Media OutReach
Decisive factors: Octa carried out a global survey about brokers’ red flags
Every experienced trader knows a handful of tell-tale signs indicating an unreliable broker. This awareness can come from personal experience, common sense, or secondhand accounts. In any case, these red flags define traders’ choices. They are essential knowledge for those starting their journey in the financial markets or seeking an opportunity to engage with a new broker.
As a trusted broker focusing on building long-term, mutually beneficial client relations, Octa regularly researches traders’ behaviours. Here’s what traders think about brokers’ red flags.
Realistic expectations
First and foremost, Octa’s survey revealed a strong interest in brokers’ promises. It turns out traders are highly unappreciative of murky, evasive, and overly optimistic messages. This kind of false assurance and misleading self-positioning on the part of a broker can turn them off even before their trading journey begins.
When asked about major red flags in brokers’ advertising and positioning, South African and Malaysian traders indicated the most concern about companies that promise easy and unrealistic gains: 62% and 60%, respectively. 36% of Indonesian traders also said this type of misrepresentation was enough to scare them off.
Guaranteed profits declared by the broker are also a major red flag for traders in various regions. This is especially true about South Africa, where 40% of survey participants said they wouldn’t engage with a broker promising bulletproof positive outcomes.
Chart manipulations: a universal red flag
Unsurprisingly, more than half of the respondents in all countries indicated that trading chart manipulations like creating artificial gaps or manipulating candlesticks would be a major concern and would most probably lead to saying goodbye to a broker, regardless of other factors.
There is almost no discrepancy between different survey countries regarding this red flag: between 54% and 61% of traders stay away from brokers that allow such malpractices.
As a regulated and trusted broker, Octa works with independent, third-party liquidity providers to offer its clients non-distorted market prices. Octa also provides access to historical chart data so that traders can verify that the broker’s prices align with actual market conditions and that there were no chart manipulations or price slippages at any given time.
Fast withdrawals as a recognised sign of reliability
A surprisingly high percentage of participants said they had encountered serious fund withdrawal issues in their trading careers. As many as 27% of respondents in South Africa indicated they had had this problem at some point in their trading journey.
21% of Indonesian and 19% of Malaysian traders also had insoluble problems with the cash withdrawal process when engaging with various financial brokers. Nigerian traders were less exposed to this negative side of the trading experience, with only 14% reporting unsolved withdrawal issues.
Octa recommends testing a broker first-hand and forming your own opinion instead of mindlessly believing optimistic promises. Among other advantages, the broker offers a fast and efficient withdrawal procedure that can easily be tested by any trader who engages with Octa, regardless of the country.
High fees can be a deal-breaker
When asked what broker’s flaw is most likely to stop them from becoming the broker’s client, most survey participants highlighted the following two main reasons:
- high spreads and hidden trading commissions (from 29% in South Africa to 39% in Indonesia)
- slow, non-transparent, or unfavourable cash withdrawal procedures and rules (from 13% to 29%, depending on the country).
These results show that traders highly value full transparency and fair trading conditions in addition to fast and efficient withdrawals. Indeed, when it comes to intraday trading, high spreads or hidden fees can turn a profitable trading session into a losing one. Such an outcome can come as a shock to a trader if the real-life commissions and fees differ from those indicated by a broker in terms and conditions.
Wrong moves
The Octa’s survey was not limited to brokers’ red flags and made a foray into traders’ self-reflection. When asked what trading mistakes led them to significant losses, survey participants indicated the following reasons as the most prevalent:
- trading when affected by strong emotions
- forgetting about management tools
- placing orders intuitively, without any specific strategy in mind
- executing strategies without trying them on the demo account first.
Other reasons for making bad trading decisions include trading when feeling fatigued. Overall, it is safe to say that emotional behaviours are among the most dangerous negative factors affecting traders’ performance.
The research established that Indonesian, Malaysian, South African, and Nigerian traders prefer to work with brokers that provide a sense of security and transparency. They look for clear, predictable, and honest procedures that avoid hidden fees or complex withdrawal conditions, which can help establish long-term relationships with brokers based on mutual respect and clarity.
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Disclaimer: Trading involves risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Use your expertise wisely and evaluate all associated risks before making an investment decision.
Hashtag: #Octa
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Octa
Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.
The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.
In Southeast Asia, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.
