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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.

Risks definition

In trading, risks are the ways in which an investment can end up losing you money.

In general, trading strategies focus on weighing up the potential risk of a trade against its potential return. If a trade has greater risk, it should carry the chance of a greater return in order to make that risk worthwhile.

There are two main forms of risk associated with trading:

Market risk

Market risk, also known as ‘systematic risk’, is the type of risk that can result in losses due to adverse price movements. Market risk affects the entire market and so cannot be avoided through portfolio diversification.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that trading an asset may affect its price. This may arise because the asset is illiquid, meaning there are not enough people in the market to trade with. It can also be caused by one of the participants in your trade failing to meet financial obligations. 

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Different assets will have different levels of risk and different means of managing risk. Find out more about managing your risk.

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