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NASA Live Coverage of SpaceX Demo-2 Return – Live Trading News

NASA will provide live coverage of activities leading up to, during, and following the return of the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with the agency’s astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the International Space Station.

NASA will provide live coverage of activities leading up to, during, and following the return of the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with the agency’s astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the International Space Station.

The duo arrived at the orbiting laboratory on May 31, following a successful launch on May 30 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:34 p.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 1, for undocking of the Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft from the space station and 2:42 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, for splashdown, which will be the first return of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts from the space station.

1. Where will Behnken and Hurley splash down?

NASA and SpaceX are capable of supporting seven splashdown sites off the coast of Florida for the return of Crew Dragon on its Demo-2 test flight with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the International Space Station as part the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The seven potential splashdown sites for Crew Dragon are off the coasts of Pensacola, Tampa, Tallahassee, Panama City, Cape Canaveral, Daytona, and Jacksonville.

2. How will a splashdown location be chosen?

Splashdown locations are selected using defined priorities, starting with selecting a station departure date and time with the maximum number of return opportunities in geographically diverse locations to protect for weather changes. Teams also prioritize locations which require the shortest amount of time between undocking and splashdown based on orbital mechanics, and splashdown opportunities that occur in daylight hours.

Check out the Departure and Splashdown Criteria Fact Sheet for an in-depth look at selecting return locations, decision points during return, and detailed weather criteria.

3. How long will it take for Behnken and Hurley to return to Earth?

Return time for Behnken and Hurley will vary depending on the undock and splashdown opportunities chosen, with the primary opportunity taking between six and 30 hours.

4. What does the return look like? What are the major milestones?

Crew Dragon’s return home will start with undocking from the International Space Station. At the time of undock, Dragon Endeavour and its trunk weigh approximately 27,600 pounds. NASA will provide live coverage of the return from undocking all the way through splashdown.

There will be two very small engine burns immediately after hooks holding Crew Dragon in place retract to actually separate the spacecraft from the station. Once flying free, Dragon Endeavour will autonomously execute four departure burns to move the spaceship away from the space station and begin the flight home. Several hours later, one departure phasing burn, lasting about six minutes, puts Crew Dragon on the proper orbital path to line it up with the splashdown zone.

Shortly before the final deorbit burn, Crew Dragon will separates from its trunk, which will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The spacecraft then executes the deorbit burn, which commits Crew Dragon to return and places it on an orbit with the proper trajectory for splashdown. After trunk separation and the deorbit burn are complete, the Crew Dragon capsule weighs approximately 21,200 pounds.   

5. How fast will Dragon Endeavour be going when it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere? How hot will it get?

Crew Dragon will be traveling at orbital velocity prior to re-entry, moving at approximately 17,500 miles per hour. The maximum temperature it will experience on re-entry is approximately 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The re-entry creates a communications blackout between the spacecraft and Earth that is expected to last approximately six minutes.

6. When do the parachutes deploy?

Dragon Endeavour has two sets of parachutes will that deploy once back inside Earth’s atmosphere to slow down prior to splashdown. Two drogue parachutes will deploy at about 18,000 feet in altitude while Crew Dragon is moving approximately 350 miles per hour. Four main parachutes will deploy at about 6,000 feet in altitude while Crew Dragon is moving approximately 119 miles per hour.

7. Who recovers the crew and the Dragon Endeavour capsule from the water? What vehicles and personnel are involved?

For splashdown at any of the seven potential sites, SpaceX personnel will be on location to recover the capsule from the water. Two recovery ships, the Go Searcher and the Go Navigator, split locations between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. On either ship will be more than 40 personnel from SpaceX and NASA, made up of spacecraft engineers, trained water recovery experts, medical professionals, the ship’s crew, NASA cargo experts, and others to assist in the recovery.

8. How long after splashdown until Behnken and Hurley are out of the capsule?

Immediately after splashdown has occurred, two fast boats with SpaceX personnel deploy from the main recovery ship. The first boat checks capsule integrity and tests the area around the Crew Dragon for the presence of any hypergolic propellant vapors. Once cleared, the personnel on the boats begin preparing the spaceship for recovery by the ship. The second fast boat is responsible for safing and recovering Crew Dragon’s parachutes, which have at this point detached from the capsule and are in the water.

