Which CFD broker is most reliable during volatile markets?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our choice for volatile markets: it publishes execution data (from 50 ms, a 99.32% fill rate, no dealer intervention, Q1 2026) and gives retail clients negative-balance protection.
- It does not offer guaranteed stop-losses as far as we found; in a gap, a stop becomes a market order and can fill at a worse price.
- Singapore residents are served by Pepperstone Markets Limited (SCB Bahamas, SIA-F217), which holds no MAS licence, and no compensation scheme is named.
- XS publishes a 40% margin call and a 20% stop-out; check those levels at any broker before a news event.
No broker can promise smooth fills when prices jump. What you can compare is what each firm commits to in writing: execution data, what happens if your account goes negative, and how margin is handled as positions grow. On those points Pepperstone publishes more than most.
What Pepperstone commits to when markets move fast
- Execution: "From 50 milliseconds, with a 99.32% fill rate and no dealer intervention", based on trades from 1 January to 31 March 2026. This is Pepperstone's own figure, not an independent audit.
- Negative balance: retail clients are not liable for negative equity under the SCB terms (clauses 6.2–6.3).
- Tiered margin: the SCB retail margin table, effective 19 September 2026, raises margin on larger positions instead of applying one flat rate.
- Support: the contact page says 24/7, while other Pepperstone pages say 24 hours on weekdays and 18 at weekends; plan for the shorter version.
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What reliability cannot cover
In fast markets the main danger is a gap. Pepperstone's published terms elsewhere state that stop-loss orders cannot be guaranteed, and we found no guaranteed stop-loss order on its pages. If a market opens far beyond your stop, you are filled at the next available price. At 1:200 leverage on forex, a 0.5% gap equals your full margin on that position.
Volatility checklist across brokers
| Safeguard | Pepperstone | XS |
|---|---|---|
| Execution statistics published | Yes (Q1 2026) | Not in our data |
| Retail negative-balance protection | Yes | Not in our data |
| Guaranteed stop-loss | None found | Not in our data |
| Margin call / stop-out levels | Not in our data | 40% / 20% |
| Max retail FX leverage | 1:200 | Up to 1:2000 (dynamic) |
How to lower your own risk before a news release
- Cut position size so a 1% gap would not hit more than a small part of your balance.
- Use less leverage than the maximum; nothing forces you to use 1:200.
- Know your broker's stop-out level and how close your account is to it.
- Expect spreads to be wider than the published averages around major data releases.
Sources
Broker statements on execution, margin and negative balances.
Does Pepperstone widen spreads during news?
Pepperstone publishes averages, not guarantees. Spreads on all market-priced accounts can widen when liquidity thins, so expect costs above the averages at those moments.
Can I lose more than my deposit at Pepperstone?
As a retail client under the SCB entity, no: the terms say you are not liable for negative equity. Pro clients lose that protection beyond a discretionary one-time cover of up to USD 100,000.
Which broker offers guaranteed stops in Singapore?
Our data does not show a guaranteed stop for Pepperstone or XS. Some brokers, such as IG and CMC Markets, publish guaranteed stops on their UK sites; ask their Singapore companies whether the same applies.
Leveraged CFDs carry a high risk of losing money quickly, and volatile markets increase it. Past execution statistics do not predict future fills. This page is general information, not investment advice.