Forex trading in Chile: market review and top online brokers

Chile’s economy is one of the most developed and prosperous in South America: a mixed kind made up of private and public corporations. It is one of the safest and most productive in the region, and The World Bank rates it as a high-income economy. According to the Global Competitiveness Report, Chile has the most competitive economy in South America (with Brazil and Mexico also joining Top-10) and the 30th most competitive economy in the world.

In 2021, its nominal GDP was around $252 billion with data per capita reaching $12,954. Chile is the first Latin American country to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It has a workforce of 8.3 million and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. Of these employed, 63.9% work in the service sector, followed by 23% in industry and 13.2% in agriculture.

Now the service sector is of the greatest importance for the country’s economy. It gives 61.6% of the GDP. In second place is the extraction of fossil raw materials. The main industries are extraction and processing of raw materials, agriculture and forestry, fishing, cement, and light industry. Chile ranks first in the world in the production of lithium, copper, and iodine. Oil, gold, and silver are mined in smaller quantities. Due to the sharp increase in global demand for lithium, which is required for the development of electric transport, the Chilean economy may receive an additional boost. As for agriculture, winemaking is of great importance for the country. The country is one of the largest exporters of wine products.

Financial markets in Chile have been developing alongside manufacturing. In terms of stock trading, Chile’s market is represented by the Santiago Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago, BCS). In terms of capitalization, the Chile stock exchange is the second stock market in South America, second only to the Brazilian exchange (Brasil Bolsa Balcao).

The exchange features bonds, ETFs, and fixed-income exchange-traded instruments. In addition to the domestic stock market, with the development of online technologies, Chileans have been able to enter international financial markets like the Forex market in recent years. Traders have enjoyed the introduction of new financial instruments such as currency futures and options. Besides, Cryptocurrencies have become especially popular among residents, which is not found in traditional exchanges, while Forex, on the contrary, provides a wide range of them. 

Forex market and its regulations in Chile

The Chilean financial market is full of opportunities, and access to online earnings for locals has increased the demand for numerous financial instruments and brokerage companies accepting clients from Chile. In recent years many assets have appeared for trading, including those not related to physical deliveries: now locals can trade oil, stocks, CFDs, etc. – without the need to deliver or buy any goods. So the Chileans truly have plenty to choose from.

Forex trading is legal in the country. Chile’s central bank plays an important role in the country’s financial market, but the body in charge of non-banking institutions is the Financial Market Commission (CFM), which replaced the Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros (Securities and Insurance Authority) in January 2018. The organization oversees financial corporations, insurance companies, stock exchanges and intermediaries, mutual funds and their administrators, and investment funds.

The Chilean market is represented by intermediaries licensed by reputable financial authorities such as the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) which are the world’s best supervisory authorities in the Forex market.

Many international Forex brokers have Spanish-language customer support as well as a Spanish version of their websites. In addition, some of them use payment methods that are convenient for Chilean investors. Apart from major credit or debit cards such as VISA and MasterCard, popular payment methods in the country include e-wallets such as PayU, Latam, PayPal, Mobiamo, Sencillito, BitPay, and others.

In general, the Forex market in Chile is quite diverse, not only in terms of international brokers and trading assets but also in auxiliary tools that companies can offer. One of them is definitely Copy Trading. This feature allows users not only to copy the trades of professionals and learn successful financial strategies but also to receive passive income without spending all their time tracking market trends. And for experienced traders, there is an option to earn additional income by providing access to their deals.

Popular online trading instruments in Chile

The Chilean financial market offers a wide variety of trading instruments. Some local traders prefer familiar currency pairs and commodities with their clear trading mechanism, others choose binary options fast trades, and some are exploring new opportunities Crypto brings. With these instruments, you can compose a diverse trading portfolio and get good financial results in trading.

Currency pairs trading in Chile

The national currency of Chile, like a number of other Latin American countries, is called the peso ($). The ISO code for the current peso is CLP. The Chilean peso is commonly traded in USD/CLP and EUR/CLP currency pairs and is classified as exotic. In addition, many traders use the Chilean peso in order to win back the trend in the copper market, namely, if copper starts to grow, then we should expect the Chilean peso to strengthen and vice versa. 

