Advanced Markets review 2026: Institutional DMA/STP liquidity with MT4, MT5, Fortex 6 and FIX API
Advanced Markets is a London-based DMA/STP forex and multi-asset broker founded in 2006. Licensed by the FCA under 777739 and ASIC under 444649, it provides MT4, MT5, Fortex 6 and FIX API access for professional, Eligible Counterparty and wholesale accounts. Serves professional and institutional clients across 57 tradeable forex pairs, spot metals, CFDs, futures and crypto CFDs.
What is Advanced Markets?
Advanced Markets is an institutional direct market access (DMA) and straight-through processing (STP) trading provider founded in 2006. The company is identified as Advanced Markets (UK) Ltd, with its headquarters in London. The business model focuses on professional, wholesale, and institutional clients rather than standard retail forex accounts. Its current platform stack includes MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Fortex 6, and FIX API connectivity.
The group structure matters because legal protections depend on the entity serving the client. FXSharp identifies a UK-regulated entity and an Australian-licensed Cayman entity. The firm also maintains a US presence, while the UK operation serves Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties. This structure differs from a conventional retail broker offering one standardized account globally.
Which regulators license Advanced Markets?
Advanced Markets operates through entities connected to two verified regulatory licenses. Advanced Markets (UK) Limited is regulated by the FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority) under license 777739. Advanced Markets Ltd holds AFSL 444649 from ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission). The review verification date is 24 September 2026.
The FCA-regulated UK company serves Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties rather than ordinary retail clients. ASIC licensing applies through Advanced Markets Ltd, a Cayman Islands incorporated entity. ASIC previously required the firm to clarify that Australian license protections did not automatically extend to financial services provided outside Australia. That clarification appeared in an ASIC media release dated 24 April 2015.
The firm's current website also identifies FCA reference 777739 and describes the UK operation as professional and institutional only. Its current legal disclosures state that the UK company operates under FCA and MiFID rules.
Trading platforms
Trading platforms include MT4 (MetaTrader 4), MT5 (MetaTrader 5), Fortex 6, and FIX API. FIX API is a standardized institutional protocol that connects trading systems directly to execution infrastructure. The platform mix therefore supports both graphical terminals and programmatic order routing.
The official integration material lists FIX connectivity alongside Fortex 6, MT4, and MT5. It also describes connections through institutional technology providers and bridge infrastructure. MetaTrader verification remains marked as unverified because a current MetaQuotes-listed server was not independently confirmed. Platform availability and MetaQuotes server verification are separate questions.
Red flags and warning signs
Red flags in this review concern client classification and contract structure, not an unlicensed-broker allegation. FXSharp classifies the firm as regulated but gives it an overall score of 4.4/10. That score reflects limited verified retail-style protections, incomplete standardized pricing data, and an institutional operating model.
- The UK entity serves Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties only.
- No standardized minimum deposit is disclosed.
- No standardized spread floor is verified for the institutional account structure.
- The 2026 wholesale agreement permits account balances to become negative.
- Segregation is not automatic where UK title transfer collateral arrangements apply.
These points require context because institutional accounts operate under different rules from retail accounts. The firm's own order policy confirms that Eligible Counterparties can fall outside certain best-execution protections.
Minimum deposit
Minimum deposit information is not standardized. The value is therefore recorded as N/A rather than substituting an unsupported retail account minimum. Institutional onboarding commonly depends on client type, expected volume, credit arrangements, and the selected trading structure.
The absence of a standard entry figure changes how the minimum deposit should be interpreted. It does not mean the account has a zero-dollar minimum. It means a single verified amount cannot represent every professional, Eligible Counterparty, wholesale, or institutional relationship covered by the reviewed entities.
Is the broker on regulator warning lists?
The regulator-warning check does not change the regulated status. The reviewed data contains verified FCA and ASIC licenses rather than a current warning-list designation. No active license revocation or suspension appears in the research used for this review.
The historical ASIC action was a clarification about the territorial reach of Australian protections, not a finding that the AFSL did not exist. ASIC stated that Advanced Markets held an Australian financial services license while requiring clearer disclosure about services outside Australia. Readers should separate that historical disclosure issue from the current license status recorded here.
What does the user-feedback record show?
User feedback is not scored from individual allegations in this review. FXSharp found no verified user-aggregate rating, so complaint prevalence receives no numerical claim here. Isolated posts cannot establish how often a particular operational issue occurs across the firm's client base.