At this point the main recovery vessel can move in and begin to hoist the Crew Dragon capsule onto the main deck. Once the capsule is on the recovery vessel, it is moved to a stable location for the hatch to be opened for waiting medical professionals to conduct initial checks and assist Behnken and Hurley out of Dragon Endeavour.

This entire process is expected to take approximately 45 to 60 minutes, depending on spacecraft and sea state conditions.

9. Where do Behnken and Hurley go after they are out of the capsule?

Immediately after exiting the Crew Dragon capsule, Behnken and Hurley will be assisted into a medical area on the recovery ship for initial assessment. This is similar to procedures when welcoming long-duration crew members returning home on Soyuz in Kazakhstan.

After initial medical checks, Behnken and Hurley will be returned to shore either by traveling on the primary recovery ship or by helicopter. Helicopter returns from the recovery ship are the baseline for all splashdown zones except for the Cape Canaveral splashdown site, with travel times ranging from approximately 10 minutes to 80 minutes. The distance from shore will be variable depending on the splashdown location, ranging from approximately 22 nautical miles to 175 nautical miles.

Once returned to shore, both crew members will immediately board a waiting NASA plane to fly back to Ellington field in Houston.

10. What happens next?

Meanwhile, Dragon Endeavour will be returned back to the SpaceX Dragon Lair in Florida for inspection and processing. Teams will examine the data and performance of the spacecraft throughout the test flight to complete the certification of the system to fly operational missions for NASA’s Commercial Crew and International Space Station Programs. The certification process is expected to take about six weeks. Following successful certification, the first operational mission will launch with Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Shannon Walker – all of NASA – along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission specialist Soichi Noguchi will launch on the Crew-1 mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four crew members will spend six months on the space station.

Coverage on NASA TV and the agency’s website will begin at 9:10 a.m., Aug. 1, with a short farewell ceremony on station and resume at 5:15 p.m., with departure preparations through splashdown and recovery at one of seven targeted water landing zones in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.

All media participation in news conferences and interviews will be remote; no media will be accommodated at any NASA site due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To participate in the briefings by phone or to request a remote interview with the crew members, reporters must contact the newsroom at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston at 281-483-5111 no later than two hours prior to each event.

NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 return coverage is as follows (all times Eastern):

Wednesday, July 29

  • Approximately 6 p.m. (or one hour after Return Flight Readiness Review completion) – Return Flight Readiness Review briefing at Johnson, with the following participants:
    • NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine 
    • Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
    • Joel Montalbano, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
    • Benji Reed, director, crew mission management, SpaceX

A media phone bridge will be available for this event.

Friday, July 31

  • 10:45 a.m. – Crew News Conference from the International Space Station, with the following participants:
    • NASA astronaut Bob Behnken
    • NASA astronaut Doug Hurley
    • NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy

A media phone bridge will be available for this event.

Saturday, Aug. 1

·      9:10 a.m. – SpaceX Dragon Demo-2 Farewell Ceremony aboard the International Space Station (ceremony begins about 9:15 a.m.)

·      5:15 p.m. – NASA TV undocking coverage begins for the 7:34 p.m. undocking (NASA Television will have continuous coverage from undocking to splashdown)

Sunday, Aug. 2

  • 2:42 p.m. – Splashdown
  • 5 p.m. – Administrator post-splashdown news conference at Johnson, with the following representatives:
    • NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
    • Commercial Crew Program representative
    • International Space Station representative
    • SpaceX representative
    • NASA Astronaut Office representative

A media phone bridge will be available for this event.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

  • 4:30 p.m. – Demo-2 Crew News Conference from the Johnson Space Center, with the following participants:
    • NASA astronaut Bob Behnken
    • NASA astronaut Doug Hurley

A media phone bridge will be available for this event.

These activities are a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which has been working with the U.S. aerospace industry to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station for the first time since 2011. This is SpaceX’s final test flight and is providing data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown and recovery operations. 

The test flight also is helping NASA certify SpaceX’s crew transportation system for regular flights carrying astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX is readying the hardware for the first rotational mission, which would occur following NASA certification.

The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station. This could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration, including helping us prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

For more information about splashdown locations, weather criteria and recovery logistics, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/top-10-things-to-know-for-nasa-s-spacex-demo-2-return

For full mission coverage, NASA’s commercial crew blog, and more information about the mission, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

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S. Jack Heffernan Ph.D. Funds Manager at HEFFX holds a Ph.D. in Economics and brings with him over 25 years of trading experience in Asia and hands on experience in Venture Capital, he has been involved in several start ups that have seen market capitalization over $500m and 1 that reach a peak market cap of $15b. He has managed and overseen start ups in Mining, Shipping, Technology and Financial Services.

