Well actually they do operate in Hong Kong: I copied this off a search today: Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited Stock broker in Hong Kong Located in: Harvey Nichols Address: 1512, Harvey Nichols, Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong Phone: Hours: Open today · 8:30AM–6PM I opened an account for my daughter there with $5k. I think if you open a client account from an established advisor there, there is no minimum.
The minimum amount required to open an IB account depends on the account type: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=4969 For a regular individual account is 10 k USD (or equivalent) required.
Yeah, but its only 5k if you're a client with an advisor and 3K if you're 25 and under. So it is a possibility.
True, but if you've only got 5k or 3k then you probably have no business opening a brokerage account anyway, the markets will eat you for breakfast. The 10k limit is a sensible and realistic bare minimum.
Your're right, most guys would be wiped out in a very short time frame. The one caveat here is if this guy really knows he has a true working system. The high leverage part is not a good idea with a $3-5K account as the market swings would probably take you out in short order. My daughter's $5k account only invests in muni bond CEFs.