What is Copy Trading?
Copy trading allows beginner traders to trade by copying complex trading strategies used by professional traders.
Before copy trading as we know it today, the only way to get detailed trading advice was using a managed trading account, where a professional trader made all trades on your behalf. While managed accounts are still an integral part of institutional trading, the rapid rise of copy trading has almost completely eclipsed them for retail traders.
How does Copy Trading Work?
Copy trading requires two traders and a Forex broker, which provides the platform for them to co-operate. One trader is the provider, or manager, and they will make their trading strategies available for others to follow. The other trader, or investor, selects the provider they wish to follow – usually for a fee or a cut of the investor’s profits. The broker provides the social platform for the provider and the investor to meet and co-operate, brokers also provide the trading platform that the provider will use to trade.
Most copy trading platforms will also display the manager’s investment return, risk profile, length of experience and trading style. It is essential to also examine the manager’s largest drawdown, this the largest single peak to trough decline in the manager’s trading account. If you are thinking of investing a smaller amount than the manager’s largest drawdown you are putting yourself at serious risk of losing all your capital. Controls for investors are also a key feature, allowing you to choose how much money to invest with a provider and which strategies to follow.
What are the disadvantages of copy trading?
The disadvantage of copy tradings is that beginner traders may end up following risky trading strategies without fully understanding the consequences, and lose significant amounts of money.
What is the best copy trading platform?
MT4, MT5 and cTrader all have built-in copy trading functionality. This means that traders with a preference for these specific trading platforms will find a copy trading community.
Best MT4 Brokers with Copy Trading Accounts
These are the MT4 brokers with copy trading accounts that we have reviewed, ordered by overall score.
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Best MT5 Brokers with Copy Trading Accounts
These are the MT5 brokers with copy trading accounts that we have reviewed, ordered by overall score.
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These are the cTrader brokers with copy trading accounts that we have reviewed, ordered by overall score.
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Yes, copy trading is legal in Malaysia. Prior to the explosion in social trading, copy trading was only available via a managed account. Managed accounts required a power of attorney and a large account balance, and so are unpopular amongst typical retail traders. Copy trading, or social trading, on the other hand is considered self-directed by most regulators, as traders who use this function always select the trading system to copy.
Which brokers are the best for Copy Trading?
eToro, FXTM and AvaTrade are the best brokers for copy trading.
eToro’s unique social trading platform allows for users to copy each other’s trades and share trading tips. Easy-to-use and web-based, the eToro platform has won many awards over the years for innovation and simplicity. With over 6 million clients, eToro has successfully made social trading an integral part of Forex industry.
FXTM run the FXTM Invest platform, which connects investors with Strategy Managers. Strategy Managers are graded on several metrics and investors can filter Strategy Managers to find the right combination of return and risk they feel comfortable with. Investors only pay a fee on successful trades.
Avatrade offers multiple direct and indirect copy trading options. AvaTrade has also partnered with the Mirror Trader and ZuluTrade platforms to offer a wide range of copy trading functionality. Mirror Trader allows investors to switch between manual copy trading, semi-automatic trading, or automatic trading when following a provider. ZuluTrade is a community of providers, who have been ranked using various practical parameters including maximum drawdown and average profitability.
How do I choose the best copy trading system?
Most Forex brokers now offer some form of copy trading, but there are major differences between the products they offer and how they integrate into trading platforms.
The best copy trading and social trading brokers will offer a clear explanation of how the copy trading platform works with detailed metrics on each trader offering their services. These metrics should include the return as a percentage over time (days, weeks, months, years), largest drawdown (peak to trough decline), average daily profit, the total time the trader has been active and a risk rating.
Final Word
While a relatively recent method of Forex trading, copy trading has fast become one of the largest. The advantages are obvious for beginner traders, and many experienced traders also swear by it. But, like all Forex trading, it must be entered into with education, caution and a thought for risk management.
Forex Risk Disclaimer
Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products.
Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Over-leveraging, unpredictable market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection for clients.
Traders should not deposit any money that is not disposable. Regardless of how much research you have done, or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more from the FCA or from ASIC)
Our Methodology
Our State of the Market Report and Broker Directory are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. The explicit goal of these resources is to help traders find the best Malaysian Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones – with the benefit of accurate and up-to-date information.
With over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research and review writing, we believe we have succeeded in our goal.
In a world where trading conditions and customer support can vary based on where you live, our broker reviews focus on the local trader and give you information about these brokers from a Malaysian perspective.
All research has been conducted by our in-house team of researchers and writers, gathering information from various company representatives, websites and by sifting through the fine print. Learn more about how we rank brokers.
Accepts Malaysian Clients. Minimum spread EUR/USD 1.50 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. Leverage offered can vary depending on country of residence, and your trading knowledge and experience. FXTM is regulated by CySEC, FCA, FSCA, and the FSC.
