Forex trading
Harness volatility in the world’s most-traded financial market with the UK’s No.1 retail forex provider.1
Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening an account.
Contact us 0800 195 3100
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We’re available from 9am to 5pm (UK time), Monday to Friday.
Contact us 0800 409 6789
Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening an account.
Contact us 0800 195 3100
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We’re available from 9am to 5pm (UK time), Monday to Friday.
Contact us 0800 409 6789
Why trade forex with us?
Get an edge with the UK’s best web-based platform and award-winning mobile apps2
Negative balance protection ensures that your
account never stays below zero3
Get friendly, expert support 24 hours a day from 8am Saturday to 10pm Friday
Identify FX opportunities on clear, fast charts and deepen your analysis with ProRealTime
Open a free forex trading account quickly and easily – you could be trading forex in minutes
Ways to trade forex with IG
Spread betting
Most popular
Tax-free - keep 100% of your profits*
Zero commission and flexible position sizing - from 13p per point
Trade in GBP to avoid FX risk or charges
CFD trading
No stamp duty; CGT applies but losses can be offset against profits for tax purposes*
Commission-free on forex
Trade in underlying market currency
* Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
| Spread betting | CFD | |
| Main benefits | Profits are tax-free in the UK4 | Tax-deductible losses are useful for hedging4 |
| Accessible to | All clients | All clients |
| Traded in | £ (or other base currency) per point | Contracts |
| Tax status | No capital gains tax (CGT) or stamp duty4 | No stamp duty, but you do pay CGT. Losses can be offset as a tax deduction4 |
| Commission | Commission-free | Commission-free for FX |
| Platforms | Web, mobile app and advanced platforms | Web, mobile app and advanced platforms |
| Learn more | Learn more |
What is forex trading?
Forex trading is the buying and selling of currencies on the foreign exchange market with the aim of making a profit.
Forex is the world’s most-traded financial market, with transactions worth trillions of dollars taking place every day.
What are the benefits?
- Go long or short
- 24-hour trading
- High liquidity
- Constant opportunities
- Trade on leverage
- Wide range of FX pairs
How do I trade forex?
- Decide how you’d like to trade forex
- Learn how the forex market works
- Open a forex trading account
- Build a trading plan
- Choose your forex trading platform
- Open, monitor and close your first position
Open an account now
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to 17,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 50 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to 17,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 50 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
How much does FX trading cost?
Margins
When you spread bet and trade CFDs you do so with leverage – meaning you can win, or lose, a significant amount more than your initial deposit – called your margin. Though not actually a cost to you, the margin you pay makes a big difference to the affordability of your forex trade.
Spreads
Your key payment for trading forex is the spread – the difference between the buy and the sell price – our charge for executing your trade. We work to keep our spreads among the lowest in the business.
| Spot FX | Retail margin | Leverage equivalent | Professional margin What is this? |
Leverage equivalent |
| EUR/USD | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| AUD/USD | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| USD/JPY | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| EUR/GBP | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:111 |
| GBP/USD | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:111 |
| EUR/JPY | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| USD/CHF | 3.33% | 1:30 | 1.35% | 1:74 |
| Spot FX | IG min. spread | IG av. spread6 | IG av. spread (00:00-21:00)7 |
DMA av. spread8 |
| EUR/USD | 0.6 | 1.13 | 0.86 | 0.165 |
| AUD/USD | 0.6 | 1.33 | 1.07 | 0.295 |
| USD/JPY | 0.7 | 1.26 | 0.96 | 0.242 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.9 | 2.51 | 1.83 | 0.540 |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 | 2.38 | 1.84 | 0.589 |
| EUR/JPY | 1.5 | 2.57 | 1.96 | 0.678 |
| USD/CHF | 1.5 | 2.29 | 1.95 | 0.399 |
How much will I have to pay?
Margins
When you spread bet and trade CFDs you do so with leverage – meaning you can win, or lose, a significant amount more than your initial deposit – called your margin. Though not actually a cost to you, the margin you pay makes a big difference to the affordability of your forex trade.
