HFTrading Review

Overview – Fees and commissions – Safety – Opening an account – Account types – Trading Platforms – Markets and products – Research tools – Education and training – Customer support – Our verdict

review

Our review of HFTrading confirms that this is a reputable forex and CFD broker, with a range of assets to offer something for everyone. Founded in 2019, HFTrading offers you the ability to trade CFDs of cryptocurrencies, shares, indices, commodities, metals, and forex. You can also choose from three account types and benefit from vast educational resources. The broker is licensed and regulated by both ASIC and NZFMA, providing confidence to clients.review

• Trade over 300 CFDs
• Access 30+ CFD cryptocurrency pairs
• Licensed and regulated by ASIC and NZFMA
• Educational resources that fit your learning style
• Only available in New Zealand and Australia

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HFTrading overall scores

In this review, you can find all the information you need to decide whether HFTrading is the right broker for you. Our expert team has thoroughly explored the broker, using a tested methodology and scoring system. This process places importance on the things we know matter most to traders. Below you can see how HFTrading scored in each of our high-priority categories.

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HFTrading fees and commissions

Our review of HFTrading found that this broker has a transparent pricing model, with no hidden fees and charges. Spreads are reasonably competitive, starting from 1.8 pips, although they do vary based on account type. HFTrading also maintains competitive swap fees by offering discounts of up to 50%. Our experts have reviewed HFTrading’s fees based on how they compare with the fees of other reviewed brokers. For each broker, we analyze both trading fees and non-trading fees.

– Brokers charge trading fees every time you place a trade. They include spreads, commissions, overnight and rollover fees, and currency conversion fees.
– We consider non-trading fees as they make up the cost of using a certain broker. They include payment fees and inactivity fees.

Below you will find a snapshot of the fees charged by HFTrading. Our experts have created these tables based on the fees applied to a standard account. We consider a standard account to be the one that will appeal to most traders. It is often not the cheapest option, but it’s not a premium option, either.

Trading Fees*

TYPE OF FEE	COST
Minimum Spread EURUSD (pips)	2.2
Commission (%)	0%
Commission on Islamic Accounts (%)	0%

Non-Trading Fees

Account Fee	N
Inactivity Fees	Y
Deposit Fees	N
Withdrawal Fees	Y

HFTrading trading fees

The trading fees from HFTrading depend on the account type that you have. As you move through Silver, Gold, and Platinum accounts, the spreads and overnight swap fees decrease. The following are some examples of spreads for forex pairs across account types:

• EUR/USD: From 2.2 for Silver, 1.3 for Gold, 0.7 for Platinum
• GBP/USD: 2.8, 2, 1.3, respectively
• AUD/USD: 2.8, 1.8, 1.1, respectively
• USD/JPY: 2.3, 1.5, 0.8, respectively
• NZD/USD: 3.1, 2.1, 1.4, respectively
• EUR/GBP: 2.6, 1.6, 0.9, respectively

To give you an idea of the spreads for metals, gold has spreads from 0.59 for Silver accounts, 0.48 for Gold accounts, and 0.37 for Platinum accounts.

• Forex CFDs: Up to 1:200 for Silver, 1:400 for Gold, 1:500 for Platinum
• Indices, Metals, and Commodities CFDs: 1:50 for Silver, 1:100 for Gold, 1:125 for Platinum
• Stocks and Equities CFDs: 1:20 for Silver, 1:40 for Gold, 1:50 for Platinum

Financing/overnight rates

Depending on the account type you open with HFTrading, you may receive discounts on swaps. Gold account holders receive a 25% discount on swaps, whilst Platinum accounts receive a 50% discount. The broker’s swaps are competitive and transparent, as you can easily access them on the HFTrading website.

Non-trading fees

HFTrading does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees, but your intermediary bank may. Where a withdrawal fee applies, it will be at least 10 AUD. Inactivity fees are charged monthly, including a retroactive charge for the first month of inactivity. This means that although the monthly inactivity fee is initially 80 AUD, you will pay for two months of inactivity at 61 days. After 91 days of inactivity, the fee increases to 120 AUD. It increases to 200 AUD at 181 days and 500 AUD at 271 days.