Number of New Business Policies tops the market for 11 consecutive years
- Number of Inforce Policies
- Number of New Business Policies (Top the market for 11 consecutive years2)
- Number of Local New Business Policies
- Number of Non-Local New Business Policies
- Non-local Annualised New Premiums3
- New Office Premiums from Agency Channel3
- Annualised New Premiums from Agency Channel3
- Number of New Business Policies from Agency Channel
- Number of New Business Policies from Brokerage Channel
Mr. Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau, said, “This success would not have been possible without the trust of our customers and the relentless dedication of our teams. We will maintain our commitment to customer centricity in order to sustain our position as the number 1 choice for our customers and help everyone live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. ”
Hashtag: #AIA #友邦
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About AIA Hong Kong & Macau
AIA Group Limited established its operations in Hong Kong in 1931. To date, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau have over 18,000 financial planners1, as well as an extensive network of independent financial advisors, brokerage and bancassurance partners. We serve over 3.6 million customers2, offering them a wide selection of professional services and products ranging from individual life, group life, accident, medical and health, pension, personal lines insurance to investment-linked assurance schemes with numerous investment options. We are also dedicated to providing superb product solutions to meet the financial needs of high-net-worth customers.
1 as of 31 December 2024
2 Including AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau’s individual life, group insurance and pension customers (as of 31 December 2024)
Media OutReach
Feng Wei Ju and 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA Garner Coveted Diamond Awards in Black Pearl Restaurant Guide 2025
Celebrating Black Pearl One-Diamond award wins, both restaurants epitomize the rigorous standards that Galaxy Macau has come to represent. Feng Wei Ju, which has maintained its Michelin Two-Star status for nine consecutive years, is led by Assistant Vice President of Food & Beverage Culinary of StarWorld Hotel and Executive Chef of Feng Wei Ju, Chan Chek Keong. With nearly 30 years of expertise in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, Chef Chan artfully highlights the authentic flavors of these regions, securing Feng Wei Ju’s standout status as a premier dining destination in Hong Kong and Macau.
Helmed by Executive Chef Marino D’Antonio, 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA at Galaxy Macau adheres to gastronomic legend Umberto Bombana’s award-winning philosophy of providing the most authentic Italian cuisine, together with the natural essence of seasonal ingredients, presenting the vibrant culinary culture of Italy.
Recognized as one of the most influential restaurant award platforms in China’s dining industry, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide relies on anonymous evaluations from seasoned food enthusiasts, culinary professionals, and researchers. Its assessment focuses on three main criteria: culinary excellence, service quality, and innovation in culinary traditions.
Within Galaxy Macau’s impressive portfolio of over 120 dining options, the highlighted award-winning restaurants exemplify the resort’s commitment to culinary excellence. Their talented chefs craft authentic dishes that reflect the rich diversity of Northern Chinese, Hunan, and Cantonese cuisines, along with Macanese-Portuguese fusion and international flavors from Japan, Thailand, and Italy. Diners can indulge in unique culinary experiences, savoring fresh, local ingredients while appreciating the deep cultural heritage and innovation behind each dish, all delivered with genuine hospitality.
Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort
Galaxy Macau™, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort delivers the “Most Spectacular Entertainment and Leisure Destination in the World”. Developed at an investment of HK$43 billion, the property covers 1.1 million-square-meter of unique entertainment and leisure attractions that are unlike anything else in Macau. Eight award-winning world-class luxury hotels provide close to 5,000 rooms, suites and villas. They include Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel™, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Broadway Hotel, Raffles at Galaxy Macau and Andaz Macau. Unique to Galaxy Macau, the 75,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck features the world’s longest Skytop Adventure Rapids at 575-meters, the largest Skytop Wave Pool with waves up to 1.5-meters high and 150-meters pristine white sand beach. Two five-star spas from Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau help guests relax and rejuvenate.
