Two Prop Firms and ThinkMarkets Added to India’s Central Bank Warning List

The Reserve
Bank of India’s warning list has just added another popular FX/CFD broker, ThinkMarkets and two prop firms, FundedNext and Smart Prop Trader. While these are
the first prop trading entities the institution has focused on, the list
already includes many well-known brokers, including eToro, IC Markets, and XTB.

Reserve Bank of India
Updates Alert List: Adds Prop Firms and FX/CFD Broker

India’s
central bank updated its warning list yesterday (Tuesday), adding several new
entities. Among FX/CFD brokers, the popular brand ThinkMarkets was added,
along with prop firms, for the first time since the registry’s creation. These
are the sector’s popular names FundedNext and Smart Prop Trader.

How can a
company end up on the Indian central bank’s warning list? As the institution
explains, it contains names of entities “which are neither authorized to
deal in forex under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) nor authorized
to operate electronic trading platform (ETP) for forex transactions under the
Electronic Trading Platforms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018.”

The list
may also include companies that promote unauthorized access to the FX market or
claim to provide advisory and training services for individual investors in
trading.

Interestingly,
companies on the Indian regulator’s warning list often don’t even offer their
services in this country. In 2022, many popular names were added to the very same warning website. Finance
Magnates
spoke with representatives of several different brokers who stated
they don’t even operate in that market. Among them were XTB and eToro.

eToro
confirmed that it “does not onboard clients from India,” and XTB
stated that it “is not operating in India and does not offer services to
residents of India.”

Indian FX/CFD Market

India
neither regulates nor directly prohibits retail over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
This allows many forex and CFD brokers to target Indian citizens. However,
clients violate local forex law, FEMA, by accepting deposits on these locally
unauthorized platforms.

Broker
OctaFX also had problems with the Indian central bank, which seized nearly $10
million
from allegedly earned almost $120 million in local operations.

Nevertheless,
the industry continues to attract new entities. Last month, Axi, an
Australia-based forex and CFD broker, expanded its physical presence by opening
a new office in Bangalore, India. Although confirmed today (Monday), the Indian
office was inaugurated “several weeks ago.” The new office is led by
Axi’s head of engineering in the region and employs about 30 staff with plans
for further expansion in “coming months.”

The Reserve
Bank of India’s warning list has just added another popular FX/CFD broker, ThinkMarkets and two prop firms, FundedNext and Smart Prop Trader. While these are
the first prop trading entities the institution has focused on, the list
already includes many well-known brokers, including eToro, IC Markets, and XTB.

Reserve Bank of India
Updates Alert List: Adds Prop Firms and FX/CFD Broker

India’s
central bank updated its warning list yesterday (Tuesday), adding several new
entities. Among FX/CFD brokers, the popular brand ThinkMarkets was added,
along with prop firms, for the first time since the registry’s creation. These
are the sector’s popular names FundedNext and Smart Prop Trader.

How can a
company end up on the Indian central bank’s warning list? As the institution
explains, it contains names of entities “which are neither authorized to
deal in forex under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) nor authorized
to operate electronic trading platform (ETP) for forex transactions under the
Electronic Trading Platforms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018.”

The list
may also include companies that promote unauthorized access to the FX market or
claim to provide advisory and training services for individual investors in
trading.

Interestingly,
companies on the Indian regulator’s warning list often don’t even offer their
services in this country. In 2022, many popular names were added to the very same warning website. Finance
Magnates
spoke with representatives of several different brokers who stated
they don’t even operate in that market. Among them were XTB and eToro.

eToro
confirmed that it “does not onboard clients from India,” and XTB
stated that it “is not operating in India and does not offer services to
residents of India.”

Indian FX/CFD Market

India
neither regulates nor directly prohibits retail over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
This allows many forex and CFD brokers to target Indian citizens. However,
clients violate local forex law, FEMA, by accepting deposits on these locally
unauthorized platforms.

Broker
OctaFX also had problems with the Indian central bank, which seized nearly $10
million
from allegedly earned almost $120 million in local operations.

Nevertheless,
the industry continues to attract new entities. Last month, Axi, an
Australia-based forex and CFD broker, expanded its physical presence by opening
a new office in Bangalore, India. Although confirmed today (Monday), the Indian
office was inaugurated “several weeks ago.” The new office is led by
Axi’s head of engineering in the region and employs about 30 staff with plans
for further expansion in “coming months.”

This post is originally published on FINANCEMAGNATES.

  • Related Posts

    39% of Retail Investment Firms Cite Excessive FCA Data Requests, Survey Shows

    The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ) and its Practitioner Panel commissioned a survey for 2023-2024, conducted by Verian, to assess industry perceptions of the FCA’s regulatory performance. This annual survey,…

    Record Keeping Error in Stock Lending Program Costs Interactive Brokers $450K

    The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a censure order and penalty of $475,000 on Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR) for lapses in its share lending program. The brokerage has…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    US has not seen evidence of Hezbollah cash bunker under Beirut hospital, Pentagon chief says

    • October 23, 2024
    US has not seen evidence of Hezbollah cash bunker under Beirut hospital, Pentagon chief says

    Exclusive-State and industry input led US farm agency to relax bird flu testing order for cows

    • October 23, 2024
    Exclusive-State and industry input led US farm agency to relax bird flu testing order for cows

    Silver Surges Amidst Armed Conflicts. Forecast as of 23.10.2024

    • October 23, 2024
    Silver Surges Amidst Armed Conflicts. Forecast as of 23.10.2024

    Morning Bid: Dollar rides rising yields, Canada set to ease

    • October 23, 2024
    Morning Bid: Dollar rides rising yields, Canada set to ease

    39% of Retail Investment Firms Cite Excessive FCA Data Requests, Survey Shows

    • October 23, 2024
    39% of Retail Investment Firms Cite Excessive FCA Data Requests, Survey Shows

    Yen under pressure at 152 per dollar

    • October 23, 2024
    Yen under pressure at 152 per dollar