Luckily, it is easy to avoid the inactivity fees by making a minimum of five transactions in a month. HFTrading places no restrictions on the size of these transactions, so you can easily make several small transactions and avoid the fee. You should also keep in mind that if your balance reaches zero, HFTrading will require you to reactivate your account. Here, you will need to complete another questionnaire regarding your trading experience and economic profile.

HFTrading safety

When you open an account with HFTrading, you can do so with peace of mind as the NZFMA and ASIC license and regulate this broker. The broker has a strong reputation and HFTrading takes client funds and data security seriously.

HFTrading licenses and regulation

CTRL Investments Limited is the parent company behind the trading name HFTrading. This is a company officially incorporated in New Zealand. It conducts business in Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) regulates CTRL Investments Limited. It has the ARBN (Australian registered body number) of 152-535-085 and the AFSL (Australian Financial Services License) number of 414198.

New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (NZFMA) also regulates CTRL Investments Limited. It has the NZBusNo (New Zealand business number) 9429031595070 and the FSPR (Financial Service Provider Register) number of FSP197465.

Is HFTrading safe?

Our review methodology considers several factors to ensure that all of our recommended brokers are safe and reputable. Alongside the number and strength of licenses, we also consider:

• What protection and/or insurance HFTrading offers should something go wrong
• HFTrading’s reputation, history, and management

HFTrading client protection

Although details are not clear, HFTrading implies that the regulation by ASIC includes financial compensation of some sort in case of insolvency.

Client Protection

Country	Legal Entity	Protected Up To	Regulators
Australia	CTRL Investments Limited	Not Specified	ASIC
New Zealand	CTRL Investments Limited	No protection offered	NZ FMA

As part of its regulation by ASIC and NZFMA, HFTrading offers clients negative balance protection. The broker also stores client funds in segregated accounts with tier-one banks.

HFTrading background and reputation

Although the broker only launched in 2019, our HFTrading review team found that this is an accomplished broker that you can count on. 2020 has already seen a range of economic conditions, including those that caused many businesses to struggle. That HFTrading has weathered these issues shows that the broker is responsible.

It is also important to mention MahiFX, which CTRL Investments Limited acquired before creating HFTrading. Many people in the industry view MahiFX as a precursor to HFTrading, enhancing the broker’s trading history. MahiFX was a well-regarded CFD brokerage within Australia and New Zealand. Having opened in 2010, this gives HFTrading a full decade of experience. HFTrading and its parent company, CTRL Investments Limited, take your data and transaction security seriously by employing encryption, SSL protection, and secure firewalls.

Opening an account with HFTrading

Our reviewers found that opening an account with HFTrading is straightforward. The process from the client’s end is quick, taking only a matter of minutes, and the broker verifies your identity promptly too. You can open an account with $250, which is in line with other Australia and New Zealand-based brokers.

Is HFTrading available in your country?

As a newer broker, HFTrading focuses on providing high-quality services and has not yet worked on expansion. As such, HFTrading currently accepts clients from Australia and New Zealand.

How to open an account at HFTrading

After reading our HFTrading forex broker review, you can open your account in with ease. Our reviewers found the process took around five minutes and you can complete it from both mobile and desktop. Follow these steps and you will trade in no time.

What you will need to open an account

During the registration process, you will need to provide HFTrading with some personal information and some documents. These are part of the broker’s AML (anti-money-laundering) and KYC (know your customer) policies.

