HFM (HF Markets) ASIC Regulation 2024: Supervision, Investor Protections, and More

HFM (HF Markets) is a forex and CFD broker offering online trading services to traders and investors worldwide. The broker provides a diverse range of trading instruments, including Forex, Metals, Stocks, Bonds, Indices, Energies, Commodities, Cryptos, and ETFs. It also supports multiple trading platforms and tools such as MT4, MT5.

Although HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by several authoritative bodies, including FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA in Seychelles, CMA, CySEC, it is not regulated by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission). In this article, we will explore HFM (HF Markets)’ regulations, and its features, and provide a list of alternative brokers that are regulated by ASIC.

Does HFM (HF Markets) Operate Under ASIC?

No, HFM (HF Markets) does not operate under ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) regulations. The broker is regulated by several other reputable financial authorities, including the FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA in Seychelles, CMA, CySEC. These regulatory bodies ensure compliance with various standards for financial stability, transparency, and investor protection, though they do not provide the specific protections offered by the ASIC Australia.

What Other Regulations Does HFM (HF Markets) Have?

FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)

HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. The FCA, established in 2013, is responsible for regulating financial markets and firms in the United Kingdom.

The FCA requires HFM (HF Markets) to adhere to strict guidelines for financial conduct, including maintaining adequate capital, safeguarding client funds, and ensuring transparency in its operations. This includes keeping client money separate from company funds and providing regular financial reports. FCA regulation helps ensure that HFM (HF Markets) operates securely and fairly, offering a high level of protection and trust for clients in the UK and across Europe.

CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission):

HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by CySEC under license number 388/20. Established in 2001, Cysec is Cyprus’s financial regulator. Since Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, CySEC’s regulations align with the MiFID directive, ensuring compliance with EU-wide financial standards and investor protection. This regulation allows the broker to offer services across the European Economic Area (EEA) under the MiFID II directive, ensuring investor protection and transparency. CySEC regulation requires brokers to follow strict guidelines for handling client funds, including segregation and periodic reporting.

DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority):

HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by the DFSA. Established on 13 September 2004, DFSA is the regulatory body for financial services within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It oversees a range of financial activities, including forex trading, and ensures compliance with its regulations through a framework of rules and guidelines. The DFSA provides a high standard of investor protection and requires firms to meet rigorous operational standards. For more details, you can visit the DFSA website.

CMA (Capital Markets Authority – Kenya):

HFM (HF Markets) is licensed and regulated by the CMA in Kenya. Founded in 1989, The CMA of Kenya regulates the Kenyan capital markets, including forex trading. The CMA allows a maximum leverage of 1:400 and ensures that financial institutions adhere to standards for transparency, fairness, and investor protection. It is operated by the Kenyan government. For more information, visit the CMA website.

FSCA

HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by the Financial Services Board (FSB) of South Africa. The FSB, established in 1990, was the financial regulatory authority in South Africa responsible for overseeing non-banking financial institutions before being replaced by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in 2018.

Under FSB regulations, HFM (HF Markets) was required to maintain strict standards, including holding adequate capital, protecting client funds by segregating them from company assets, and ensuring transparency through regular financial reporting. This regulation helped ensure that HFM (HF Markets) operated securely and reliably, offering a safe trading environment for clients in South Africa.

FSA in Seychelles

HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. The FSA, established in 2013, oversees the financial services sector in Seychelles to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and to protect investors.

The FSA requires HFM (HF Markets) to adhere to guidelines for managing client funds, which include keeping client money separate from company funds and providing regular financial reports. This regulation helps ensure that HFM (HF Markets) operates securely and transparently, particularly for clients in Seychelles, and maintains a trustworthy trading environment.

Best ASIC Regulated Forex Brokers: Alternatives to HFM (HF Markets)

HFM (HF Markets) is one of the leading forex and CFD brokers. The broker is not regulated by ASIC. It is regulated by other top-tier regulators including FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA in Seychelles, CMA, CySEC. There are several ASIC regulated brokers that can serve as alternatives to HFM (HF Markets). These brokers include: 

These brokers operate under ASIC  regulation. According to ASIC rules, they offer leverage up to 30:1 and provide negative balance protection for retail traders. To learn more about ASIC-regulated forex brokers, you can read our content on the best ASIC-regulated forex brokers.

How Can I Verify If My Broker is ASIC Regulated?

To verify if your broker, such as HFM (HF Markets), is regulated by the ASIC, follow these steps:

1. Find the Broker’s Reference Number or Name: Obtain this information from the broker’s website.
2. Search the ASIC Register: Visit the ASIC Financial Services Register and enter the broker’s reference number or name.
3. Check the Broker’s Authorization: Ensure that the broker is authorized to provide “Rolling spot forex contract” services to retail customers in Australia.
4. Match Firm Details: Verify that the details on the ASIC website, such as the broker’s website and email, match those provided by the broker. Any discrepancies might indicate an unauthorized broker, and you should avoid trading with them.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs)

What is HFM (HF Markets)?

Founded in 2010, HFM is a renowned broker with multiple regulations and ultra-fast executions of over 1000 trading instruments on its proprietary and MetaTrader platforms. The broker has received over 60 industry awards for outstanding performance. It boasts about 2.5 million clients from all over the world.

Is HFM (HF Markets) Considered Safe?

Yes, HFM (HF Markets) is considered safe. The broker is regulated by multiple top-tier regulatory authorities, including FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA in Seychelles, CMA, CySEC. It offers negative balance protection and holds client funds in segregated bank accounts. Additionally, HFM (HF Markets) provides an investor protection scheme for clients regulated under FCA, CySEC, making it a reliable and trustworthy broker.

Does HFM (HF Markets) Offer Negative Balance Protection?

Yes, HFM (HF Markets) offers negative balance protection. All ASIC-regulated brokers must offer negative balance protection. Negative balance protection means that traders are protected from losing more money than they have in their trading accounts. If a trade results in losses that exceed the amount of funds in the account, negative balance protection ensures that the trader’s balance cannot go below zero. This prevents the trader from owing the broker any additional money.

Is HFM (HF Markets) regulated in Australia?

No, HFM (HF Markets) is not regulated in Australia. The broker is not regulated by ASIC, the Australian regulator. However, it accepts Australian clients under its global entity. HFM (HF Markets) is regulated by several other authorities, including FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA in Seychelles, CMA, CySEC