CGS-CIMB Review

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CGS-CIMB Securities International Pte Limited (CGS-CIMB) is one of the leading integrated financial services providers in Asia, servicing thousands of institutional and retail clients. They are considered by many to be a trusted and reliable partner, with a long tradition of robust research analysis, and commitment to quality service. They offer online trading and investing services in a large range of financial instruments, including Forex, Equities, Bonds, Stocks, ETFs, CFDs. You can get easy access to the markets they provide through a range of sophisticated and award-winning trading platforms. There are plenty of in-depth market insights and powerful tools to assist you with making informed decisions. I like how they implement a wide network of products and services whilst still ensuring that you get a personalised service at your fingertips. I believe they can be broker worth consideration for anyone who is looking for bespoke solutions to meet your investment needs.

Summary

Headquartered in Singapore, CGS-CIMB Securities is a brokerage firm that gives you all of the platforms and tools that you need to trade the global financial markets.  Through an expansive network of local offices, branches and strategic partners, the broker has a global presence in more than 20 countries and are well-positioned as one of Asia’s leading financial gateways. The broker leverages their strong research capabilities, wide networks and backing from shareholders, to create value for investors through an extensive suite of financial services and solutions built with a deep understanding of Asia.

I really like how they put great emphasis on well researched and in-depth analysis on financial products. This helps them to stand out from an already crowded industry. They are a customer-centric firm and focus on value creation for clients, offering a suite of investment and financial solutions for retail and institutional clients. The impressive range of their business activities include retail broking, institutional equities, derivatives, prime services, equities research, wealth management and online broking.

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Regulation

CGS-CIMB Securities International Limited is a company registered in Asia and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the central bank and financial regulatory authority of the Republic of Singapore. It administers the various statutes pertaining to money, banking, insurance, securities and the financial sector in general, as well as currency issuance. This regulation gives me the confidence that they are a brokerage firm who I can trust with my funds and means that I can focus on my trading without worrying. If you would prefer a broker that is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, then you may want to look at Plus500 as another option.

Countries

The broker can provide its services to clients from different parts of the globe where the use of such services would not be contrary to local laws and regulations. If you cannot establish an account with them, you may use our broker comparison tool to find an alternative.

Platforms

CGS-CIMB Securities provides you with three trading platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), Viewpoint, and iTrade. MetaTrader 4 is one of the best trading platforms whether you are a beginner or an experienced trader. It is widely accepted as the industry standard platform for many Forex & CFD traders around the globe. I have used the platform for many years and never felt the need to change to anything else. It can do everything that I need it to and more. That being said, the other platforms provided by the broker are equally as impressive if not better. However, I feel that they are catered more towards the professional trader. They are also not as commonly available as MT4 which is something to consider should you switch brokers down the line.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

The MetaTrader 4 platform, also known as MT4, is one of the most widely known electronic trading platforms for trading online. Developed by MetaQuotes in 2005, MT4 is packed with exciting features to fit the trading needs of speculative traders with possibilities for all types of strategies. The platform is built with an abundance of advanced trading tools to ensure a seamless trading experience. Some of the tools include technical indicators, charting tools and expert advisors for automated trading. You can find a practically endless selection of add-ons from the platforms marketplace to further enhance its capabilities. There is even the MQL4 programming interface which lets you build your own tools. You could even hire a freelancer if you don’t have the coding skills but have an idea for a unique trading strategy.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) Platforms

The MT4 platform is versatile as it is available for your desktop, web, and mobile devices. I use the desktop platform as it is great for running automated systems and creating complex trading templates. The web platform is handy if I need to access my account from someone else’s device. The mobile app is ideal for taking the markets with you in your pocket and checking your positions whenever you feel necessary. I think you cannot really go wrong with the MT4 platform, especially if you are a beginner looking to make trading as simplified as possible. That being said, MT4 has more than enough features and functionalities to meet the needs of even the most demanding of traders.