• Personal information – You will need to provide your first and last name, phone number, email address, physical address, birthdate and an official identification number, such as a taxpayer ID.
• Regulatory information – For regulatory reasons and to confirm that the HFTrading products are suitable for you, you must answer a short questionnaire. You can expect questions about your experience and knowledge regarding trading CFDs and forex, your capital availability, and your source of capital.
• Documentation – You must upload proof of identity and proof of address to verify your account. The proof of identity must be a valid government-issued photo ID. With a driver’s license or national ID card, you must submit photos of both sides, while passports typically just require the two-page spread with your name and photo. The document must have your full name, date and place of birth, a reference number, an expiration date, the issuing authority, and a unique reference number. The proof of address can be a recent utility bill or bank statement.
• Payment information – If you make your payment with a debit or credit card, then you may also have to submit images of the front and back of the card, with the CVV covered on the back and the middle numbers covered on the front. For payments made with bank transfers the broker may ask you to provide a copy of your bank statement and, if you use an e-wallet, HFTrading may request a copy of your account statement.

To open an account with HFTrading, you must provide proof of identity and proof of address. This process allows HFTrading to meet KYC (Know Your Customer) guidelines. KYC guidelines keep you safe and stop the broker from accidentally facilitating illegal practices such as money laundering.

What is the minimum deposit at HFTrading?

To trade with HFTrading, you must deposit at least $250. This relatively low minimum deposit helps make HFTrading accessible to traders of all skill and budget levels. It also lets you test out the broker with smaller trades, before risking larger sums.

HFTrading payment methods

When you open your HFTrading account, you can choose either AUD, NZD or USD as your base currency. There are a few deposit methods available, though keep in mind that they can vary slightly by region. The following chart summarizes the various options for deposits and withdrawals.

Payment Methods

METHOD	DEPOSITING TIME	ACCEPTED CURRENCIES	DEPOSITING FEE	MAX. DEPOSIT	WITHDRAWAL	WITHDRAWAL TIME	MINIMUM WITHDRAWAL	WITHDRAWAL FEE
Visa or MasterCard	Usually instant	AUD, NZD, USD	N/A	N/A	Y	Processed within 3 business days	N/A	N/A
Bank transfer	Up to 2 to 5 business days	AUD, NZD, USD	N/A	N/A	Y	Processed within 3 business days	N/A	N/A
Neteller	Usually instant	AUD, NZD, USD	N/A	N/A	Y	Processed within 3 business days	N/A	N/A
Skrill	Usually instant	AUD, NZD, USD	N/A	N/A	Y	Processed within 3 business days	N/A	N/A
VPay	Usually instant	AUD, NZD, USD	N/A	N/A	Y	Processed within 3 business days	N/A	N/A

HFTrading account types

You can choose from three types of accounts with HFTrading: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Besides improved spreads and leverage, upgrading your account adds other perks. Gold accounts get dedicated account managers and access to webinars and videos. Platinum accounts get those perks, plus news alerts and a free VPS. Gold and Platinum accounts also get 25 and 50% swap discounts, respectively.

Account Types

	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Minimum Deposit	$250	$250	$250
Max Leverage	1:200	1:400	1:500
Minimum Order Size	0.01	0.01	0.01
Spreads	From 1.8	From 1.8	From 1.8
Commission	N/A	N/A	N/A
Available Instrument Types	Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities, metals	Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities, metals	Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities, metals
Available Instruments (Number)	300+	300+	300+
Trading Platforms	WebTrader, MetaTrader 4, MT4 Mobile	WebTrader, MetaTrader 4, MT4 Mobile	WebTrader, MetaTrader 4, MT4 Mobile
Automated Trading	Y	Y	Y
Execution Type	STP	STP	STP

Demo accounts

You can open a free demo account with HFTrading at any time. We suggest using the demo account to review HFTrading’s platforms and spreads, and to test your trading strategies.

Islamic accounts

If you are a Muslim trader, you can open an Islamic Gold or Platinum account. They have the same trading conditions as non-Islamic accounts, except with no swap or interest fees. Our HFTrading review team were also pleased to see that these accounts do not have wider spreads. This is a strong positive as some brokers charge hidden fees to make up for losing overnight interest with swap-free accounts.

HFTrading trading platforms

At HFTrading, you can use one of three variations of MetaTrader 4. This award-winning and user-friendly software comes with hundreds of tools and you can use it on all devices. Whilst our reviewers usually prefer a proprietary platform, it’s clear that HFTrading focuses their efforts on trading opportunities and other features instead.

