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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved.

CFD account details

Start trading now

There's no minimum balance to open an account, it takes less than five minutes, and there's no obligation to fund or trade. Or, open a demo to try out our platform.

Our charges

There's no minimum balance to open an account with IG. Once you've funded your account and started trading, our main charge on each trade is the spread or a small commission for shares trades. Daily funding charges may also apply if you hold positions overnight.

You choose your price per contract (we offer lower minimum contract sizes for new clients), and put down a margin payment. This allows you full exposure to a market with only a fraction of the total capital you'd normally need. Other charges can apply – see our charges and fees for more details.

View shares example

Buying BHP Billiton: detailed

CFD
Underlying market/value
BHP Billiton
Our price
18.39/18.40
Trade

Buy at 18.40

Trade size
1,000 shares
Margin required

Margin = Number of shares x share price (mid price) x margin rate (20%)

1,000 x A$18.395 x 20% = A$3,679

What happens next?
At 4.15pm the market closed at 18.50, which is the price our funding is calculated at. It rises again the next day, reaching 19.04 (the sell price).
Funding

Funding = (One-month bank bill swap rate + 2.5%) x (number of shares x share price) / 360

(1.9% + 2.5%) x (1,000 x A$18.50) / 360 = A$2.26

Underlying market

19.04/19.05

Close

Sell at 19.04

Gross profit

19.04 - 18.40 = A64c (Multiplied by 1,000 shares)

Gross profit = A$640

Commission

Commission = Value of position x 0.08% (Minimum A$7)

(1,000 x 18.40) x 0.08% = A$14.72

(1,000 x 19.04) x 0.08% = A$15.23

Total commission = A$29.95

Total costs

Total costs = Funding + commissions

A$2.26 + A$29.95 = A$32.21

Net profit

A$607.79 profit subject to tax

What if...

If the underlying market fell to 17.60 instead (the sell price):

A$17.60 – A$18.40 = - A$80c

(-A$80c x 1,000 shares) - (A$2.26 + 28.8)

Net loss = A$831.06

View indices example

Selling the FTSE 100: detailed

Cash CFD
Underlying market/value FTSE 100 Quarterly Futures 6400
Our price

FTSE 100 Cash

6441.05/6442.5
Trade

Sell at 6441.05

Deal size

1 contract

£10 per contract
Margin required

£3,220.53

Margin requirement x price x number of contracts x contract size

5% x 6441.05 x 1 x 10

What happens next? The market drops dramatically, reaching 6300 at 10pm, when funding is calculated. It rises a little overnight, to 6310
Funding

Funding = £3.47

(One-month LIBOR eg 0.49% minus 2.5% x £10 x 6300)/365

Close

Buy at 6310.5

Overall market movement & profit/loss

Gross profit = £1305.50

6441.05 – 6310.5 = 130.55

Each contract is worth £10 per point

Costs

1-point IG spread (included)

Funding cost: £3.47

Net profit

£1302.03 net profit subject to tax

What if...

If the market rose 130.5 points instead:

130.5 x £10 + £3.40

£1308.40 net loss

Account benefits

When you open an IG account you're joining Australia's No. 1 CFD provider1

All our clients benefit from:

  • Tight spreads, low commissions and low margins on over 17,000 markets
  • A superior trading platform, available across the web and mobile devices
  • Expert charting packages
  • Free educational videos and resources
  • Friendly, helpful customer support
  • Free data, research and analysis tools
  • Security of a financially strong, FTSE 250 company2, founded in 1974

What you need to know

Like all financial products, CFD trading carries risk. If the market moves against you, you lose money. However, as CFDs are a leveraged product, the risks can be greater – with the possibility of losses exceeding deposits.

With an IG CFD trading account, you can manage your exposure using a range of risk management tools, including stops and automated alerts. We’ll also help you learn the essentials of risk management, and you can practise your strategies using a demo account.

It's also important to read and understand our account information documents before you get started, including the PDS and Customer agreement (PDF).

Account essentials

Account charges

Setup charge No fee
Annual charge No fee
Account closure No fee

Trading details

Markets Over 17,000 global markets
Commission Yes, on certain markets
Overnight funding Yes, charges apply
Tax-free No
Traded in Contracts
Margin/leverage From 3.33% for forex, 20% for shares and 5% for indices
Trading by phone Yes
Risk management Full range of tools available

Platforms and tools

Platforms available All platforms
Demo account Yes
Live streaming IG charts Yes
Advanced charting packages Yes (free to active account holders3)
DMA No
Technical analysis tools Yes
Economic calendar Yes
Live Reuters news Yes
Free market data Yes (refundable fees apply for some shares data4)

Support and education

24 hour phone support Yes
Educational videos and guides Yes
In-person seminars Yes
Live webinars Yes
News and articles from IG experts

Yes

Open an account now

There's no minimum balance required to open an account and there's no obligation to fund or trade.

You might be interested in...

1 Based on revenue excluding FX (published half yearly financial statements, June 2020) Number 1 in Australia by primary relationships, CFDs & FX, Investment Trends November 2023 Leveraged Trading Report. CFDs & FX, Investment Trends December 2023 Leveraged Trading Report

2 IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a member of the FTSE 250.

3,4 See more about our charges and fees

Eligibility

Requirements checklist

  • You must be over 18
  • You must successfully meet our appropriateness assessment (within the application form) to see if CFD trading is appropriate for you – this is a regulatory requirement
  • We can open an Australian CFD trading account for people from most countries, but it may be more convenient for you to deal with an office closer to home

Information checklist

  • It’s important to understand the basics of CFD trading
  • Do you understand the risks?

Full terms and agreements

What we ask you

  • We need your name and address to establish your identity – this protects against possible fraud
  • We ask about your financial trading experience to assess if CFD trading is appropriate for you – this is a regulatory requirement

Peace of mind

  • We’ll never contact your employer as part of the application
  • Your data is kept securely in line with our privacy policy and the Data Protection Act
  • We’ll never ask for a deposit to open an account

Help and support

Get answers

Or ask about opening an account on 1800 601 799, or +61 3 9860 1799, or helpdesk.au@ig.com.

If you're calling from NZ, you can contact us on 0800 442 150

We're here 24 hours a day, except from 7am to 12pm Saturdays (AEDT).

New to CFD trading?

Find out more about CFD trading and how to get started. Learn more.