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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.

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Exchange definition

What is an exchange?

An exchange is an open, organised marketplace for commodities, stocks, securities, derivatives and other financial instruments. The terms exchange and market are often used interchangeably, as they both describe an environment in which listed products can be traded.

A key function of an exchange is to provide fair, efficient and orderly trading opportunities by centralising the buying and selling of a particular type of asset. Instead of dealing directly with exchanges, most traders will use a broker.

Examples of exchanges

Exchanges are located in most countries around the world. They can be a physical location, where traders meet to conduct business, or an electronic platform.

Physical

Traditionally, an exchange was a physical location used for trading securities, which operated via an open outcry or a dual auction system. While less common, there are some exchanges that still offer pit trading – including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE).

Electronic

In line with the rapid digital transformation of today’s economy, the definition of an exchange has significantly evolved too. As traditional exchanges began to handle an increasing amount of trading flow, most trades started to be placed electronically, off the trading floor. Some examples of purely digital exchanges are the NASDAQ stock exchange.

Pros and cons of exchanges

Pros of exchanges

Exchanges are regulated bodies which means transparency of both pricing and transactions. According to these regulations, every trade on an exchange is guaranteed and settled, usually through a clearing house. Exchanges also have a responsibility to ensure best execution – which means that all participants get equal treatment and all trades are executed at the best available market price.

Cons of exchanges

As transactions are often spread across multiple exchanges, there has been an increase in algorithmic trading and high frequency trading (HFT) models. There has been speculation that these models can provide false liquidity and front-running – which is the practice of illegally executing a personal order ahead of a sizeable client order. In instances when the algorithms trade outside of their expected patterns, these models have also been linked with market crashes.

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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. 

Professional clients trading spread bets and CFDs can lose more than they deposit.

Options and futures are complex instruments which come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. They’re not suitable for most investors. Before you invest, you should consider whether you understand how options and futures work, the risks of trading these instruments and whether you can afford to lose more than your original investment.

Trading stocks and shares ‘on margin’ within a US options and futures account – meaning that you only finance part of the cost of acquiring a position in a security – carries additional risks over buying securities on a fully funded basis and may result in losses exceeding your original investment. Trading on margin will also result in additional costs to you as the investor and any securities purchased using margin may be held as collateral by the lender, restricting both your rights as shareholder, and your ability to use the securities until the margin trade is closed. You should familiarise yourself with these risks before trading on margin.

The value of shares, ETFs and other ETPs bought through a share dealing account, a US options and futures account, a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Some ETPs carry additional risks depending on how they’re structured, investors should ensure they familiarise themselves with the differences before investing.

Share dealing and IG Smart Portfolio accounts provided by IG Trading and Investments Ltd, CFD accounts and US options and futures accounts are provided by IG Markets Ltd, spread betting provided by IG Index Ltd.   

IG is a trading name of IG Trading and Investments Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 11628764), IG Markets Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 04008957) and IG Index Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 01190902). Registered address at Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA. IG Markets Ltd (Register number 195355), IG Trading and Investments Ltd (Register Number 944492) and IG Index Ltd (Register number 114059) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.   

The information on this site isn’t directed at residents of the United States, Belgium or any particular country outside the UK and isn’t intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

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