HFTrading offers three trading platforms. A trading platform is simply a software interface that allows you to place trades. Trading platforms often come with charting, research, and order processing tools.

To ensure that we only recommend high-quality brokers, our reviewers have tried and tested each of HFTrading’s trading platforms. When doing so, they considered a range of factors, including how easy to use the platforms are, what features each trading platform offers, and how suited each platform is to different types of traders.

Trading Platforms

	WEBTRADER	METATRADER 4	MT4 MOBILE
Instrument Classes	Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities, metals	Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities, metals	Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities, metals
Number of Instruments	300+	300+	300+
Number of Order Types	4	4	4
Number of Indicators	30+	30+	30+
Number of Drawing Tools	24	24	24
Robots/EAs	Y	Y	Y
Social/Copy Trading	Y	Y	Y
Downloadable	N	Y	Y
Browser Compatibility	Y	N	N

WebTrader

All three of HFTrading’s platforms are similar since they were all created by MetaTrader. As you read our HFTrading platform review, it is safe to assume that most features mentioned for WebTrader also apply to MetaTrader 4 and MT4 Mobile, unless otherwise mentioned. The MetaTrader 4 platforms are incredibly user friendly and intuitive to use. The charts include many features to assist you with technical analysis, including over 30 indicators built right into the platform. You can also add over 2,000 free custom indicators and purchase over 700 others.

The trading platform also offers you 24 graphical objects to use in your analysis. Adjust your chart to include nine time frames and choose from three types of charts, including lines, bars, and candlesticks. You will also see real-time bid and ask prices in the watch window. MetaTrader also incorporates news and supports Expert Advisors and trading signals for automatic or algorithmic trading. You can use the strategy tester to back test your Expert Advisors using historical data.

Using WebTrader gives you the ability to access your HFTrading account and trade through your web browser, without any need to download a platform. This is helpful if you are using a borrowed computer, your computer is low on space, or you prefer to limit downloads. WebTrader and the other platforms also synchronize immediately. This allows you to seamlessly switch between the WebTrader, desktop version, and mobile app.

MetaTrader 4

The MetaTrader 4 platform is a piece of downloadable software that provides most of the same features as WebTrader. There are versions available for both Mac and Windows, so you should not have a problem with compatibility.

MT4 Mobile

The mobile version of MetaTrader 4 lets you trade from your HFTrading account using your smartphone or tablet. It has the same functionality as the WebTrader and desktop MT4 platforms. The mobile platform is helpful for traders who are always on the go. It also adds push notifications and trade alerts to help you stay on top of your trades, even if you are away from the computer or not looking at your phone.

What is the execution policy at HFTrading?

HFTrading follows an STP execution model (straight-through processing). The average execution speed is 2000ms, a highly competitive figure.

HFTrading does not have an easily accessible execution policy, nor do they offer information on the maximum number of trades you can have open at a time.

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HFTrading markets and products

Instrument	Number
Currency Pairs	50
Commodities	20
Precious Metals	5
Indices	12
Stocks and Shares	167
Cryptocurrencies	51
Options	0
ETFs	0

Currency pairs

With HFTrading, you can trade over 50 currency pairs with leverage of up to 1:500. The selection includes major, minor, and exotic pairs, allowing you to take advantage of economic fluctuations around the world.

Commodities

You can trade 20 commodity CFDs at HFTrading, with leverage of up to 1:125. Energy CFDs include Natural Gas, Brent Oil and Crude Oil. Our HFTrading review also found the broker offers a larger than average range of soft commodity CFDs, including orange juice, cotton, corn, coffee, and cocoa.

Precious metals

Trading CFDs on precious metals gives you access to one of the most stable asset classes. You can trade copper, gold, and silver with leverage of up to 1:125.

Indices

Trading index CFDs gives you access to the market’s dynamics instead of a specific instrument. As with the other products available through HFTrading, you can trade index CFDs with leverage of up to 1:125.

