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Based on my own evaluation and direct research into HSBC as a trading venue, I found that the bank is a major global institution, but its focus is not on forex or CFD trading for retail traders. Instead, HSBC operates mainly within regulated futures contracts and a wide range of investment products like shares, bonds, gold, and structured products. Notably, there’s a lack of explicit information regarding spread types—fixed or variable—on their trading platforms for retail clients, which is common among brokers specializing in forex. From years of trading and vetting regulated entities, I have learned the importance of clarity on trading costs, particularly around spreads, as these can heavily impact strategy execution and trading outcomes. At HSBC, the absence of accessible details on forex spreads reflects their primary positioning as a bank and investment services provider rather than a typical retail broker. Furthermore, during periods of high market volatility—such as those surrounding major economic releases or geopolitical events—variable spreads can widen dramatically with most brokers, increasing trading costs and sometimes causing slippage. Fixed spreads, while providing cost predictability, are less common at institutions like HSBC that do not explicitly market themselves toward speculative forex trading. Given that HSBC does not offer forex, commodities, indices, or similar derivative products directly to retail traders, questions about spread behavior under volatility are mostly inapplicable to their current offering. For traders like me who seek active participation in volatile forex markets, it is vital to choose a broker where spread policies are transparent, regulatory status is clear, and trading costs are fully disclosed—areas where traditional banking giants may not meet the needs of active traders. My personal takeaway: HSBC's trading platforms and fee structures are far more suited to investors seeking long-term holdings and wealth management, rather than those needing detailed, real-time information on spreads and rapid order execution.