In addition to exotic pairs, traders from Chile have access to the whole range of major and minor pairs. So the first is the most traded currency, and therefore the most liquid. Examples of such are EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and AUD/USD. Minors, on the other hand, often experience stronger fluctuations in both directions due to less liquidity in the market. This also means that their spreads will often be wider than those of the majors. These are such pairs as EUR/JPY, EUR/GBP, GBP/CHF, or AUD/NZD.

AvaTrade is a broker whose wide selection of instruments including CFDs, Cryptocurrencies, commodities, and indices has more than 60 currency pairs with majors, minors, and exotics. There are two types of accounts available to clients: real and demo. The first one is distinguished by competitive spreads and leverage offerings, and the second one allows you to practice your trading skills with 100 thousand virtual dollars.

Traders can choose platforms based on their needs and preferences. So some can stop at the usual MetaTrader 4/5, for beginners it is better to use WebTrader which is available as an online web terminal. If you want to trade options, AvaOptions is there. AvaSocial has collected copy trading functions, and Autotrading is designed for automatic deals. In addition, there is AvaTradeGo for mobile trading.

AvaTrade is a company widely known around the world for a number of reasons, and what is more important, the broker takes a responsible approach to protect the funds of its clients. Therefore, it is licensed by such regulators as MiFID, ASIC, Japan FSA, and FFA, FSB, IIROC, and FSCA.

Commodity trading in Chile

Among the many assets available for earnings in Chile, commodity trading occupies a special place in terms of popularity among traders. The Forex market offers work not with physical deliveries and acceptance of goods, but with financial instruments for commodities. The total number of contracts on commodity exchanges is measured in thousands, but all of them can be divided into separate categories: futures, options, and CFDs. As for Chilean commodities, the country has significant reserves of copper, sodium nitrate, molybdenum, and native sulfur. In addition, there are deposits on its territory of iron, titanium, uranium, lithium, gold, and silver. Each of them can be profitably bought and sold as soon as you enter the market. For this purpose, it is most convenient to use Forex brokers, which offer leverage, a wide selection of commodity assets, and minimal commissions.

HF Markets – before rebranding known as HotForex – is a trusted online broker that complies with the strict requirements of CySEC and the FCA (Europe), the FSCA (South Africa), and the DIFC (Dubai), and FSA. The broker provides 1200 instruments to choose from, including Forex Gold trading with competitive low spreads and no hidden fees. Check our article and find more information about this trading instrument.

Traders are not limited in their choice of account type and can find what suits them best among Micro, Premium, Fixed, VIP and Zero Spread that work on MT4 and MT5 platforms and are available on desktop, web, and mobile versions for Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android.

HF Markets doesn’t leave its clients without bonuses. It gives up to $5000 on your first deposit, up to $8000 of cash rebates, and also seasonal bonus offerings.

CFD trading in Chile

Another instrument available in Chile is Contracts for Difference (CFDs). CFD is an agreement between two parties – the seller and the buyer on the transfer of the difference between the current value of the asset at the time of the conclusion of the agreement (opening a position) and its value at the end of the agreement (closing a position). CFDs are available on exchange assets like currencies, stocks, commodities, metals, stock indices, and Cryptocurrencies. Among the advantages of this financial instrument is the possibility of hedging risks, using leverage, as well as the opportunity to choose from a large number of assets. CFDs have gained immense popularity in Chile in recent years, and the brokers we mentioned in our article offer trading of CFDs with no commissions and very attractive marginal terms.

Plus500 gives every client the ability to trade CFDs on financial products like indices, Forex, commodities, Cryptocurrencies, shares, options, and ETFs. In addition, you can trade each asset separately, the broker has more than two thousand of them with no commissions and tight spreads.

