The trade will automatically be closed out when your margin drops below 50%.
Is BlackBull Markets A Good Broker?
BlackBull Markets has low spreads, good customer support, high-quality trading platforms and a strong range of markets. Although some of its business is registered offshore in the Seychelles, many of the broker’s resources are based in New Zealand. Copy trading is also available, which will appeal to many beginners.
When Is Customer Support Available On BlackBull Markets?
Customer support is available 24/7 on BlackBull Markets, which means traders can get support outside normal market hours. This is a stronger offering than many other brokers.
Do I Have To Download A Trading Platform For BlackBull Markets?
No. MT4, MT5 and TradingView all come with web versions so you can trade through online browsers without needing to download software. That said, they do also come with desktop solutions so it is possible to download the platforms if you wish.
Top 3 BlackBull Markets Alternatives
These brokers are the most similar to BlackBull Markets:
- Pepperstone - Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for traders at all levels.
- FP Markets - Established in 2005 in Australia, FP Markets is an ASIC- and CySEC-regulated broker boasting an extensive suite of tradable assets. Its Standard and Raw accounts cater to traders at every level, while it packs a punch in the tooling department, from the MetaTrader suite and intuitive TradingView to actionable trading ideas from Trading Central and AutoChartist.
- IC Markets - IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
BlackBull Markets Feature Comparison
BlackBull Markets | Pepperstone | FP Markets | IC Markets | |
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Rating | 3.7 | 4.8 | 4 | 4.8 |
Markets | CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto | CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Crypto | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto |
Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $40 | $200 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
Demo Account | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Regulators | FMA, FSA | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA |
Bonus | - | - | - | - |
Education | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
Leverage | 1:500 | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | 1:30 (UK), 1:500 (Global) | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) |
Visit | 75.1% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs |
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Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
Pepperstone Review |
FP Markets Review |
IC Markets Review |
Trading Instruments Comparison
BlackBull Markets | Pepperstone | FP Markets | IC Markets | |
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CFD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Commodities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Oil | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Copper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Silver | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Corn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Futures | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Options | No | No | No | No |
ETFs | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bonds | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Warrants | No | No | No | No |
Spreadbetting | No | Yes | No | No |
Volatility Index | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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