1. Broker Overview
Likewood Broker, officially known as Likewood Invest Ltd, was established in 2022. The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with additional offices reportedly in Hong Kong. Likewood operates as a private entity and is not publicly listed. The primary market for Likewood consists of individual retail traders and institutional clients interested in trading various financial instruments, including forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and indices.
Since its inception, Likewood has aimed to provide a user-friendly trading environment, catering to both novice and experienced traders. The broker has made significant strides in developing its trading platform and expanding its product offerings. However, it is essential to note that the company has faced scrutiny regarding its regulatory status and operational practices.
Likewood's business model focuses primarily on retail forex trading, offering a range of account types and trading options designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients. The broker aims to provide competitive trading conditions, including leveraged trading and access to multiple financial markets.
Despite its claims of legitimacy, Likewood Broker operates without proper regulatory oversight. The company has not been authorized by any recognized financial authority, which raises concerns about its compliance with industry standards. Notably, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) of Luxembourg issued a warning against Likewood, stating that it is not regulated and not authorized to offer financial services in or from Luxembourg.
- Main Regulatory Authorities: None
- Regulatory Numbers: N/A
- Validity and Scope of Licenses: Likewood does not hold any valid licenses.
- Legal Entities in Different Regions: The company claims to operate in the UK and Hong Kong, but no records have been found in the registers of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
- Client Fund Segregation Policies: No information provided regarding client fund segregation.
- Investor Compensation Fund Participation: Not applicable due to lack of regulation.
- KYC and AML Compliance Measures: Likewood claims to adhere to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policies, but the effectiveness and enforcement of these measures remain questionable.
3. Trading Products and Services
Likewood Broker offers a diverse array of trading products, which include:
- Forex Currency Pairs: The broker provides access to a range of forex pairs, although the exact number and major pairs available were not specified.
- CFD Product Categories: Likewood allows trading in various CFDs, including indices, commodities, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
- Unique Products or Trading Instruments: While specific unique products were not highlighted, the broker claims to offer a broad selection of trading instruments.
- Product Update Frequency and New Additions: No detailed information on the frequency of product updates or newly added instruments was provided.
- Retail Trading Services: Likewood focuses on retail trading, offering various account types to cater to different trader profiles.
- Institutional Client Services: No specific information regarding services tailored for institutional clients was found.
- White Label Solutions: There is no mention of white label solutions being offered by Likewood.
- Asset Management Services: No information was available regarding asset management services.
Likewood Broker provides a web-based trading platform, which is designed to be user-friendly and accessible across devices. However, it lacks support for popular trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5.
- MetaTrader 4/5 Support: The broker does not support MetaTrader platforms.
- Proprietary Platform Details: The specifics of the proprietary platform were not elaborated upon, but it is designed for ease of use.
- Web-Based Trading Platform: Likewood offers a web-based platform that can be accessed from various devices without the need for downloads.
- Mobile Application: There is no mention of a dedicated mobile application for iOS or Android.
- Execution Model: The execution model (ECN, STP, Market Making) was not specified in the available information.
- Server Locations and Technical Infrastructure: No details were provided regarding server locations or the technical infrastructure supporting the trading platform.
- API Access and Automated Trading Support: There is no information on API access or support for automated trading.
5. Account Types and Trading Conditions
Likewood Broker offers several account types to accommodate various trading preferences, although specific details about each account type were limited.
- Standard Account Conditions: The minimum deposit requirement is reported to be €250, but details on spreads and commissions were not specified.
- Advanced Account Types: Higher-tier accounts suitable for experienced traders may offer additional features, but specifics were not provided.
- Special Accounts: Information regarding Islamic accounts or corporate accounts was not available.
- Demo Account Policy: Likewood offers a demo account for practice, allowing users to familiarize themselves with the trading environment without risking real funds.
- Leverage Ratios: The leverage offered by Likewood was not clearly stated, which is a crucial factor for traders.
- Minimum Trade Size: No information was available regarding the minimum trade size.
- Overnight Fees Policy: Details on overnight fees or swap rates were not disclosed.
6. Fund Management
Likewood Broker provides various methods for fund management, but specific details on each method were limited.
- Supported Deposit Methods: Likewood accepts deposits via bank transfer, credit/debit cards, and possibly cryptocurrencies.
- Minimum Deposit Requirements: The minimum deposit varies by account type, starting at €250.
- Deposit Processing Time: The processing time for deposits was not specified.
- Deposit Fees: There was no information regarding any deposit fees.
- Withdrawal Methods and Restrictions: The broker allows withdrawals through the same methods used for deposits, but specific restrictions were not detailed.
- Withdrawal Processing Time: Likewood claims to process withdrawal requests within 24 hours, but this may vary.
- Withdrawal Fee Structure: No details were provided regarding withdrawal fees.
7. Customer Support and Educational Resources
Likewood Broker offers customer support to assist clients with their inquiries and trading needs.
- Support Channels: Likewood provides support through email and possibly other channels, but specifics were not detailed.
- Service Hours and Time Zone Coverage: The support service hours were not specified.
- Multilingual Support: There was no information on the languages supported by the customer service team.
- Types of Educational Resources: The broker claims to offer educational resources, including webinars, tutorials, and eBooks, but specifics were lacking.
- Market Analysis Services: Daily market analysis, news updates, and research reports were not explicitly mentioned.
- Trading Tools: Various trading tools, such as calculators and signal services, were not detailed.
8. Regional Coverage and Restrictions
Likewood Broker aims to serve a broad market, but specific coverage details were limited.
- Primary Service Markets: Likewood primarily targets retail traders in Europe and possibly other regions, but specific countries were not mentioned.
- Regional Office Distribution: The broker has offices in the UK and Hong Kong, but details on other regional offices were not provided.
- Countries/Regions Not Accepted: There is no information on countries or regions from which clients are not accepted.
- Special Restrictions: No specific restrictions were mentioned.
In conclusion, while Likewood Broker presents itself as a comprehensive trading platform, potential clients should approach with caution due to the lack of regulatory oversight and transparency regarding its operations. It is advisable to conduct thorough research and consider regulated alternatives before engaging with this broker.