Traders can register only one type of account, but for beginners, there is always an unlimited demo account to practice new strategies, try unfamiliar tools, and test indicators. The terminal is developed by the company individually and is available in two versions a web terminal for PCs and laptops and a mobile app for Android and iOS.

The company pays special attention not only to the trading terms and the variety of financial instruments but also to the transparency and safety of all transactions. The broker strictly follows the international legislative framework and is regulated by such bodies as CySEC, FCA, ASIC, MAS, and other authorities. 

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

Cryptocurrency trading in Chile

The use of Cryptocurrency in Chile is gaining popularity year by year thanks to its availability to private individuals and free access to buying and selling this asset. According to expert estimations, more than 500 thousand people, 2.6% of the total population of Chile, currently own Cryptocurrency. The most popular Cryptocurrencies in Chile, as well as throughout Latin America, are still BTC, USDT, ETH, USDC, and BCH.

Chilean legislation is noted to encourage the use of Cryptocurrencies, as they are widely accepted as payment by retail outlets and merchants. As for taxation matters, Cryptos are subject to capital gains tax throughout the region, while operations in Chile are also subject to income tax.

Residents can trade Cryptocurrencies in Chile with a broker that has this asset in his instruments’ list. The brokerage companies we mention in this article are ready to accompany the trader at all stages of trading – to assist in opening accounts, placing orders for sale or purchase, and finding suitable counterparties. In addition, Crypto brokers provide analytical and statistical information, and the quality of this information significantly affects the success of a particular operation. 

AvaTrade is one of the most reliable brokers that was one of the first to provide its clients with Cryptocurrency trading. Apart from the Bitcoin that most people have heard of, AvaTrade offers many other digital coins. The list includes Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Dash, and EOS.

The company offers its clients trading using the MetaTrader 4 and 5 terminals, the AvaTradeGO app, and the AvaOptions platform. Installation of the MT4 and 5 terminals is available for various operating systems, as well as the web version of the MetaTrader. For fans of social trading, copying trades of professionals through the ZuluTrade and DupliTrade services is available as well.

The broker has been successfully operating since 2006. For such a long period it obtained an impressive license base that covers MiFID, ASIC, Japan FSA, FFA, FSB, IIROC, and FSCA that makes it stand out from other companies on the market.

Online trading with VPS in Chile

The variety of trading instruments for Chilean residents is huge as well as a number of supporting tools like the ability to run a trading advisor or automate your trading. Brokers provide all of the above for Chileans, but you also need to pay attention to the availability of a VPS service. VPS is an independently working virtual computer that is constantly maintained by professional administrators. This ensures the uninterrupted, stable operation of the device and allows you to move your programs to an extremely reliable environment that is independent of the state of your local computer. If necessary, your advisors can work around the clock and without interruptions.

Such a service is needed for those who use trading robots not only on a professional level but also for clients who own regular PCs. Firstly, you can install a terminal on a virtual server so that it works stably and smoothly, as well as connect additional software to optimize Forex trading. Secondly, you can run many terminals on the server. When working only with a home PC, this format of work will be inconvenient. On the server, you can install terminals with different trading accounts and simultaneously trade on each of them. Thirdly, you can connect from anywhere. Having a device with network access, you can easily log into the VPS server and continue working with the Forex market in a convenient location. In addition, the connection speed always remains high. There is no dependency on the communication characteristics of the local provider. You get a direct connection or a guaranteed channel to access the market.

There are two ways to get this service for traders: contact a company that provides servers or order a VPS from a broker. Luckily, there are brokers that provide VPS for a small fixed fee, or to certain conditions completely free.

XM Group is a company that has launched a VPS service for its clients, with which you can remotely connect to a virtual private server and not worry about factors that can prevent you from quickly and efficiently making transactions, such as Internet connection speed, computer problems, and power outages.

You can trade various types of assets such as currency pairs, commodities, stocks, and CFDs in a total of more than 1000 on one of the suitable accounts including Micro, Standard, XM Ultra Low, and Shares. All of them have negative balance protection and tight spreads. XM offers trading through MT4 and MT5 terminals. Traders can use them on various devices such as PC, Macs, iPhones, iPad, Android, and Android tablets.