Spreads
Your key payment for trading forex is the spread – the difference between the buy and the sell price – our charge for executing your trade. We work to keep our spreads among the lowest in the business.
| Spot FX | Retail margin | Leverage equivalent | Professional margin | Leverage equivalent |
| EUR/USD | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| AUD/USD | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| USD/JPY | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| EUR/GBP | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:111 |
| GBP/USD | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:111 |
| EUR/JPY | 3.33% | 1:30 | 0.45% | 1:222 |
| USD/CHF | 3.33% | 1:30 | 1.35% | 1:74 |
| Spot FX | IG min. spread | IG av. spread6 | IG av. spread (00:00-21:00)7 |
DMA av. spread8 |
| EUR/USD | 0.6 | 1.13 | 0.86 | 0.165 |
| AUD/USD | 0.6 | 1.33 | 1.07 | 0.295 |
| USD/JPY | 0.7 | 1.26 | 0.96 | 0.242 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.9 | 2.51 | 1.83 | 0.540 |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 | 2.38 | 1.84 | 0.589 |
| EUR/JPY | 1.5 | 2.57 | 1.96 | 0.678 |
| USD/CHF | 1.5 | 2.29 | 1.95 | 0.399 |
It’s free, quick and simple to create an account with us. Open one today, and you’ll get access to over 17,000+ financial markets.
When you’re ready, you choose your deal size. What’s more, you'll get lower minimums for one month while you master the markets.
Discover your next opportunity
Search our huge range of forex pairs.
Live FX prices
These prices are indicative only, and subject to our website terms and conditions.
Choose your currency trading platform
Seize opportunity at your desk or on the go with the UK’s best web trading platform and mobile trading app.2
Award-winning forex provider9
ForexBrokers is compensated by IG for marketing
Choose the world's No. 1 spread betting provider
Why open a trading account with anyone but the best spread betting provider? With 50 years of experience, we're proud to offer a truly market-leading service.
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
Choose the world's No. 1 spread betting provider
Why open a trading account with anyone but the best spread betting provider? With 50 years of experiance, we're proud to offer a truly market-leading service.
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
Choose the world's No. 1 spread betting provider
Why open a trading account with anyone but the best spread betting provider? With 50 years of experience, we're proud to offer a truly market-leading service.
Choose the world's No. 1 spread betting provider
Why open a trading account with anyone but the best spread betting provider? With 50 years of experiance, we're proud to offer a truly market-leading service.
Choose the world's No. 1 spread betting provider
Why open a trading account with anyone but the best spread betting provider? With 50 years of experiance, we're proud to offer a truly market-leading service.
Choose the world's No. 1 spread betting provider
Why open a trading account with anyone but the best spread betting provider? With 50 years of experience, we're proud to offer a truly market-leading service.
Get the latest forex news
-
Why is the Fed's hawkish cut unsettling AUD/USD, EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY?
2024-12-19T10:37:38+0000
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See how we've been changing the face of trading for more than 50.
1 By number of primary relationships with FX traders (Investment Trends UK Leveraged Trading Report released July 2024).
2 Best trading platform as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards and Professional Trader Awards 2019. Best trading app as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2020.
3
Negative balance protection applies to trading-related debt only, and is not available to professional traders.
4 Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
5 The advertised offering is only available to individual clients capable of obtaining ‘professional’ status. This requires experience of trading relevant products on your own account above a certain size, experience of working within the financial sector for at least one year in a relevant position and/or a personal investment portfolio worth at least €500,000.
6 Average spread (Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT) for the 12 weeks ending 29th May 2020. For our minimum spreads, please see our forex spread bet and CFD details.
7 Average spread (between 00:00-21:00 GMT Monday to Friday) for the 12 weeks ending 29th May 2020. For our minimum spreads, please see our forex spread bet and CFD details.
8 Average spread (Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT) for the 12 weeks ending 19th March 2019. There is also a commission charge for Forex Direct.
9 "Trusted" and "Award-winning”, #1 Overall Broker, #1 Mobile App, #1 Trust Score, #1 Education, #1 Web Platform are accolades presented to IG on January 23, 2024, during the ForexBrokers.com 2024 Annual Awards. Accolades were awarded by the ForexBrokers.com research team based on demonstrated excellence in categories considered important to investors, traders, and consumers. Click here to learn about how they rate brokers.
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