The broker allows you to engage with global indices, including those from Spain, China, the United States, the UK, Istanbul, and the EU. Specific indices include ASX 200, CAC 40, China Enterprise 40, DAX 30, Euro Stoxx 50, FTSE 100, IBEX 35, and Hong Kong 50.

Stocks and shares

Instead of trading stocks and shares directly, HFTrading lets you trade share CFDs. This allows you to go long or short and use leverage when trading.

If you review HFTrading’s share CFDs, you will notice they include stocks from America, Australia, and Europe. This makes it easier to diversify your portfolio. Enjoy leverage of up to 1:50 and spreads as low as 1.8.

Cryptocurrencies

HFTrading offers over 30 cryptocurrency CFDs. These products give you profitable trading opportunities because of their volatility. Additionally, crypto CFDs do not require you to own a wallet and allow you to go long or short.

Spreads for cryptocurrencies are floating, and the leverage goes up to 1:2. This asset class offers 24/7 trading.

Whilst many brokers now offer cryptocurrency CFDs, only a few brokers offer as extensive a selection as HFTrading. Our review of HFTrading found you can trade six coins with three different fiat pairings. By comparison, most brokers only offer four or five cryptocurrencies to trade with the USD.

Crypto pair CFDs at HFTrading include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dash, Ripple, and Ethereum Classic against USD, GBP, or EUR. You can also enjoy over a dozen other crypto CFDs, including Monero, NEO, IOTA, and Bitcoin Cash, against USD.

Social trading

Although there is no traditional social trading on HFTrading, you can copy the trades of professionals via the features built into the MT4 platform. By supporting Expert Advisors and trading signals, HFTrading gives you the same functionalities as most social trading programs.

HFTrading research tools

When you open an account with HFTrading, you can access a range of research tools through the trading platforms. The platform features indicators, trading signals, news, and an economic calendar. You can also review HFTrading’s economic calendar directly through the broker’s website. While some brokers have more research tools available, HFTrading’s selection should be enough for most beginners.

HFTrading Research Tools

News (from top-tier sources)	Y
Trading Signals and Indicators	Y
Trade Ideas	N
Expert Analysis	N
Autochartist Tools	N
Sentiment Charts	N
Economic Calendar	Y

News

When you log into any of the MetaTrader 4 platforms supported by the broker, you can review HFTrading’s news, straight from top-tier sources. As such, you do not have to open multiple programs or tabs on your computer or smartphone, and conducting and implementing research is easy.

Trading signals and indicators

HFTrading supports trading signals to help with your strategies. These are part of the automated trading features offered through MT4, although you can also download or purchase additional signals. You will also find plenty of indicators built into the HFTrading MetaTrader 4 platforms.

Indicators assist you in conducting your own technical analysis and help you decide which underlying assets to trade and what positions to take. It is easy to install additional indicators, and even if you stick to the free ones, you will have over 2,000 to choose from.

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HFTrading education and training

As you review HFTrading’s educational resources and training tools, you will find an extensive selection of resources to help you hone your skills. The broker provides a demo account, live webinars, platform tutorial videos, e-books, courses, and more. While many of the resources are for beginner traders, there are also plenty to help experienced traders too.

HFTrading Educational Features

Demo Account	Y
Platform Tutorial Videos	Y
Educational PDFs	Y
Live Webinars	Y
YouTube Videos	Y
Trading Academy	Y
Trading Glossary	Y

Platform tutorial videos

HFTrading offers tutorial videos to show you how to complete basic actions on MetaTrader trading platforms. The videos divided into those for the mobile application and those for the desktop or web version, since the latter two are similar.

Educational PDFs

To review HFTrading’s e-books, you simply need to launch the broker website. These are available before registration and cover a wide range of topics. Beginners will be particularly interested in “Terms eBook,” “Glossary eBook,” and “Beginners’ Strategies eBook.” Experienced traders will appreciate the “Advanced Technical Analysis eBook.”

All traders, regardless of experience level, can benefit from the “Global Trading eBook,” “Market Analysis eBook,” “Capital Management eBook,” and “Trading Psychology eBook.”

