Information Letter to the clients of LCG Capital Markets Limited (a.k.a. “FlowBroker”)

LCG Capital Markets Limited (additional trade name “FlowBroker”) is wholly owned by FlowBank SA, a Swiss Regulated entity until June 13, 2024. On that date, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) opened bankruptcy proceedings against FlowBank SA. FINMA appointed Walder Wyss SA, succursale de Genève, 14 rue du Rhône, P.O Box, 1211 Geneva 3 as bankruptcy liquidators (the Liquidators). The place of jurisdiction for the bankruptcy is FlowBank SA head office in Geneva. This has effectively stopped FlowBank SA operations.

LCG Capital Markets Limited maintains funds with accounts at FlowBank SA. Due to significant agreements between LCG Capital Markets Limited and FlowBank SA, the appointment of the Liquidators has currently made it impossible for LCG Capital Markets Limited to carry out its operations.

We draw reference to section 25 of our Terms and Conditions, which provides as follows:

FORCE MAJEURE EVENTS We may, in our reasonable opinion, determine that an emergency or an exceptional market condition exists which may prevent us from performing any or all of our obligations (a Force Majeure Event). Following the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, we will inform BHS (ourselves) and take reasonable steps to inform you.

Force Majeure Events includes the following events: (i) any act, event or occurrence (including any strike, riot or civil commotion, industrial action, acts and regulations of any governmental or supra national bodies or authorities) that, in our reasonable opinion, prevents us from maintaining an orderly market in one or more of the indices/markets in respect of which we ordinarily accept transactions;

At the time of this writing, LCG Capital Markets Limited has engaged the Liquidators. We will update you as more information becomes available to us. For any additional inquiries, clients can continue to contact Customer Support at Email: customerservices.bhs@lcg.com.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused.

CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

The advantages and disadvantages of CFD trading

Contracts for Difference or CFDs, as they are commonly referred to, are derivative instruments that enable traders to speculate on a wide range of financial markets, without taking direct ownership of the underlying asset. The contract referred to is an agreement between the buyer and the seller to exchange the difference between the opening and closing price of the asset being traded.

What Are the Advantages of Trading CFDs?

As derivative instruments, Contracts for Difference provide investors with a range of advantages when compared with other, more traditional forms of investment.

Trade Rising and Falling Markets

With CFDs, traders are able to speculate on both rising and falling markets. This means that there are more trading opportunities available, as profit can be made from buying or selling Contracts for Difference on a wide range of financial instruments. As an example, when an investor buys company shares or stocks, profit can only be earned if they rise in price. In comparison, with CFDs, an investor can also profit by selling shares if they believe a company’s stock value will drop.

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Invest in a Wide Range of Markets

By registering with an online CFD broker like LCG (LCG), traders are able to invest in a wide range of financial markets through an online trading platform. From a single account, traders have access to Contracts for Difference on forex, shares, indices, spot metals, commodities, bonds and ETFs, providing a wide range of investment opportunities.

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Trading on Margin

Through the use of financial leverage, investors are able to trade the markets with a smaller initial deposit. Essentially, leverage acts as a loan that a trader takes from their broker, enabling them to control larger CFD positions on the market by investing a smaller amount of capital, which is reserved as margin. This makes CFD trading more accessible and cost-effective than other investment methods.

No Stamp Duty

Another reason that CFD trading can be more cost-effective than other forms of investing is that, when trading Contracts for Difference, there is no stamp duty to pay. As CFDs are derivative instruments, an investor is not taking ownership of the underlying asset, as such, stamp duty does not apply.

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What Are the Disadvantages of CFD Trading?

Although there are numerous benefits to CFD trading, an investor must also ensure they fully understand the risks involved when trading financial derivatives.

Leverage Can be a Double-Edged Sword

Trading on margin enables investors to open a CFD position on the market with a smaller initial deposit, however, it also carries a certain level of risk. If a trader enters the market undercapitalised and overleveraged, even the smallest price movements can wipe out their entire investment. As such, it is critical that an investor fully understands how CFD trading works and has a sound risk management strategy in place before opening a position.

Costs Can Grow Over the Long-Term

Although CFD trading can be a cost-effective method of investing in the financial markets, if positions are left open for extended periods and not managed effectively, costs can accrue over time. Investors looking to open long-term trades should be aware of additional costs, such as swap, that is charged for holding positions overn

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Risk Warning: Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. LCG Capital Markets Limited (LCG BHS) is a company registered in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas under registered number: 200271 B. LCG BHS is authorised and regulated by the Securities Commission of Bahamas (SCB) with License No. SIA-F194. The registered address for LCG BHS is: Sassoon House, Shirley Street and Victoria Avenue, Nassau in the Island of New Providence, P.O.BOX SS-5383, Bahamas. Please read carefully the relevant Risk Disclosure, available here Legal Documentation

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