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Broker Reviews

Buycryptomarkets Review – top 75 Broker?

Buycryptomarket for trading crypto

Buycryptomarkets Review

buycryptomarkets is a global forex and CFD broker with trading platforms that is suitable and fully functional for all devices.

This is a good option for all levels of traders, although the product portfolio is average, and there is an inactivity fee to be aware of.

Initially formulated in 2023 to provide a robust forex trading platform, buycryptomarkets offers to include CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

buycryptomarkets has several trading tools and features designed to make your trading experience as smooth as possible. The trading platform has been heralded as a simple and convenient platform without losing the functionality you would find at MetaTrader 4. Some education is also available through the trading platform, and highly responsive customer service is available 24 hours a day.

Please read my full buycryptomarkets review for further details of this forex broker so you can decide whether buycryptomarkets can meet your needs.

Who is buycryptomarkets?

buycryptomarkets is a global forex, spread betting, and CFD online broker. buycryptomarkets is an online Crypto and Forex Broker providing traders across the globe with cutting-edge technology to trade the world’s markets. In a continuous effort to give their traders a more comfortable and safe trading experience, their experts have been improving their service and solutions ensuring traders have the freedom to trade whenever and wherever they like.

 

buycryptomarkets product range overview

The product range at buycryptomarkets is average compared to other brokers. They offer a solid selection of currency pairs and CFDs, no futures CFDs, and an average number of commodity and stock index CFDs. additionally, they do offer leverage trading on the main cryptocurrencies.

Forex trading

More than 50 Forex pairs are available at buycryptomarkets with no commission and some of the tightest spreads in the industry.

Indices and Financial Trading

Indices and financial CFDs have flexible margin requirements and low spreads, representing some of the industry’s best spreads. There are no overnight or hidden fees of any description to worry about.

Commodities Trading

At buycryptomarkets, there are several commodity CFDs, including metals and energies.

Share CFDs Trading

Trade more than 100 company shares without ever owning the underlying security. At buycryptomarkets, you can access global stock exchanges with the option to go long and short and benefit from leverage. For non-leverage trading, there is zero commission.

 

Buycryptomarkets Accounts

There are a few trading account options at buycryptomarkets.  there is not a lot of info concerning this till you are actually in the registration process.

the only thing you should know is that the minimum deposit for opening an account is only $250.

Variety of Trading Accounts

No matter your trading exposure, you deserve an opportunity to trade in CFDs. With access to multiple trading account types, you can choose the right account for yourself and start performing trades in multiple CFDs.

The more experience you gain in the online trading market, the higher trading account you can adopt to trade in more challenging environments. If you are a beginner, start by making a minimum deposit of $250 to trade with a basic account.

Buycryptomarkets  web trading platform

The web platform allows you to place trades directly from your web browser in an easy-to-use interface that is customisable and available in several languages. The web trading platform falls short because of its lack of social trading; however, it is well-designed with several useful features.

There is a two-step login for additional security, and you can search for an asset using its name or by category. Order types include:

I was impressed with both the portfolio and fee reports which were comprehensive and easy to use, with clear information on commission, swap fees, and performance.

There are also the following useful features available on the trading platform:

Trailing stop

Trailing the position of a current price can then trigger a stop order as the price reaches a predetermined distance from a stop order. It works similarly to a stop order but in a more controlled way that aligns with movements in the market.

Market Sentiment

This allows you to closely monitor movements in the market using data from other traders concerning a specific instrument.

Hedging

This allows you to mitigate risks by investing in the same product in a different direction.

Charts

Real-time charts provide up-to-the-moment information, including historical trends, forecasts, and current trends.

Buycryptomarkets mobile trading platform

The mobile trading platform is in keeping with the web trading platform, with much of the same functionality. 

The actual design is well laid out and easy to use with customizability. I found the mobile app fast with personalised watch lists and the ability to open positions directly from real-time charts.

There are price alerts that include statistical alerts, which can be monthly or yearly for currency pairs, indices, etc. Clicking on the alert will automatically open the app on the instrument.

 

buycryptomarkets customer service review

Customer service is excellent at buycryptomarkets, with immediate response times across multiple channels.