Live webinars

You can easily review HFTrading’s upcoming live webinars on the broker’s website. You can also view past webinars suitable for all skill levels. Topics covered range from trading CFDs to overviews or information on specific underlying assets.

Trading academy

HFTrading’s trading academy is well-organized and comprehensive. Each course has at least several videos, with some featuring nearly a dozen. They cover a range of topics, and we suggest that those new to CFDs start with the “Beginners’ Course.”

Other courses cover “The Trading Market,” “Trading Tools,” “CFDs and Stocks,” “Trading Strategies,” and “Social Trading.”

Trading glossary

There are two trading glossaries available from HFTrading, both of which are e-books. You can look at the “Terms eBook” or the “Glossary eBook.” Both serve as a convenient reference for trading-related terms and concepts. We suggest that beginners skim over these e-books before trading and that you keep them handy for future reference.

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HFTrading customer support

If you have questions as you review your HFTrading account or its platforms, the customer support team is there to assist you. You can easily contact support via live chat, over the phone, or via email. One of the unique features that sets HFTrading apart is the ability to contact management directly with complaints or suggestions.

For your convenience, we have compiled a list of all the ways to contact HFTrading support:

• Live chat via the website
• Live chat via the platforms
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +64 48895407
• Address: Level 13, 1 Albert Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Customer support is available 12/5, between 9pm to 10am GMT on weekdays. Most traders would prefer to see 24/5 support, but given the recentness of HFTrading, these are still very reasonable hours.

Our HFTrading review team expects the hours of support to expand as the broker becomes more established.

In our experience, contacting customer support is straightforward. We typically received prompt responses, especially over the phone and via live chat.

HFTrading mobile compatibility

HFTrading offers mobile users full functionality, be it on the website or the trading platform. We appreciate that the mobile platform has almost identical features to the desktop and web versions, so you never miss out on tools, news, or market information just because you are on the go.

You can start trading on your smartphone or tablet, then seamlessly switch to your computer, via the WebTrader or downloadable platform, or vice versa. This makes it possible to continue trading, even if you have to leave your computer.

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HFTrading – Our verdict

Our review of HFTrading confirms that this is a reputable broker with a vast range of CFDs. You can trade over 300 CFDs of various underlying assets including forex, commodities, shares, indices, and metals. The broker also offers several times as many cryptocurrencies CFDs as its competitors.

By supporting the industry-leading MetaTrader 4 platforms, HFTrading caters for everyone, regardless of your preferred device to trade from. These platforms are feature-rich, helping you with analysis via indicators, trading signals, and more.

HFTrading also has an extensive education area, including e-books and videos. Add in the licenses from ASIC and NZFMA, plus the range of payment methods, and there are plenty of reasons to consider trading CFDs with HFTrading.

Now that you are familiar with the HFTrading, open an account in minutes and start trading CFDs.

HFTrading Final Summary

Minimum Deposit (USD)	$250
Licenses	ASIC, NZFMA.
Max. Leverage	1:400
Client Protection	Y
Broker Type	STP/NDD
Number of Instruments	350+
Currency Pairs	50
Stocks	167
Cryptocurrencies	51
CFDs	Y
Proprietary Trading Platform	N
MT 4	Y
MT 5	N
Mobile Compatible	Y
Research Tools	Y
Educational Materials	Y
Payment Methods	Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Netseller
24/5 Customer Support	Y
Live Chat	Y

HFTrading information

• Year Founded: 2019
• Company Trading Names: CTRL Investments Limited
• Licenses: ASIC, NZFMA
• Headquarters Address: Level 13, 1 Albert Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
• Phone Number: +64 48895407
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HFTrading.au/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hftradingau

Risk Disclaimer: HFTrading offers CFD products. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Before trading, you should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Our methodology: This review of HFTrading has been created using accurate data and unbiased facts. To test the broker, we have used our unique and detailed methodology, which assesses over 200 criteria points in 10 key areas. This guarantees that all of our reviews are fair and extensive. We update our methodology and reviews regularly. Methodology updates are made so that new features and products are taken into consideration. Review updates ensure that all the information we provide is current and correct.

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