Raw prices, clear costs, real risk.
CFD trading can lose you money quickly, and a better execution model does not change that. ECN execution gives you direct access to prices from several providers and a commission you can see. Here is how it works.
What is an ECN?
Many providers
An electronic communication network gathers prices from banks and other liquidity providers into one stream.
Raw spreads
Spreads come from the market itself. We add no markup, and charge a visible commission instead.
Matched, not dealt
Your order is matched with an offer already in the book. There is no dealing desk deciding whether to take it.
Depth you can see
Depth of market shows how much is available at each price, so you can judge size before you trade.
Fast execution
Orders travel electronically, and most fill within milliseconds in normal conditions. Speed is never guaranteed.
Transparent cost
Spread plus a fixed commission per lot. You can work out the cost before you click.
Examples and typical behaviour only. Fills depend on market conditions and available liquidity.
One price, drawn from many sources.
Uprime Capital LTD connects to several liquidity providers. Their bids and offers are combined, and the best available prices are shown to you. When providers compete, the gap between buy and sell can get very small.
- Prices are aggregated from more than one provider
- The tightest buy and sell prices form your spread
- Large orders can be filled in parts at different prices
- Spreads can be as low as 0.0 pips on VIP, in good conditions
See what is on offer, at each price.
Behind the best price there are more offers at worse prices. This ladder is called depth of market. A small order fills at the top. A large one can work further down the ladder and get a slightly different average price.
- Each row is a price with the volume available
- Thin depth means a bigger move for the same order
- Depth changes by the second, and thins around news
- The ladder shown here is an example, not a live price
How an order is filled.
A simple view of what happens between your click and your fill. Times are typical, not promised.
1. You send an order
You choose the instrument, size, and whether to buy or sell, with a stop-loss if you want one.
2. It goes to the network
The order reaches the Uprime Capital LTD ECN with no manual step and no one on a dealing desk to approve it.
3. It is matched
It is paired with the best available offers from the liquidity providers, working down the ladder if the size needs it.
4. You get a confirmation
You see the fill price and size in your platform. The fill can differ a little from the price you saw.
5. The commission is applied
On Pro and VIP, a fixed amount per lot is charged. Standard has no commission.
ECN versus market-maker execution.
With a market maker, the broker is usually the other side of your trade and sets the price. With an ECN, your order meets liquidity from outside providers. Both are legitimate models. They differ in where costs sit and who profits when you lose.
- Market maker: wider spread, often no commission, broker can take the other side
- ECN: raw spread plus a commission, matched with outside liquidity
- ECN avoids the conflict where the broker gains when you lose
- Neither model removes market risk
How the two models compare.
| Market maker | ECN at Uprime Capital LTD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price source | Set by the broker | Aggregated from several providers |
| Spread | Wider, with markup built in | Raw, often tighter |
| Commission | Usually none | Fixed per lot on Pro and VIP |
| Other side of the trade | Often the broker | Liquidity providers |
| Requotes | Possible | None. You get the market price |
| Best for | Smaller, occasional trading | Active traders and larger sizes |
Is an ECN account right for you?
Active traders
If you trade often, a tight spread can outweigh a small commission.
Scalpers and short-term traders
Small price steps matter, so a lower spread helps. Fills still depend on liquidity.
Larger positions
Depth lets you see whether the size you want is available.
Not ideal for everyone
If you trade a few small positions, Standard may cost less overall. Try the numbers below.
Spread plus commission, worked out.
Move the slider to see how trade size changes the total. Pro costs $3 per lot and VIP $2 per lot, with spreads from 0.6 and 0.0 pips as examples.
Cost of one round trip, by account
Slide the trade size to compare. Example spreads and commission only. Costs do not include any gain or loss from price moves.
Assumes $10 per pip per lot, typical for EUR/USD on a USD account. Spreads are examples and widen in fast markets. Commission covers opening and closing.
Things to know.
ECN execution is a better-lit room, not a safer one.
Spreads widen
In news, thin markets and at the open or close, raw spreads can jump well above their usual level.
Slippage goes both ways
A fill can be better or worse than the price you saw. In fast markets, worse is more likely to cost you.
No guaranteed price
A stop-loss can fill beyond your level if the price gaps.
Commission adds up
Many small trades at $3 or $2 per lot can cost more than a wider spread would.
Leverage cuts both ways
CFDs can lose money fast. For retail clients, negative balance protection applies. See the risk disclosure.
You never own the asset
Everything at Uprime Capital LTD is a CFD. Practise on a demo first.
ECN trading, answered.
Related pages.
Risk warning. Forex and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Make sure you understand how they work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Open your account.
It takes a few minutes online. Start with a demo if you want to look around first.