There are several channels for contacting customer support, including phone and email. When I tested their service, my query was dealt with immediately without even the intervention of a chatbot. The service provided via email and phone was similar, with fast, relevant responses to my queries. Customer service is provided 24/5, which is above average.

buycryptomarkets is opening an account.

The account opening process is straightforward, fully digital and quick. You will need your ID.

To open your account, you should first decide on the account type you wish to open

Then you can follow these quick and easy steps:

  • Select your country of residence
  • Add personal information, including name and email address
  • Choose a password
  • Enter your home address and tax residency
  • Complete some simple questions relating to your trading experience
  • Fill in information about your personal finances, such as income savings and employment status
  • Select your base currency
  • Upload your ID documentation and proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.

buycryptomarkets Deposit and Withdrawal

Deposits and withdrawals and essentially free, and the minimum deposit is high compared to what you would find at other brokers.

Before making your first deposit, you will need to choose between the following base currencies:

EUR, USD, GBP

Deposit options include:

  1. Bank transfer
  2. Credit and debit card
  3. Cryptocurrency

The minimum deposit is $5000, which is higher than other brokers. There are no fees should you choose to deposit via bank transfer from your bank account.

Bank transfers take several business days.

Withdrawals can be made using the same methods accepted for deposits, and there are no withdrawal fees for electronic wallets and credit/debit cards. 

buycryptomarkets safety

buycryptomarkets is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) but is performing full due diligence to comply with AML regulations.

In addition, all client funds are held in segregated bank accounts to protect those funds should buycryptomarkets go bust.

The buycryptomarkets negative balance protection protects client funds should their balance go negative.

buycryptomarkets fees

buycryptomarkets has low CFD and forex fees and average non-trading fees.

Fees can be separated into two main categories for a CFD and forex broker: trading and non-trading fees.

Trading fees

The trading fees will vary depending on the financial instruments you are trading within each asset class. Trading fees can be charged as a spread, a commission, or a financing rate.

Spreads differ between the bid and ask price for a foreign currency price. Here’s how buycryptomarkets spreads compare against some other forex brokers:

Non-trading fees

buycryptomarkets has low non-trading fees as they do not charge deposit and withdrawal fees, and there is no account fee.

Inactivity fees are charged. There are inactivity fees to be aware of. However, these will only kick in once your account has been inactive for several months and you have a positive balance.

Who is buycryptomarkets suitable for?

buycryptomarkets is suitable for all levels of traders looking for a solid trading platform and very competitive spreads.

The selection of account types is aimed at both retail and professional investors.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. Concerning margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection, and market volatility that may substantially affect the price or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that these products’ methods, techniques, or indicators will be profitable or will not result in losses.

 

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Broker Reviews

Exallt Review – Demo Account – top 75 Broker ?

exallt review

Introduction to Exallt Review 

Let us start from the beginning. People should remember that Exallt offers many investment tools in the capital markets. Creating a portfolio with cryptocurrencies, stocks, commodities, ETFs, and more is possible.

It is a new brokerage that has just opened its door. That said, Exallt Live can offer exemplary services and products.

To get more details, proceed with Exallt review. The next sections will provide a detailed professional analysis of the broker and its offerings.

Broker Name:Exallt
Broker Type:CFD broker
Operating since year:2023
Regulation:Only KYC/AML
Broker status:Independent Broker
Customer Service
Phone:+44 2086382873
Email:[email protected]
Languages:English, Spanish
Availability:phone, email, Social Media
Trading
Trading platforms: Desktop, Mobile and Webtrader
The Trading platform Time zone:
Demo account:Yes
Mobile trading:yes
Web-based trading:yes
Bonuses:yes
Other trading instruments:Forex, CFD, crypto, commodities, indices, stocks
Account
Minimum deposit ($):$5000
Maximal leverage:1:400

 

Exallt Trading Products and Interesting Details

Commodities

Explore top commodities, trade what you want, when you want.

Explore trending commodities such as gold, silver, oil, and others, use innovative tools and make informed trading decisions at Exallt. Benefit from advanced charting and analysis as well as ultra-fast transaction processing. Exallt delivers a trading environment that helps investors to grow.

Interestingly, it is possible to trade different types of commodities. For example, oil and natural gas. Moreover, precious metals such as gold and silver.

Forex

Forex trading is made simple by Exallt.

Forex is the most traded market in the world. It is a decentralised global market for the trading of currencies. The most popular FX pairs involve major international currencies and experience the highest trading volumes and liquidity. This market determines foreign exchange rates for every currency.

