CFDs and Spread Betting

Account options

Our CFD and Spread Betting service is provided in association with City Index.

Please bear in mind that:
  • CFD trading and Spread Betting carries a high level of risk to your capital with the possibility of quickly losing more than your initial investment.  They aren’t suitable for all investors and you should ensure you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.

Apply online for a CFD and/or Spreadbetting account >

Print an application form >

Please ensure you read and understand the risk warnings, terms and policies and key features before trading.

CFD and Spread Betting accounts are separate but accessed through the same easy to use dealing and research platform. When considering which account is appropriate for you, it is important you understand the differences and the risks associated with each service.

As margined products, which afford substantial leverage, CFD trading and spread betting involve above average risk to your capital. It is possible to quickly lose more money than your initial deposit and you may be required to make further deposits at short notice. CFD trading and spread betting are not for everyone.

Contracts for Difference (CFDs):

CFDs are part of the 'derivative' range of investments, so called because their value is 'derived' from an underlying investment. They are an agreement between you and the Provider to exchange the difference between the opening and closing value of the trade. Here are the key features of our CFD account:

Trading Go 'long' or 'short' to give yourself the potential to make profits (or losses) in both bull and bear markets. Trade online or over the phone.
   
Rangeof Investments UK, US and European equities, indices, sectors, currency pairs and precious metals.
   
Tax Exempt from UK Stamp Duty. Profits are subject to Capital Gains tax. Remember that tax laws can change.
   
Charges Commission fees and financing charges are made against your account.
View our price structure >
   
Margin Requirement Typical margin requirement is 5% though it can be as little as 1%. Funds must be deposited before you trade to cover the initial margin requirement. Should losses be incurred, additional funds must be added in accordance with the Terms & Policies. Margin rates are viewable on the trading platform.
   
Limits and Stop Losses You can place limit and stop orders on your trades at no extra charge. Guaranteed Stop Losses are available on more liquid markets. A premium (GSL Premium) is charged for this.
   
Trading Academy Optional service available for the first four weeks of your trading life. Allows you to trade equity CFDs in small sizes and from just £5 commission.
   
 

Learn more about CFDs and our service in the Education section.

Spread Betting:

Spread betting offers a tax-efficient alternative to trading on specific equity and futures markets. It's a simple, versatile tool that can help you to profit from both up and downward movements in prices. Here are the key features of our spread betting account:

Trading Go 'long' or 'short' to give yourself the potential to make profits (or losses) in both bull and bear markets. Trade online or over the phone.
   
Range of Investments UK, US, & European equities, indices, sectors, currencies, commodities, precious metals, bonds, interest rates, options.
   
Tax Exempt from UK Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax. Remember that tax laws can change.
   
Charges Commission and financing charges are built into the spread, except for rolling bets where the finance is charged daily. View our price structure >
   
Margin Requirement Typical margin requirement is 5% though it can be as little as 1%. Funds must be deposited before you trade to cover the initial margin requirement. Should losses be incurred, additional funds must be added in accordance with the Terms & Policies. Margin rates are viewable on the trading platform.
   
Limits and Stop Losses You can place limit and stop orders on your trades at no extra charge. Guaranteed Stop Losses are available on more liquid markets. A premium (GSL Premium) is charged for this.
   
Trading Academy Optional service available for the first four weeks of your trading life. Allows you to trade index spread bets from just 50p a point.
   
 

Learn more about Spread Bets and our service in the Education section.

Important information

It's important to remember that these are 'Margin' trading services: you can, in effect, trade without having to pay the full price of the investment, as you would if trading in the underlying equities themselves. Because you only need to deposit a percentage of the value of your trade (typically 5%) you can buy more than you otherwise would, but, conversely your risk is higher. As your return is determined by the price movement on the total trade value, profits and losses can quickly exceed the initial deposit and you may need to make further deposits at short notice. Because you are effectively 'borrowing' to cover most of the cost of your trade, you'll also have a financing cost to cover. CFD and Spread Bet trading is not suitable for everyone: please ensure you understand the risks. We will ask you to complete an appropriateness assessment as part of the account application.

Apply online for a CFD and/or Spreadbetting account >

Print an application form >

Please ensure you read and understand the risk warnings, terms and policies and key features before trading.

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