Top forex brokers exchanging one currency for another, either to speculate on price movements or as a way to hedge against inflation. A forex broker acts as an intermediary between traders and the foreign exchange market, offering traders a platform to trade on and access to the market. A forex broker can offer a variety of account types and trading software. Traders can choose from a number of different market assets, such as equities, commodities, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and short-term interest rates.

To ensure the safety of their clients’ funds, forex brokers must be regulated. Regulatory bodies such as the UK Financial Conduct Authority, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and National Futures Association (NFA) oversee forex brokers to prevent fraudulent practices. Regulation is an important part of choosing a forex broker because it means that the broker must follow strict rules and disclose any conflicts of interest to their clients.

Top Picks: The Best Forex Brokers for UK Traders

Traders can also look for a broker that offers competitive trading conditions, such as low spreads and fast execution. Lastly, it’s important to consider the quality of a broker’s customer service. A good customer support team can make or break a trading experience.

There are many brokers to choose from, but some stand out above the rest. For example, IG Markets is a top contract for difference (CFD) broker that offers over 17,000 CFDs on forex pairs, stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and bonds. The firm is a CFTC and NFA-regulated broker that accepts U.S. traders and offers a leverage ratio of up to 50:1.