Can I hold an AUD base currency trading account?
Verdict
- Yes: Pepperstone offers AUD as a base currency, alongside USD, EUR, GBP, SGD and HKD, and that is why it is our pick for Australians who earn and bank in dollars.
- In an AUD Razor account, commission is charged in AUD: AUD 3.50 per side on MT5 forex, AUD 4.50 per side on gold, and AUD 7 per lot on MT4 when a position opens.
- An AUD account removes conversion on deposits and withdrawals; results on USD- or EUR-quoted markets are still converted into AUD.
- Our verified data does not confirm an AUD base account at Capital.com or IC Markets, so check their sign-up forms.
If your salary, savings and tax return are in Australian dollars, an AUD trading account keeps your balance in the currency you think in and avoids converting money every time you deposit or withdraw. Pepperstone offers one through its ASIC-licensed Australian company.
Pepperstone's AUD account
Pepperstone Group Limited (AFSL 414530) lets Australian clients choose AUD as the base currency on both the Standard and Razor accounts. Fund it by PayID or card instantly, by BPAY within a business day, or by domestic bank transfer, all free and all in AUD. Commissions follow the account currency, so a Razor trader on MT5 pays AUD 3.50 per side per lot on forex rather than USD 3.50. The minimum deposit is $10, which makes it easy to open an AUD account alongside an existing one to compare.
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Razor commission by account currency
Pepperstone publishes its forex commission per side in each base currency. The AUD figure matches the USD one numerically, which matters when you compare broker quotes written in US dollars.
| Base currency | Commission per side |
|---|---|
| AUD | AUD 3.50 (AUD 4.50 on XAU/USD) |
| USD | USD 3.50 |
| GBP | GBP 2.25 |
| EUR | EUR 2.60 |
| SGD | SGD 4.55 |
| HKD | HKD 28.17 |
What an AUD account does and doesn't change
- Removed: conversion when you deposit from and withdraw to an Australian bank account.
- Removed: converting commission and swap charges, which are booked in AUD.
- Still there: profit or loss on EUR/USD is earned in US dollars and converted into AUD when booked.
- Still there: currency risk on your open positions, which depends on what you trade, not what you hold.
Example: AUD or USD for an AUS200 trader
Someone trading mostly the AUS200 index and Australian share CFDs earns P&L in AUD, so an AUD account books it with no conversion at all. Pepperstone's index fee table lists AUS200 at a 1.5-point average spread with no commission, and Australian share CFDs cost 0.07% per side. A trader who mostly trades US shares or EUR/USD earns in US dollars instead; for them a USD account avoids converting each result, but converts at the deposit and withdrawal stage. Pick the base currency that matches where most of your money flows.
Before you pick a base currency
- List the markets you trade most and the currency each is quoted in.
- Check which currency your bank account and any trading income use.
- Choose AUD if most flows are Australian; consider USD if you hold US dollars already.
- Ask support whether a second account in another currency can be added later, rather than assuming you can switch.
Sources
Pepperstone's Australian pages.
Which base currencies does Pepperstone Australia offer?
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, SGD and HKD.
Is commission higher in an AUD account?
The figure is the same number in a different currency: AUD 3.50 per side on MT5 forex against USD 3.50 in a USD account. To compare them, convert at the day's exchange rate.
Does an AUD account stop all currency conversion?
No. Deposits, withdrawals and fees stay in AUD, but results on markets quoted in other currencies are still converted.
Trading CFDs and margin FX is high risk: leverage can wipe out your money quickly, and losses can build faster than you expect. This page is not financial advice and does not consider your circumstances; check each broker's current PDS, TMD and fee pages before opening an account.