Some of the key MT4 features include:

• Multiple chart timeframes
• Supports instant, pending and limit orders
• Various chart types including candlestick charts
• Good range of technical indicators
• Drawing tools to mark key price levels
• Automated trading strategies
• Market place with free and paid tools
• Programming interface built-in
• Price alert notifications
• Easy to navigate
• Fully customisable

iTrade

The iTrade platform is equipped with comprehensive trading tools to help you make sound decisions on your trades. It offers real-time streaming prices, market news from Singapore, Malaysia, US and Hong Kong bourses as well as the latest information on all companies listed on the eight exchanges (SGX, BURSA, HKEX, SET, IDX, NASDAQ, AMEX & NYSE). The platform allows you to easily browse through fundamental reports and use technical analysis to make informed decisions. This really is a stand out platform for anyone who wants professional market access with some of the best analysis tools in the industry.

iTrade Platform

With servers co-located at the Singapore Exchange (SGX) data centre, client orders can enter the market at unparalleled speed. The iTrade platform has evolved and transformed online trading to give you an enjoyable and productive experience where you can trade equities at any time and from anywhere. I am really impressed to see how the broker has selectively hand-picked niche Fintech partners to provide comprehensive and innovative trading tools such as iScreener, iBillionaire, Stock Filter to facilitate clients and help them make better investment decisions.

Here are some of the key benefits and features of iTrade platform:

• Clients with Cash Trading, Cash Upfront Trading, and Margin Trading accounts may manage their different accounts with ease using a single login
• iTrade gives you the option to customise your trading experience by selecting your favourite font style, shortcut keys, and layouts
• iTrade provides a comprehensive set of investment tools, including 77 pre-built indicators, drawing skills, and the option to compare different equities across marketplaces
• iTrade provides financial statistics and management comments on publicly traded firms as provided in quarterly or yearly reports, news releases, or other public places
• Tools from specialty Fintech partners, such as iScreener, iBillionaire, iFilter, Fundamental Reports, Stock Filter, and many more, are available to you. You will be able to make more educated investment decisions with the help of these tools
• By quickly viewing Related News and Research on each stock, you have access to award-winning research studies. This provides you with a competent assessment of the stock potential and the market environment in which it operates
• iTrade is an online trading platform that provides access to five Asian markets and three US marketplaces. This implies that you may trade in many worldwide marketplaces from a single platform

iTrade Mobile Application

The CGS-CIMB iTrade App offers an excellent suite of mobile solutions for convenient trading on the go via your smartphone or tablet devices. I like how it can perform the same main features as the desktop platform, such as placing orders, monitoring stock performances, viewing of investment portfolios and accessing real-time price and stock-related information on regional and global markets. Utilising TouchID login on the iTrade Mobile App, it offers you an avenue for easy and secure access to your trading accounts. I am a big fan of trading apps as they allow me to manage my account and see what is happening around the markets whenever I feel like it.

• Simply use TouchID to log into your CGS-CIMB iTrade App
• Access real-time price, stock related information, news and research
• Monitor stocks performance with advanced technical charts
• Grab some trading ideas with intuitive trading tools such as iBillionaire, iScreener, News & Research
• Stock Alert feature notifies latest market movements on a real-time basis

iTrade Mobile App

iTradePro

The CGS-CIMB iTradePro platform takes things to the next level for those of you who are serious about your trading and looking to gain that extra edge. It offers a comprehensive suite of new advanced trading features for sophisticated trader who demand nothing but the best. I found this platform to be impressive to the point of almost overwhelming. If you are a casual trader then you may find it to be overkill for what you need. However, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having the extra tools at your disposal. You can also customise the interface to be a simplistic or complex as you require. Some of the key features of this particular platform include:

• Get access to a wide range of advanced technological charting capabilities
• Comprehensive technical indicators with strategy trading facility
• Charts range from Intraday Tick to Historical by 1 min, 5 min, 15 mins, 30 mins, 60 mins, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly
• Built-in candlestick guide with full explanation of each formation
• Equipped with built-in strategy analysis for interpretation of technical charting
• Capabilities to plot, draw lines, eclipse, add text and arrow to the charts

iTradePro

Viewpoint

Viewpoint is an easy-to-use market data and trading platform that offers a highly customisable user interface and a comprehensive library of widgets. It is a web-based platform, so you can access it via any modern web browser. This also ensures that you are always using the latest version of the platform which is great. If you didn’t have your own device around, you could always access it from someone else’s device without needing to install any software. This could be helpful in the case of an emergency.

Viewpoint

Viewpoint makes trading a transparent (direct market access) and seamless journey for clients. As one of the largest DMA CFD providers with access to an impressive 14,000+ counters across 20 global markets, Viewpoint is a popular choice of platform for clients who wish to invest in Contracts for difference (CFD). I actually use MT4 for CFD trading but found Viewpoint to be an intuitive and interactive platform, offering all of the tools that an investor would need to trade CFDs.

Here are some of the key features of Viewpoint:

• On a single platform, you may access global equities markets, macroeconomic statistics, price and transaction data
• CGS-CIMB Viewpoint provides quick and high-quality transaction execution
• You may utilise the widget library to tailor your trading to your tastes and style
• Drawing tools and technical indicators are powerful charting tools that may help investors acquire additional insights and make better investing decisions
• Real-time monitoring of market exposure and client portfolio P&L statements to ensure clients keep on top of their investments and mitigate risks
• Various order types for various trading techniques or to safeguard against losses using advanced contingent orders

CFD Mobile Application

CGS-CIMB provides a portfolio of mobile solutions for traders and investors on the go that demands cross-device trading flexibility. This service is accessible for both iOS and Android smartphones. You can download the app by searching for “CGS-CIMB CFD” in the App Store or from the brokers website. With the Viewpoint app, you may trade CFDs at any time and from any location. I think this is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get access to over 14,000 counters across 20 marketplaces.

• Trade CFDs anytime, anywhere with Viewpoint app
• Get access to more than 14,000 counters across 20 markets conveniently

Viewpoint Mobile App

Tools

iScreener

iScreener is an online trading tool that is integrated into iTrade to help you make educated trading decisions based on fundamental, technical, and risk factors of the stocks. It shows a research dashboard with a 4-star rating to indicate the stock’s potential upside and a risk rating to analyse existing risk expectations.

• 6,000 equities traded on 17 different exchanges across the world
• Both English and Chinese are supported

iScreener

iFilter

iFilter provides clients with real-time alerts on large block trades. This tool assists in monitoring how large investors transfer their cash in the stock market. iFilter gives clarity by filtering out market noise using near-real-time data. I think this can be a great tool to identify where the big money is moving.

• Provides information on the broad direction of market movements
• Notifies customers of new trading opportunities in equities that have seen significant market movement

iFilter

Stock Filter

Another simple trading tool is the Stock filter, which allows you to uncover prospective trading opportunities in seconds. It searches for stocks in 12 marketplaces using particular search parameters. This is a great way to find trading signals according to your own preferences.

• 13 established tactics for locating favourite stocks
• Advanced search criteria for prospective trading opportunities depending on client preferences

Stock Filter

Education

The broker’s website is packed with several educational resources to keep you informed on how the financial markets operate. These include news, market commentary, knowledge centre, and more. I think there is plenty for beginners to become accustomed to trading online whereas even the more experienced traders amongst you can take advantage of the comprehensive market analysis.

Backed by an award-winning research team, I found CGS-CIMB Securities to have one of the most comprehensive research coverages with more than 70 analysts based in eight countries and over 800 stocks covered in the region, ranging from small-to-mid-cap companies to your familiar blue-chip stocks. They implement strong research capabilities form the backbone of the products and services that they offer, connecting clients to opportunities.

