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CITIC Securities Review 2024

Written by
Adam N.
Fact checked by
Gyula L.
Updated
1d ago
Key data
Fees
Safety
Deposit and withdrawal
Account opening
Mobile app
Desktop platform
Product selection
Regulated and trusted. Tested via live trading.
1,434 people chose this broker
Not available in United States; see best alternatives

Why choose CITIC Securities

CITIC Securities is a Chinese full-service investment bank, regulated by the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).

It has low fees for the Chinese market and there is no inactivity or withdrawal fee. The account opening is easy, fast and fully digital. The available research tools include high-quality trading ideas and detailed fundamental data. It is a good choice for beginner investors.

On the other hand, CITIC Securities covers only the Chinese and Hong Kong markets. There is no demo account, and the trading platforms lack important features such as advanced order types and a two-step login.

BrokerChooser gave CITIC Securities a 4.5/5 rating based on analyzing 600+ criteria and testing via opening a live account.

  • Low fees on Chinese markets
  • Easy account opening
  • Excellent research tools
Overall score
4.5/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Stock fee
Low
Inactivity fee
no
Account opening
1 day
See what others are saying
Browse the discussions in our forum to read first-hand opinions and to share your own!
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Fees

Score: 3.8/5
CITIC Securities has generally low trading and non-trading fees. Fees for Chinese stocks are one of the lowest on the market; however, fees for Hong Kong stocks are a bit higher.
  • Low fees for Chinese stocks
  • Low non-trading fees

We compared CITIC Securities's fees with two similar brokers we selected, Interactive Brokers and TradeStation. These competitors were selected based on objective factors like products offered, client profile, fee structure, etc. See a more detailed comparison of CITIC Securities alternatives.

The fee structure is different based on whether you open an account with CITIC Securities's Mainland China legal entity or the Hong Kong-based legal entity.
We calculated the fees relevant to the Mainland China legal entity. The commissions for different assets are listed n the table below.

CITIC Securities commission
Shanghai Shenzhen
China A Shares, funds, ETFs 0.03% of trade value, minimum CNY 5
China B Shares 0.03% of trade value, minimum $1 0.03% of trade value, minimum HKD 5
Southbound connect* 0.12% of trade value, minimum HKD 100 0.08% of trade value, minimum HKD 100
Bonds 0.03% of trade value, minimum CNY 5

*This allows customers to trade Hong Kong stocks. However, you need to meet several criteria to be eligible for this service.

Chinese stock fees

Below, you can also compare how CITIC Securities's stock and ETF fees stack up against its competitors.
CITIC Securities has generally low stock and ETF commissions.

CITIC Securities stock and ETF commission of a $2,000 trade
CITIC SecuritiesInteractive BrokersTradeStation
China share$0.7$2.1-
Hong Kong share$13.0$2.3-

No inactivity fee, low withdrawal fee

There is no fee for account maintenance, inactivity or withdrawal.
However, there is a fee charged for account opening. For example, opening an account to trade China A-shares costs CNY 40.

Broker
Inactivity fee
Withdrawal fee
CITIC Securities
$0
Interactive Brokers
$0
TradeStation
$35
CITIC Securities inactivity, withdrawal and other fees

Safety

CITIC Securities is listed on multiple exchanges, including the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In addition, the company is regulated by the top-tier Chinese financial authority.
  • Majority of clients belong to a top-tier financial authority
  • Listed on stock exchange
  • Financial information is publicly available
Read more

Deposit and withdrawal

Score: 3.5/5
CITIC Securities charges no deposit or withdrawal fees, and these transactions are instant, which is a great plus. However, you can hold your cash only in CNY, HKD or USD.
  • Free withdrawal
  • No deposit fee
  • Instant deposit and withdrawal
Read more

Account opening

Score: 5/5
The account opening is easy and fully digital at CITIC Securities. There is also no minimum deposit required.
  • Fast
  • Fully digital
  • No minimum deposit
Read more

Mobile app

Score: 4.2/5
The CITIC Securities mobile trading platform is great, with a lot of functions, including price alerts and a useful chatbot. However, the range of order types is limited.
  • User-friendly
  • Good search function
  • Price alerts
Read more

Desktop platform

Score: 3/5
CITIC Securities provides a desktop trading platform with many advanced features and customization options. That also means that it may be a bit too complex for beginners.
  • Clear fee report
  • Good customizability (for charts, workspace)
  • Good search function
Read more

Product selection

Score: 2.1/5
CITIC Securities gives access to many asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, funds and bonds. However, these asset classes cover only Chinese and Hong Kong markets. Also, forex and CFDs are not available.
Read more
“I recommend CITIC Securities for investors and traders looking for assets in China and Hong Kong markets.”

FAQ

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Author of this review

Adam Nasli

Financial Wizard | Trading • Safety • Market Analysis

I bring extensive financial expertise as one of BrokerChooser's earliest team members. Personally, I tested nearly all 100+ brokers on our site, opening real-money accounts, executing trades, assessing customer services, and providing firsthand assessment. My professional background includes roles in the banking sector and a degree from Central European University, where I teach finance. My passions lies in in-depth research of the financial industry, building trading algorithms, and managing long-term investments.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.

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