Hirose Financial UK is a binary and forex broker offering margin trading through a customizable online platform (leveraging MetaTrader4) and binary options trading through LION Trader. The company offers attractive offers to anyone who trades forex or binaries. Our review will detail the advantages as well as the potential weaknesses. We explore fees, trading platforms, mobile apps, regulation and more.
The forex brand is one of the world’s largest counter providers with over 200,000 customers worldwide. This international success led to the opening of Hirose UK in 2010, and although it has several other subsidiaries, LION Binary Options is operated by Hirose Financial.
Hirose does not offer Disposition Desk (NDD) or Direct Disposition (STP). Instead, the trader’s orders go directly to a liquidity provider such as a bank. The company is also not a market marker.
The platform we float on depends on the type of account used (see Gold and VIP accounts for the smallest spread). The EUR/USD pair can see a spread of 1.9 on the MetaTrader platform. This model also allows transactions to take place without fees.
key details
• Demo Account – Yes
• Signal – yes
• Minimum deposit – $20 (some deposit methods have higher minimums)
• Minimum transaction – $1
• Bonus Details – Yes, offered by region and account type, but includes a 50% deposit bonus.
• Mobile App – Yes. iOS, Android and Windows
Trading platforms
Depending on the equipment used, two platforms are offered: LION Trader and the industry standard MetaTrader 4 system.
Lion Trader
The LION trading platform has shaped the business through many advancements and improvements. However, this system is based on the ‘Act Forex’ system and allows trading from numerous terminals.
User feedback is generally positive in terms of usability and execution speed. There are over 50 customizable technical indicators built in and an automated trading ‘bot’. Oracle Coherence is an in-memory data grid that companies use to improve trade execution performance.
The trading area is slick and straightforward, making it easy for beginners or beginners to pick up. There are also various strategies offered by LION to give new traders a starting point. You can open trailing orders and continue execution when the platform closes. Scaling or hedging strategies are simple to implement on the LION platform.
The trading area is a solid choice for traders of all experience levels. Hirose offers both a desktop version (via download) and a web-based version. The company suggests that web traders do well too, although the desktop version offers faster execution.
Use Lion
Hirose’s LION Trader offers a familiar toolbar system. These options facilitate market analysis and ordering. The high/low buttons open or close trades as needed. Open positions are displayed in the ‘Open Trades’ window. There is also a ‘Close’ button that allows you to close all options early – lock in profits or reduce losses.
You also have the option of stopping entries or setting limits. Similarly, trail stops can be added to add to open positions. The edit button opens the option to change the price. Click Remove to cancel the current order. Click Price Alert to activate the alert. A confirmation popup will make any changes clear.
Lion also offers a comprehensive platform training package that can be accessed at any time.
MT4
For forex traders, the MetaTrader4 platform offers experienced traders the choice to use advanced charts and technical analysis indicators. There are also features to backtest strategies or automate trades. As MetaTrader4 is a widely used platform, there are extensive online resources available to help traders get the most out of the platform.
Using MetaTrader 4
You can open and close trades through the order window. Once you select the assets you need, the desired trade size and direction and intuitive design will naturally lead to each step.
Alternatively, right-click on the price action chart, click Trade, and use the New Order button to follow the same steps.
Open trades are displayed in the terminal window. It also displays other account information such as balance and current profit and loss. You can also check Margin Level, Stop Loss and Profit Level in this section.
Mobile apps
The mobile trading app is available for iOS, Android and Windows. You can download it anytime, but you must open an account with Hirose Financial (LION Binary Options) before logging in.
Lion Trader App Features
The mobile app offers customizable charts and full account management. Micro lots can be traded on the mobile platform, and the mobile account syncs in real time with all web-based versions of the desktop. The full list of assets and markets is available in the mobile version and customer support can also be contacted through the app.
MT4 App
The MetaTrader app does not require a login, but you need to be connected to some kind of broker to actually trade. You can download it from your usual app store.
The mobile version includes over 30 technical indicators and a customizable watchlist to make it easier to stay up to date. Transaction history is provided as well as up-to-date price quotes. All trading options are available through the mobile platform, including the ability to trade directly from the price list. Volume, a key factor in predicting price movement, is also available in the app.
Mobile charts are a clear advantage. Each chart can be zoomed or scrolled, or the date range can be modified. Likewise, multiple time zones are available and you can easily switch between them (1,5,15,30 minute intervals or 1 hour or 4 hours, of course daily).
Customer reviews can be found on the App Store and are generally positive.
Trader’s Choice
Lion binary options
Binaries provided by LION are limited to traditional High/Low. Expiration is given between 30 seconds (Turbo) and 60 minutes. The payout can reach 90%, but it depends on the trading volume and assets. You can also close the option early if you want.
Forex pairs are the asset class with the largest coverage available over 40. Trading hours reflect either the market of the asset being traded or, in the case of forex, one of the major markets open for trading (Sydney, New York, London, etc.).
Withdrawal and deposit options
LION Binary offers a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, but the minimum deposit amount differs in a few ways.
Both debit/credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro) and bank transfer require a minimum of $50
$20 minimum deposit on popular e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller
UnionPay (minimum deposit 100 CNY)
Fasapay meets the minimum requirement of at least $10.
Our customer support team is available to handle any funding questions you may have. As always, we recommend that you meet the identity verification requirements before requesting your first withdrawal. This avoids delays and disputes.
Education
The LIOn education area includes several general trading guides as well as strategy advice. A chart help guide is also available. This can be useful when exploring the wealth of technical analysis indicators available. All of these materials are provided free of charge. All brokers want to trade with their clients, beware of advice that may lead to over-trading.
There are also various video tutorials that can be a good way to familiarize yourself with the platform. One is included below.
Bonuses / Promotions
Hirose Financial offers several bonus deals and promotions.
• $20 no deposit bonus
• Welcome (deposit) bonus up to $500
• $10 ‘refer a friend’ scheme
Bonus terms and conditions are subject to change and may vary by region, so check before signing up to make sure the bonus is an important part of your reason to sign up for Hirose.