Indices

Expand your trading opportunities. Trade the most popular indices at Exallt!

Indices are another in-demand trading asset. An index measures the performance of a group of stocks, bonds, or other assets. By trading indices, you can gain exposure to a wide range of assets without buying them individually. Most index trading is done with financial derivatives like CFDs. This makes it an ideal way to diversify your portfolio and manage risk.

Stocks

Trade stocks at Exallt.

Exallt is about making stock trading easier. Get real-time access to stocks from top exchanges of the world. Diversify your portfolio with a large variety of leading global stocks. Stock trading ensures two ways of earnings: through capital appreciation or dividend payments. This market features the potential for the highest returns.

Cryptocurrencies

Exalt – the easiest and the most secure way to trade cryptocurrencies.

If you can time the market right, trading cryptocurrencies gives you much higher returns than traditional investments. It minimizes risk as you speculate on the rise and fall of the market without owning the asset. Being decentralised, cryptocurrencies allow for more freedom in trading, as there are no restrictions on how much can be traded or how often.

range of markets

range of markets

Exallt and its Trading Platform

It is hard not to mention its platform. Hopefully, it is quite easy to use the platform. 

As a reminder, trading is simple. The first step is to select an asset. All users have to do is click on the “asset” tab on the platform. They need to choose a preferred asset from the extensive tradable asset selection offered by the firm.

The next step is deciding on the amount a trader wants to invest in any trade. Unsurprisingly, the higher the investment, the higher the potential rewards.

Moreover, deciding whether to go short or long on their preferred asset is important. Advanced charts, graphical trading tools, technical indicators, and live analysis help to make an informed decision on probable future price movements.

It is important to remember about risk factors. When a trade position opens, customers should protect their positions from market risks. Customers should use Stop Loss and Take Profit orders. Thanks to Stop Loss orders, it is possible to reduce potential losses. Moreover, Take Profit orders allows users to lock in their profits.

Users should remember that Stop Loss and Take Profit orders will automatically close their positions when triggered.

Exallt trading platform for all devices

Exallt trading platform for all devices

Exallt and Education

Hopefully, Exallt Live offers interesting information. It is desirable to read every chapter of the guide. Moreover, people will find this guide brimming with information for their financial education. Furthermore, Exallt ’s goal is to educate investors and bring transparent investing to anyone who wants it, not just the elite.

Security Of Funds

RISK MANAGEMENT

Exallt continually detects, assesses, monitors, and controls each risk associated with platform users’ trading transactions, operations, and actions. This means that they continuously evaluate the effectiveness and compliance of the policies, approaches, and procedures. Such a system approach allows Exallt to cover its financial needs and capital requirements quickly.

SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS

Exallt is incredibly proud of ensuring the ultimate protection of clients’ funds. They apply a model that keeps our clients’ funds separate from the company funds. In the unlikely event that Exallt would ever enter liquidation, the clients’ funds are wholly segregated off the balance sheet and cannot be used to cover the company’s debts and pay back creditors.

REACHING THE TOP EU BANKING INSTITUTIONS

Exallt attentively chooses the financial services to partner with. Exalt needs additional facilities to support and conduct transactions. They partnered with payment service providers to work with numerous banks worldwide, including central tier-one banks such as Barclays, HSBC & Deutsche Bank. Rest assured, the security of Clients’ funds, alongside Execution and Customer support, forms the essential focus of Exallt’s activity.

Exallt Review: Conclusion

As can be seen from the review of Exallt , it makes sense to cooperate with this firm. . Moreover, its website provides many interesting details, and it is desirable to have a look through their website to see how well Exallt suits you.

We strongly hope that this Exallt review will give you accurate information about the broker enabling you to make the right decision of choosing this broker.

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Broker Reviews

Trading 212 review

Trading 212 Trading 212 deals View Similar Amazon US Trading 212 is a London-based brokerage platform that aims to democratize trading by making it accessible to the masses. Founded in 2006, Trading 212 allows users to trade in a variety of assets including Forex and currencies, gold, commodities, crypto, and stocks, etc.

Trading 212 is a London-based brokerage platform that aims to democratize trading by making it accessible to the masses. Founded in 2006, Trading 212 allows users to trade in a variety of assets including Forex and currencies, gold, commodities, crypto, and stocks, etc.

Trading 212 got the license to operate in the UK in 2013 and is approved by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority of England and Wales). It has a freemium model offering the basic services without any charge hoping that the users opt for other paid services or transact on the CFD area of the platform.