Fundamental Analysis

This section provides you with a fundamental analysis of important markets. If you know how to align your fundamental analysis with technical analysis, you can spot potential trading opportunities.

Technical Analysis

Technical analysis consists of the chart analysis and price action of a market. Technical analysis is also part of building a trading strategy. I always like to combine different forms of market analysis to give myself a better chance of picking the right signal and the right time. It is always nice to have a broker that covers all basis.

Knowledge Centre

This section has various guides and articles on trading and platform tutorials. I think they could improve by adding some specific beginner, intermediate and advanced courses for aspiring traders to work their way through. Admirals can be worth a look if you are a beginner looking for step by step guidance in the form of educational content.

Markets

CGS-CIMB Securities offers an excellent selection of financial instruments for you to trade and invest in. You can choose from Stocks & Shares, ETFs, Bonds, Forex, CFDs, ELN, DLC, Futures, Mutual Funds and iCash (Shariah Compliant). This really is an impressive range, up there with some of the best brokers that I have reviewed in the past. Whatever your interest, there should be something for everyone with plenty to build a diversified portfolio. However, they do not currently support cryptos so you might want to look elsewhere if you are a crypto trader. XTB could be an option when it comes to crypto trading.

Accounts

The broker provides you with a choice of different trading account options to suit your individual needs. There are accounts for trading CFDs with up to 1:20 leverage, direct investing and a Muslim friendly option. The minimum deposit to start trading is just $25 which is great as it makes them accessible and allows you to test the broker with a minimal investment.

The account types are as follows:

• iCash
• Cash Trading
• Margin Trading
• Contracts for Difference (CFD)

Account Signup

You can register for an account via the online registration form provided on the broker’s website. Fill in the form accurately, providing your name, contact details, and ID number for validity check. You can use Singpass to avoid having to submit supporting documents. Otherwise, they may contact you later for additional information. I like how everything is done online but wouldn’t say it was the fastest account opening process.

Support

CGS-CIMB Securities provides you with a knowledgeable customer support team that is available on weekdays during working hours (8:30 am to 6:00 pm) to respond to all of your trading inquiries. They can be contacted via telephone, email, and social media. I think they could improve by adding a live chat option and extending support to weekends.

Funding

I found the brokers funding options to be very limited. This is because account deposits and withdrawals can only be processed using bank transfers. I think they could add more funding options such as debit/credit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. This way, it will make it easier for many traders to process their transactions. I personally don’t always want to wait around days for a bank transfer to clear. There may be some major market news that I need to act quickly on. In this instance, I would much prefer instantaneous funding through one of my digital wallets. That being said, FXTM has a good selection of funding options.

Conclusion

CGS-CIMB Securities provides you with a fantastic choice of advanced platforms for trading and investing in a great range of financial instruments across popular asset classes. You also have access to a great selection of powerful trading tools which can take your market analysis to the next level. I found a bunch of tools that I haven’t seen many other brokers provide which can give your trading strategy that extra edge over others.

There are limited learning materials but top-class market insights to help inspire potential trade ideas. The client support team is available to assist you around the clock but not on weekends. There are a few account options to choose from although I discovered the signup process can be slightly long winded and payment limited to bank transfer.

Due to the brokers strong presence in Asia and key markets around the world, investors can take comfort in knowing that the diverse range of products offered by them come packaged with the relevant information and analysis, breaking down complex market data with trusted opinions and research. The practical nature of the broker depends heavily on key insights. This does not happen solely on a computer screen, but with actual researchers in the field.

There are things that I really believe help to separate them from many other brokers, all which can make them a good choice for retail and institutional traders looking for a professional setup in a regulated environment.

$25

CGS-CIMB Securities provide you with professional platforms for trading and investing in a great range of financial markets. You get access to a good selection of powerful trading tools and expert market analysis to help with making informed decisions.

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

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