Skanestas Investments Ltd

Skanestas Investments Limited is a Cyprus-based investment firm specialising in portfolio management and brokerage services. It was incorporated in Cyprus on 10 June 2013 (company registration number HE 322788) and is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) as a Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) with licence number 251/14 since 14 October 2014. The company operates from its registered address at 226 Arch. Makariou III Avenue, 1st floor, 3030 Limassol, Cyprus.

Unlike many retail forex brokers, Skanestas explicitly states that it does not offer leveraged products like CFDs, binary options, or rolling spot forex. Its business focuses on traditional securities brokerage and discretionary portfolio management, making it a distinct offering for investors seeking regulated access to equity and derivative markets.

Skanestas holds an active CySEC licence (CIF 251/14), which authorises it to provide investment services across the European Economic Area under the MiFID II framework. As a regulated entity, it is subject to capital adequacy requirements, client money segregation rules, and the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) coverage of up to €20,000 per eligible client. The firm also publishes a best execution policy and client order handling procedure, along with a fraud prevention manual.

However, FXCanary's risk assessment has assigned a score of 34 out of 100 (Guarded), flagging 'No verifiable website or social-media presence'. This seems inconsistent with the existence of a functional website, but may reflect limited third-party reviews or a sparse online footprint. The firm itself alerts about impersonation domains (skanestas.net and skanestas.vip), so traders should verify they are on the correct domain.

Skanestas offers two primary services: portfolio management and brokerage. Portfolio management follows a performance-based model with no upfront management fees—only a share of profits. Brokerage services provide execution-only access to equities (stocks, ETFs, ADRs, GDRs), currencies, and listed derivatives on local, EU, and US exchanges, as well as OTC markets. The firm does not provide investment advice or recommendations; all trading decisions rest with the client.

For institutional and professional clients, additional services may include direct market access and custody. The firm also acts as a clearing member and custodian of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, indicating a robust infrastructure for securities settlement.

The broker's website does not detail specific retail account tiers (e.g., standard, premium) or minimum deposit requirements. Account opening appears to be tailored to individual or corporate clients through an investment services agreement. Financial instruments available include equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), currencies, and listed derivatives (futures and options). OTC derivatives such as swaps and forwards are also offered, with execution fees based on notional amounts.

Skanestas does not offer CFDs or spot forex, which sets it apart from typical retail forex brokers. Clients who wish to trade currencies likely do so through spot FX transactions as part of securities settlement, not leveraged margin trading.

Fee structures are disclosed in the firm's execution fee schedule. For OTC equity trades, the fee is 0.1% of turnover with a minimum of USD 50 per order. US stock exchange trades cost USD 0.03 per share with a USD 1 minimum. Listed derivatives are charged USD 35 per contract with a USD 2 minimum. OTC derivative fees vary by product: swaps and forwards are charged in basis points of notional amount, with differing minimum fees depending on size.

Portfolio management accounts incur no management fee; instead, a profit-sharing arrangement applies, though specific percentages are not publicly listed. Clients should review the full fee schedule and investment services agreement for complete details, as execution-related costs may also apply.

Skanestas is suited for investors seeking a regulated European investment firm that offers both discretionary portfolio management and self-directed brokerage. It is particularly appropriate for clients who want access to international equities and listed derivatives without the speculative nature of leveraged forex or CFDs. The performance-based fee model in portfolio management may appeal to investors who align incentives with the manager's success.

The firm is not designed for retail forex traders looking for high leverage, micro lots, or CFD instruments. Its focus on traditional securities and its regulatory status make it a candidate for more conservative investors, though the limited publicly available information and absence of verified client reviews mean that potential clients should conduct thorough due diligence.