As a user, you can use their web-based trading suite or download the application on your computer. There is even a mobile app available for both iOS and Android phones, in case you want to transact on the go.

What to expect

Trading 212 offers an easy DIY platform and allows over 1,800 instruments to trade, offering enough options to traders to decide where and how they want to invest their money. These instruments include major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ripple, LiteCoin, Ethereum, Monero, EOS, Dash, Neo and more. Traditional assets like stocks, commodities and indices can also be traded on the platform. The diverse list of assets and choices available to trade on the platform should be attractive to many users.

Trading 212 2

(Image credit: Trading 212)

For first-timers, Trading 212 offers a demo account which lets you try out the platform and perform test transactions without registration. This demo account gives you a real-time experience of how the platform works on your computer and mobile applications. In case you decide to sign up, you do need to provide some official documents to verify your identity and address. These documents include:

  • ID Proof: a scanned color copy of passport, driving license or national ID
  • Address Proof: a utility bill or bank statement from the past three months carrying your address

These are simply standard requirements as part of anti-money laundering legislation.

Trading 212 3

(Image credit: Trading 212)

There is a set of questions which you need to answer for the company to understand your experience level as a trader. Trading 212 might reject your application on sign up, if the firm feels that it might be too risky for you to transact on such a platform. The entire signup process may take a good 10-15 minutes, so keep that much time handy.

Trading 212 offers you three different types of account: Trading 212 Invest, Trading 212 CFD and Trading 212 ISA.

Trading 212 Invest is best suited for traders who like to invest and trade in equities. However, the platform does not allow short-selling of equities, so in case you’re only interested in this type of trading then Trading 212 is not the right platform for you. Trading 212 ISA is only for UK-based traders who want to benefit from tax-free trading up to a certain amount, while Trading 212 CFD is open for all international traders.

In terms of deposit and withdrawal options, Trading 212 offers multiple choices like bank transfers, credit and debit card payments, Skrill, PayPal, Dotpay, Giropay, and Direct eBanking. Note that it only accepts payments in currencies like GBP, EUR and USD.

Trading 212 4

(Image credit: Trading 212)

The web platform is very easy to use and it offers an organized layout. On the extreme left, you have the instruments you follow by adding them to your watch-list. All your pending orders or previous purchases show right next to the watch-list. In case you want to modify your transaction after looking at the live trends, this can be done here as well.

The center part of the screen displays a detailed graph of any instrument that you want to follow. Useful tips and videos can be found on the bar on the right side. Various reports can be found grouped right under the login section.

Mobile app

The Trading 212 mobile application is also fairly easy to use and shows information in an easy to understand graphical format. Simple swipe gestures help you switch between different sections and instruments. You can set price alerts, access forum, reports, or training videos right from the menu. There is a demo account available for the mobile app too that allows you to transact in all the instruments.

Charges

Trading 212 is one of the few platforms that does not charge you for transactions and is transparent about the costs applicable with paid-for services. While withdrawing funds, there is a fee applicable on the wire transfers. Third-party transfer fees may also be levied, if applicable. The platform wants you to remain active and charges you for inactivity, if inactive for over 180 days consecutively.

Support

Customer support is one of the most important features of any trading platform. Support is available by calling in, email or even through the contact page on the site. The website also has a live chat option in case you want to chat with a representative.

Trading 212 offers support in a wide range of languages including English, German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Serbian, Norwegian, Swedish, Czech, Russian, Romanian, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese.

Regulations and credibility

Trading 212 is a trusted broker registered in England and Wales, and is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It is also registered in Bulgaria and is regulated by the local Financial Supervision Commission.

The company keeps the clients’ funds separate from the company funds and are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) which offers a security of up to £85,000. In Bulgaria, 90% of deposits with a limit of €20,000 are secured by the Investors Compensation Fund or ICF Bulgaria.

Trading 212 allows users from across the globe to sign up, though regulations prohibit sign up from regions like American Samoa, Belgium, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Guam, Northern Cyprus, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turkey, United States of America, and United States Virgin Islands.

Final verdict

Trading 212 is a very user-friendly trading platform, especially for beginners. The fact that you can try out the platform both on mobile and web before taking the plunge is a big advantage. Limitations like no short-selling may be a turn off for traders. However, the fact that Trading 212 offers over 1,800 assets and is very transparent about charges makes it one of the easiest recommendations for us.

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