What is your name and position?

Ivo Seizov, CEO of Bulbrokers EAD, in charge of online trading. 

What is your professional background?

I graduated with Master of Humanitarian sciences from the National Sports Academy - Bulgaria in 1994. In 2002 I passed examination prepared by “The Chartered institute of Bankers”- London U.K. I also have a master’s degree in Finance - Bank management- from the New Bulgarian University.
My working experience started in 1996 in the Back office at Elana trading. I was promoted to  FX dealer in 1999. In 2002 I became Vice Chairman of Elana Eurofund (the first mutual fund listed on Bulgarian Stock Exchange). 
In 2004 I left Elana and I was one of the founders of STS Finance (www.stsfinance.bg)  one of the leading investment intermediaries in the field of electronic trading. The main activity was focused on forex/Cfd’s, foreign stocks and derivatives services for Bulgarian and regional customers. The company is regulated by the Bulgarian Central Bank and Financial Supervision Commission under Mifid implementations. From 2004 to 2008 the company became one of the most reputable forex brokers. At the end of 2008 as a result of market consolidation STS Finance was merged with Bulbrokers – the leading investment boutique under the Bulbrokers brand. The overall operational integration and technological migration was completely accomplished in April 2008.

Can you briefly highlight for us your involvement with the foreign exchange market?

I oversee electronic trading in all its aspects – exchange traded instruments, OTC, Forex and CFD’s trading and brokerage. i am responsible for business development, web marketing and operations – brokerage and trading proper. This involves communication with international financial institutions, in-depth knowledge of market analysis and the psychology of trading.   The FX trading desk is under my direct supervision and management.

Could you please describe the services your company offers for the Forex market?

We provide a high level of forex service via 3 deferent systems:

1.    Meta Trader 4 – more then 30 currency pairs, 250 CFD’s (stocks, commodities and indexes). We offer direct order routing from Meta Trader 4 to the Bulgarian Stock Exchange Xetra system. Our customers have the opportunity to trade FX, CFD and Bulgarian stocks on one universal account in Meta Trader 4. The customers can trade via mobile devices or trade as portfolio managesr through Meta Trader Multiterminal.

2.    Bulbrokers system selector - Together with Tradency and via its services and support, Bulbrokers provides you with the opportunity for automated trade execution and management. Bulbrokers System Selector's advantages are:
- Trade Forex 24 hours a day with signals from over 50 systems
- Fully automatic signal execution and management
- Transparent and verified trade results
- Back testing of portfolio with real trade history

3.    Trader Workstation – direct market access to stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on over 80 market destinations worldwide, best price execution1, low commissions, high interest earned and low financing costs. Special module for FX trades and wide range of FX options and future contracts are available. Execution is from the most reputable liquidity providers.

Who is your targeted audience?
Bulbrokers provides competitive brokerage services to domestic and foreign private customers and institutions based on several simple principles:
•    Cost effective and fastest possible execution of orders;
•    High performance of large order sales;
•    Full technological coverage of trading by four different trading platforms - Cobos, Meta Trader and Trader Workstation; System selector.
•    Unique derivatives tailored to meet customer needs;
•    Our capital is: our team of strong-skilled professionals, the wide range of customers and our reputation for being the most innovative and loyal financial partner.

Who are your main competitors in the Forex market?
Domestic markets providers as well as Deltastock, Benchmark, Varchev, and the main global providers – Saxobank, CMC Markets, IG index, FXCM..

What are the main advantages you have over your competitors?
•    We have more then 10 years history and over 25 000 customers.
•    We are one of the first and most reputable FX/CFD providers,
•    Transparent and fast order execution with fixed spread, without restriction for scalping strategy and expert advisors,
•    protected customers funds (Mifid),
•    a team of well educated and experienced dealers and analysts and customer- oriented support.
•    We have attractive conditions for agents, introducers and white label partners.

I have no information any other broker to offer direct online trading with exchange traded stocks via Meta Trader4.

What are your personal thoughts on how the financial crisis is affecting the Forex market?
Customers have become more careful regarding their strategies and risk appetite but volatile markets are one of the best times to trade on forex. That is the reason for the  increase in traded volumes and new accounts. The forex market gives the opportunity to trade on the short side on a leverage basis, which can be a way to hedge a long position on stocks and real estate market.

What else do you offer?
We are part of a financial group and our customers have access to a wide range of investment product and services – asset management, mutual funds, insurance, investment banking, financial consulting and planning, private banking, IPO and SPO structuring and placement and M&A deals.

What exciting things are happening at your company?

A summer vacation for part of the team and preparing a marketing campaign to introduce our brokers outside of Bulgaria.