🇦🇹 Broker coverage in Austria

Regulatory overview

Austria financial regulator is the FMA (Finanzmarktaufsicht). Forex and CFD trading is legal for Austrian retail clients within the EU MiFID II framework and the ESMA product-intervention measures: leverage capped 30:1 to 2:1 by volatility, 50% margin close-out, negative-balance protection. [S1] The FMA Regulation on product intervention measures (pursuant to Article 42 MiFIR) restricts the marketing, distribution and sale of CFDs to retail clients - leverage limits, margin close-out protection, negative-balance protection, prohibition of incentive programmes and mandatory risk warnings - and bans the sale of binary options to retail clients. [S3] Eligible claims against a failed investment firm are covered to the EU minimum of EUR 20,000 (national scheme may differ). [S2] Per-broker FMA authorisation must be confirmed individually. [S4]

Considerations

Confirm the entity is FMA-authorised or EU-passported, not an offshore affiliate. [S4] Retail leverage is capped (30:1-2:1). [S1] FMA bans binary options to retail and restricts CFD incentives - aggressive promotion is a red flag. [S3] Investor-compensation cover is limited; excludes trading losses. [S2]

Frequently asked questions

Is forex/CFD trading legal in Austria?

Yes, for retail clients, under the ESMA framework and the FMA product-intervention Regulation (Art. 42 MiFIR). Binary options are banned to retail. [S1][S3]

How much investor protection applies?

At least the EU minimum of EUR 20,000 per investor for covered claims; this does not cover trading losses. [S2]

Sources

1. [S1] ESMA - final product-intervention measures on CFDs — https://www.esma.europa.eu/press-news/esma-news/esma-adopts-final-product-intervention-measures-cfds-and-binary-options
2. [S2] EU Investor Compensation Schemes Directive 97/9/EC - EUR 20,000 minimum — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1997/9/oj
3. [S3] FMA - Regulation on product intervention measures (Art. 42 MiFIR): CFD restrictions; binary options banned to retail — https://www.fma.gv.at/fma-erlaesst-verbot-des-verkaufs-binaerer-optionen-an-kleinanleger-und-schraenkt-den-vertrieb-von-differenzkontrakten-cfds-an-diese-massiv-ein/
4. [S4] FMA company database (per-broker authorisation check) — https://www.fma.gv.at/en/search-company-database/