Forex and CFD broker
Pepperstone does the job for casual forex trading. Platform works, spreads are okay but not the best I've seen. Customer support is hit or miss - some agents are very helpful, others seem to read from a script. Deposits are instant but withdrawals take 3-5 business days.
Pros: Functional platform, instant deposits
Cons: Average spreads, inconsistent support, slow withdrawals
Started with Pepperstone optimistically but my experience has been mixed. The platform itself is good and execution is fast. However, I noticed spreads widen significantly during news events and the swap rates are higher than competitors. Good for day trading, less so for holding positions overnight.
Pros: Good platform, fast execution for day trading
Cons: Wide spreads during news, high swap rates