Regulatory Measures
The CFD product intervention measures adopted by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) that have restricted the marketing, distribution and/or sale of Contracts for Differences (CFDs) to retail investors, do not apply to Professional Clients.
However, please note that by applying and ultimately qualifying to become a Professional Client, the protection granted by these measures will be lost.
What is a Professional Client?
A Professional Client is thought to be more experienced, knowledgeable and sophisticated trading investor who is able to manage and assess his own risk and is for that reason granted access to more favourable rates but afforded with lesser regulatory protections than that of a retail client.
Professional Client Assessment
SM Capital Markets will ensure to undertake adequate assessments of a client’s expertise, experience and knowledge to ensure that we have been reasonably assured that any client electing to be treated as a professional client is capable of making his own investment decisions and properly understands the risks involved in trading CFDs with us.
Criteria to Qualify as a Professional Client
Trading Experience
You must have placed 40 trades of Significant Size in the last year.
Investment Portfolio
You are required to have a ‘financial instrument portfolio’ (defined as cash deposits and financial instruments) exceeding €500,000.
Professional Experience
You must have worked in the financial sector in a professional position (which requires knowledge of trading CFDs ) for at least one year.
If you meet two out of three of the above criteria, you could be eligible to become a Professional Client. For further information on our client categorization statuses and what is required to become a Professional Client, please check our Client Categorization Policy.
Note: The final decision will be taken after the Company’s assessment and the request to become a Professional Client should come directly from the Client.
Risk Warning: FX and CFD trading involves high risk of loss. T&Cs Apply.
Important Information
Professional Clients
Maximum Leverage Limits
Up to 1:200 depending on the instrument
Margin Close Out Rule
20% of required margin
Segregation of Your Client Funds
Negative Balance Protection
Access to the Financial Ombudsman Service
Certain criteria have to be satisfied*
Continued eligibility to the Investor Compensation Fund
We will assume you have the relevant knowledge, experience when assessing whether our CFD products are appropriate for you.
We may use advanced financial terminology in our communications with you.
* An eligible complainant must be a person that is:
A natural person
A legal person whose annual turnover in the year preceding the year in which the complaint is submitted to the Financial Ombudsman, did not exceed €250.000
A charity foundation or association or a society of persons, whose annual revenues in the year preceding the year in which the complaint is submitted to the Financial Ombudsman, do not exceed €250.000
A trust, the net assets of which on 31 December of the year preceding the year in which the complaint is submitted to the Financial Ombudsman, does not exceed €250.000
A provident fund, the net assets of which on 31 December of the year preceding the year in which the complaint is submitted to the Financial Ombudsman, does not exceed €250.000
Leverage Table (Max Leverage)
Professional Clients
Forex
1:200*
Metals
1:100*
Spot Energies
1:100
Indices
1:100
EU Shares
1:10*
* Please note that the leverage for certain instruments might be lower. To check a detailed table please click here.
If you are interested in receiving a comprehensive breakdown of our spreads, please contact our support team support@scopemarkets.eu.
Should you consider yourself eligible to become a Professional Client and can meet certain criteria relating to your trading and professional experience and/or investment portfolio, you may open an account and send an email to backoffice@scopemarkets.eu.
Clients already classified as Professional clients whose circumstances have changed and may wish to opt back in to retail client status should email our customer support team immediately at backoffice@scopemarkets.eu.
