CF Group, officially known as CF Group Global Ltd, was established in 2018. The broker claims to be headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and operates through two subsidiaries: CF Global UK Limited and CF Group Limited in New Zealand. The company is privately held, focusing primarily on providing forex and CFD trading services to retail and institutional clients.
CF Group has positioned itself in the competitive forex market, aiming to cater to a diverse clientele ranging from individual traders to larger institutional investors. Despite its relatively recent inception, it has made claims of regulatory compliance and customer trust, although these claims have been met with skepticism due to various warnings from regulatory authorities.
The business model of CF Group is centered around retail forex trading and offering contracts for difference (CFDs) on various asset classes, including commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. However, it is essential to note that the broker has faced numerous allegations regarding its regulatory status and the legitimacy of its operations.
CF Group operates under a complex regulatory framework, which has raised significant concerns among traders and regulatory bodies. The broker claims to be regulated by several authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand. However, scrutiny reveals that these claims are misleading.
Regulatory Authorities:
FCA (UK): Previously regulated but now listed as no longer authorized.
FMA (New Zealand): Issued warnings against CF Group, stating that the broker is not associated with any registered financial service provider in New Zealand.
License Numbers:
FCA License: Not applicable as the registration has been revoked.
FMA License: Not applicable; the broker is not registered.
Regulatory Status: CF Group is currently unregulated, raising significant red flags for potential investors.
Client Fund Protection: There are no clear policies regarding the segregation of client funds, and reports indicate that client funds may not be adequately protected.
KYC and AML Compliance: While CF Group claims to adhere to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, the lack of regulatory oversight casts doubt on the effectiveness of these measures.
Due to these factors, it is strongly advised to exercise caution when considering trading with CF Group, as its regulatory status and compliance measures are questionable.
CF Group offers a limited range of trading products, primarily focusing on forex and CFDs.
Forex Pairs: The broker provides access to around 29 currency pairs, which includes major pairs but lacks exotic options.
CFD Product Categories:
Indices: Access to major global indices.
Commodities: Trading options include popular commodities such as gold and silver.
Cryptocurrencies: Limited offerings in the cryptocurrency market.
Unique Products: CF Group does not appear to offer any unique or proprietary trading products that distinguish it from competitors.
Product Update Frequency: The broker has not demonstrated a consistent approach to updating or expanding its product offerings.
Retail Trading Services: CF Group primarily serves retail traders, providing them with access to the forex and CFD markets.
Institutional Client Services: There is little information available regarding services tailored specifically for institutional clients.
White Label Solutions: No mention of white label solutions or asset management services is provided by the broker.
Overall, the product offering of CF Group is quite limited, which may not meet the diverse needs of all traders.
CF Group claims to support various trading platforms, but the specifics are somewhat vague.
MetaTrader 4/5 Support: There is no clear indication of support for MetaTrader 4 or 5, which are industry-standard platforms.
Proprietary Platform: The broker offers its own trading platform, but details regarding its functionality and features are not well-documented.
Web-Based Trading Platform: A web-based platform is available, though its capabilities remain unclear.
Mobile Applications: CF Group does not provide sufficient information about mobile application support for iOS or Android devices.
Execution Model: The broker's execution model is not clearly defined, with no specific mention of whether it operates on an ECN, STP, or Market Making basis.
Server Location and Infrastructure: Information regarding server locations and the underlying technology infrastructure is lacking.
API Access and Automated Trading Support: There is no mention of API access or support for automated trading strategies.
Given the limited information available, potential clients may find it challenging to assess the trading environment provided by CF Group.
CF Group offers a few account types, but the details surrounding these accounts are not comprehensive.
Standard Account Conditions: The minimum deposit requirement is not explicitly stated, but users are encouraged to start with a low initial investment.
Advanced Account Types: There is mention of a platinum account, which may offer enhanced features but lacks specific details.
Special Account Types: No specific accounts such as Islamic or corporate accounts are mentioned.
Demo Account Policy: CF Group does not provide a demo account for prospective traders to practice trading strategies.
Leverage Ratios: The broker offers leverage up to 1:500, which is considered high and may increase risk for traders.
Minimum Trade Sizes: The minimum trade sizes are not clearly defined in the information available.
Overnight Fees Policy: Information regarding overnight fees or swap rates is not provided.
Overall, the account offerings from CF Group appear to be basic and may not cater to the needs of more advanced traders.
CF Group provides limited information regarding its fund management policies.
Supported Deposit Methods: The broker appears to support bank wire transfers as a primary method for deposits.
Minimum Deposit Requirements: Specific minimum deposit amounts for different account types are not clearly stated.
Deposit Processing Times: The processing times for deposits are not explicitly mentioned.
Deposit Fees: There is no detailed information regarding any fees associated with deposits.
Withdrawal Methods and Restrictions: Withdrawal methods are not clearly outlined, and users have reported difficulties in accessing their funds.
Withdrawal Processing Times: The time taken for withdrawals is not specified.
Withdrawal Fee Structure: Information on withdrawal fees is also lacking, which may pose additional risks for users.
The lack of transparency in fund management practices raises concerns regarding the safety and accessibility of client funds.
CF Group claims to offer various customer support channels, but the effectiveness of these services is questionable.
Support Channels: Customers can reach out via phone, email, and possibly online chat.
Service Hours and Time Zone Coverage: The specific hours of operation are not clearly stated, which may affect service availability.
Multilingual Support: The broker supports English and Chinese (Simplified), catering to a diverse clientele.
Educational Resources: There is limited availability of educational resources such as webinars, tutorials, or e-books.
Market Analysis Services: The provision of daily analysis, news, or research reports is not well-documented.
Trading Tools: Basic tools such as calculators or market calendars may be available, but specifics are not provided.
The overall customer support and educational offerings from CF Group appear to be lacking, which may hinder traders' ability to make informed decisions.
CF Group operates in select markets, but there are notable limitations.
Primary Service Markets: The broker primarily targets clients in the United Kingdom and China.
Regional Office Distribution: There is no clear indication of regional offices beyond the main headquarters.
Countries/Regions Not Accepted: The broker does not accept clients from the United States and several other restricted jurisdictions.
Special Restrictions: Specific restrictions related to trading or account access are not detailed.
In conclusion, while CF Group presents itself as a forex broker with various offerings, significant concerns regarding its regulatory status, product range, and overall transparency warrant caution for potential traders. It is crucial for individuals to conduct thorough research and consider well-regulated alternatives before engaging with the CF Group broker.