The distinction is especially relevant for an institutional provider. Client experiences can differ by legal entity, client classification, trading agreement, and liquidity arrangement. A complaint concerning one group entity does not automatically describe the FCA-regulated UK professional-client business. Regulatory documents and signed account terms carry more weight for verifiable operating conditions.
Withdrawal processing and fund movement
Withdrawal processing is tied to institutional account documentation rather than a broad retail payment menu. FXSharp's research lists Bank Transfer as the verified payment method. It does not provide a standardized withdrawal fee, minimum withdrawal, or universal processing period for every account type.
A current Advanced Markets Ltd agreement states that withdrawals generally process within two business days after verification and operational requirements are satisfied. It also permits banking, intermediary, processing, or transfer charges in applicable cases. Those terms belong to the relevant entity agreement and should not be assumed to apply identically across every group company.
How can you verify the license yourself?
License verification starts with the exact legal entity, not the Advanced Markets brand name alone. The UK record should identify Advanced Markets (UK) Limited and FCA reference 777739. The Australian record should identify Advanced Markets Ltd and AFSL 444649. Matching the entity name prevents confusion with similarly named firms.
A practical verification sequence is:
- Identify the entity named in the proposed client agreement.
- Search the relevant regulator for that exact legal name and license number.
- Check the authorization status and permitted client categories.
- Compare the regulator record with the website's legal disclosure.
- Confirm which entity will actually hold the account and collateral.
Customer support
Customer support operates around an institutional service model rather than a mass-market retail help desk. The contact telephone number is +44 204 591 4168, while FXSharp found no verified public support email. The official website also displays its London contact location and the same telephone number.
Support quality cannot be converted into a verified score from the available evidence. Institutional clients can also interact through onboarding, credit, execution, and technology contacts rather than one generic support channel. The meaningful test is whether the contact path matches the legal entity and signed agreement.
Where is the group actually based?
The group has a multi-entity footprint, while the headquarters is listed as London. Advanced Markets (UK) Ltd is incorporated in the United Kingdom. Advanced Markets Ltd, the entity associated with AFSL 444649, is incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The wider business also maintains a United States presence.
This geography affects regulation because incorporation, office location, and financial authorization are different concepts. An Australian financial services license does not make a Cayman-incorporated entity an Australian company. ASIC specifically addressed that distinction in its 2015 clarification. The account agreement therefore matters more than the marketing location alone.
Broker features
Broker features reflect an institutional DMA/STP model with multiple execution technologies and professional account classifications. The table separates verified values from information that lacks a standardized public figure.
| Feature | Advanced Markets Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Disclosed regulators | FCA 777739, ASIC AFSL 444649 |
| Registration verified | FCA and ASIC licenses recorded as regulated |
| Trading platforms | MT4, MT5, Fortex 6, FIX API |
| Minimum deposit | Not standardized |
| Maximum leverage | 1:100 |
| Account types | Professional, Eligible Counterparty, Wholesale, Institutional |
| Islamic account | Not disclosed |
| Customer support | Telephone verified, standardized language coverage not disclosed |
| Deposit methods | Bank Transfer |
The instrument set includes 57 forex pairs, spot metals, CFDs (Contracts for Difference), futures, and crypto CFDs. Maximum leverage is recorded at 1:100. A standardized spread floor is not verified, so the spread remains N/A rather than using promotional pricing from another entity or account.
Should you avoid Advanced Markets?
Advanced Markets is a regulated institutional broker structure rather than a standard retail forex proposition. Its strongest documented points are FCA and ASIC licensing, an operating history since 2006, and institutional connectivity through MT4, MT5, Fortex 6, and FIX API. Its constraints are equally specific: professional client eligibility, non-standardized entry terms, and different protections across entities.
The 4.4/10 overall score follows the supplied scoring methodology rather than an allegation that the licenses are invalid. License score is 6.0, business is 6.0, software is 3.0, risk control is 3.5, and regulation is 5.0. The structure therefore requires entity-level due diligence before comparing it with a conventional retail brokerage account.
Forex and derivative products carry high leverage; some or all invested capital may be lost. This content is for information only, not investment advice. Verify the broker's current regulation status with the relevant authority's official site before any investment decision.
FXSharp is an independent site that reviews forex brokers and prop trading firms. Every license is checked on the regulator's own register, every score follows our published methodology, and no broker can pay for a higher rating.