Of course, the broker provides different bonuses such as a 100% entry bonus of up to $5000, a client referral program with $35 per friend, and occasional bonuses.

Top Forex and CFDs brokers in Chile

The Chilean Forex market is represented by a number of brokers with different trading conditions. Some can boast of a wide range of financial instruments, while others hold multiple licenses. By yourself, you can spend many hours researching each broker one by one. To make the task easier for you, we have compiled a list of the best brokers in Chile based on criteria of security, convenient trading platforms, a wide range of financial instruments, as well as favorable trading conditions. Here is a list of brokers you can trust:

AvaTrade in Chile

AvaTrade is a broker offering not only a wide range of financial instruments, 1250 in total, but a variety of trading platforms for automated trading, copy trades, options, and mobile trading namely: MetaTrader 4/5, WebTrader, AvaOptions, AvaSocial, AvaTradeGo, and Autotrading.

To make trading simple and convenient, the broker has two types of accounts – demo and real. On the first one, you can practice your trading strategies with $100000 of virtual balance and become a true pro trader. Meanwhile, the real one offers competitive spreads and leverage.

Among other benefits, the company cares about the safety of its client’s funds and provides them with such a tool as AvaProtect. It is a risk management tool that offers loss protection on a specific position for a selected period of time.

Plus500 in Chile

Plus500’s clients have one of the widest choices of CFDs on financial products like indices, Forex, commodities, Cryptocurrencies, shares, options, and ETFs. In addition, the broker offers more than two thousand financial instruments for trading on a real and unlimited demo account to work out new strategies, try unfamiliar instruments, and test indicators.

Plus500’s trading terminal is developed independently but, like the others, it is available in two versions: a web terminal for PCs and laptops and a mobile application for Android and iOS.

The broker is regulated by such reputable bodies as CySEC, FCA, ASIC, MAS, and other authorities, which ensures clients’ safe trading.

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

HF Markets in Chile

HF Markets – till recently has been known as HotForex – is a good choice if you want to try Forex gold trading as the broker offers low spreads and an opportunity to trade shiny metal against both the USD and EUR for maximum efficiency. In addition to gold, the broker has 1200 instruments for trading on different account types including Micro, Premium, Fixed, VIP, and Zero Spread. This makes trading convenient for different clients, from large ones to those who can only invest small amounts of money.

HF Markets has several terminals to choose from: regular MetaTrader 4 and 5; MT4 multiterminal with extended functionality; HF Markets platform for Android, iPhone, and iPad; web terminal from HF Markets – the ability to trade online, the program doesn’t need to be downloaded.

The company is regulated by the IBC, FCA, DFSA, FSCA, and FSA, which allows it to freely accept clients from Chile. In addition, the broker gives a Forex bonus of up to $5000 on your first deposit, cash rebates, and seasonal bonus offerings.

XM Group in Chile

XM Group is a one-stop broker with over 1000 trading instruments including currency pairs, commodities, stocks, CFDs, and many more. Several types of accounts are available to clients with the advantage of negative balance protection, as well as tight spreads: Micro, Standard, XM Ultra Low, and Shares. To assess one’s trading potential, a novice market participant should initially try out a demo account with 5 million conventional units.

XM offers trading through MT4 and MT5 terminals. You can use them on various devices: PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Android Tablet. In addition, the broker has launched a VPS service for all its clients who are fans of automated trading and, in particular, expert advisors.

What is important to mention is that XM broker offers a 100% entry bonus of up to $5000, client referrals, and occasional bonuses.

As you have noticed, all of the above brokers are distinguished by impeccable licensing, convenient trading platforms, pleasant bonuses, as well as special conditions for each client. The great news is that you don’t have to pick just one of them. On the contrary, if you register and verify an account with several Top Brokers in Chile, you can not only get all the benefits you want, but also compare trading terminals, test different strategies, and become a true professional in a short time.