Skip to content

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Annualised return definition

An annualised return is the average amount earned by an investment each year over a certain period of time if the annual return was compounded. Compounding means investment returns, from one year to the next, are dependent on each other.

For example, if you invest £1000 in a FTSE 100 fund and the fund loses 25% in the first year, and then gains 15% and 12% in the two subsequent years, the average annual return would be:

(-25% + 15% + 12%) /3 = 0.6%

Based on this calculation, at the end of the third year your investment pot should stand at £1006. However, it doesn’t.

That’s because you lost 25% in the first year, meaning you started year two with a pot of £750. The return was 15% in year two, but that was on the £750, leaving you with £862.50. The return in year three was 12% on the £862.50, leaving you with £966 at the end of year three. That’s a three-year annualised return of -3.4%.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - Y

See all glossary trading terms

Help and support

Get answers about your account or our services.

Get answers

Interested in opening an account with us? Call 0800 195 3100 or send an email to newaccountenquiries.uk@ig.com.

We’re available from 8am to 6pm (UK time), Monday to Friday

Want to check on your application’s progress? Email us at newaccounts.uk@ig.com.