As the dining destination in Asia, Galaxy Macau offers a wide variety of gastronomic delights, exquisite experiences and ingredients of the finest quality with over 120 dining options from Michelin dining to authentic delicacies; Galaxy Promenade is the hottest shopping destination featuring the latest in fashion and curated experiences in Macau. Spanning over 100,000-square-meter, luxury flagship stores, lifestyle boutiques and our selection of labels are among the more than 200 world-renowned brands for a world-class shopping journey; Galaxy Cinemas, immersive thrills and luxurious comfort go hand in hand at Galaxy Cinemas. All 10 theaters are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology; CHINA ROUGE, one-of-a-kind cabaret lounge that evokes the glamor of Shanghai’s golden era with stylish entertainment and customizable surrounds; and Foot Hub, which presents the traditional art of reflexology for authentic relaxation and revitalization. For Authentic Macau Flavours and Vibrant Asian Experiences, Broadway Macau – just a 90-second walk via a bridge from Galaxy Macau, has over 35 Authentic Macau & Asian Flavours at Broadway Food Street. The 2,500-seat Broadway Theatre plays host to world-class entertainers and a diverse array of cultural events. Meeting, incentive and banquet groups are also catered to with a portfolio of unique venues in Galaxy Macau and an expert service team.
Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) is the latest addition to the Group’s ever-expanding integrated resort precinct and will usher in a new era for the MICE industry in Macau. GICC is a world-class event venue featuring 40,000-square-meters of total flexible MICE, and the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena – the largest indoor arena in Macau.
For more details, please visit 
www.galaxymacau.com, www.broadwaymacau.com.mo and www.galaxyicc.com.
For Batch 1, launched in January 2024, we have successfully selected 7 startups out of more than 800 applicants, and the startups are continuing their PoC trials, aiming to achieve innovative collaborations.
Creww will continue to partner with Real Madrid Next to bring innovative technologies and services from Asian startups to develop projects that aim to improve and advance the sports industry. “Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia” is designed not only to boost the growth of Asian startups, but to also create an innovation community for Real Madrid Next, by carrying out continuous programs for Asian startups to innovate the sports industry as a whole in the decades to come.
Applications for the program have opened today, on April 25th.
Please visit https://global.creww.me/global/ja/real-madrid-next-accelerator-for-asia-2 to apply.
Program Theme
The program will focus on Real Madrid Next’s six areas of work.
1. E-Health – technological innovation to help improve the physical and mental abilities of athletes, influencing prevention, diagnosis and sports recovery
2. Performance – tools and methods to improve the ability to evaluate the performance of athletes from data and analysis
3. Audiovisual – innovative content to improve the audiovisual experience with immersive technologies and new multimedia channels
4. Fan Engagement – creation of loyalty products and services that will revolutionize the fans’ online and offline experience, both inside and outside the stadium
5. Cybersecurity & Technology – new tools to protect online data, prevent loss of information, ensure access to the stadium and control its flows
6. Social – supporting the social participation through the Real Madrid Foundation, defining instruments for managing cooperation and improving social tools and environmental sustainability
Program Timeline (as of April 2025)
| April 25th – June 20th 2025 | Application |
| Late June – Late September 2025 | Selection of startups |
| October – December 2025 | PoC Contract signing |
| January – May 2026 | PoC |
| June – July 2026 | Demo Day |
Program Overview
| Program Name | Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia |
| Target | early and middle-stage startups in Asia in the field of sports-tech, health-tech, fan engagement, etc. which aligns with Real Madrid Next’s six areas of work |
| Expected Outcome | business partnerships* |
| Application |
Please visit below to apply: https://global.creww.me/global/ja/real-madrid-next-accelerator-for-asia-2 |
| Organizer | Real Madrid Next, Creww Inc. |
Comment from Real Madrid Next
“The first cohort of the Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia gave us access to many talented companies. We were able to involve startups from different areas of the Real Madrid ecosystem and benefit from cutting-edge technologies and exceptional know-how. We are now excited to launch the second batch and soon meet this new generation of sports technology entrepreneurs in Asia.”
About Real Madrid Next
Real Madrid Next is the brand under which Real Madrid’s innovation projects are developed, with the collaboration of startups and companies looking to improve performance with the support of the Real Madrid ecosystem. Real Madrid Next focuses on six work areas: e-health, performance, fan engagement, audiovisual, cybersecurity & technological infrastructures and social. In all of them we seek excellence and the greatest technological advance possible to allow the club to enhance its digital transformation and keep its leadership in the sports industry. Learn more at https://www.realmadridnext.com/en/next/home.
Hashtag: #creww #realmadrid #realmadridnext #accelerator #asia #startup #sports #technology #sportstech #healthtech
https://creww.in/global/en
https://creww.in/global/en
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