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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.

Multilateral trading facilities definition

Multilateral trading facilities has a particular significance in relation to IG's platform. Here, we define multilateral trading facilities in general investing and explain what it means to you when trading with IG.

Multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) offer traders and investment firms an alternative to traditional exchanges. They allow trading of a wider variety of markets than most exchanges, including assets that may not have an official market.

Often, MTFs take the form of electronic systems. These are controlled by an approved operator, or sometimes an investment bank. Like an exchange, software is used to match buyers with sellers as quickly as possible.

MTFs arose after the European Union directive regulating non-exchange financial trading. In the US, their equivalents are known as alternative trading systems. 

With IG

Our DMA-trading services and smart order router use exchanges and multilateral trading facilities to create one single order book for our clients. 

Visit our advanced platforms section

Find out more about our advanced trading features.

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