Options trading
If you see opportunity in volatility, trade our flexible online options. Speculate on a range of assets and get the expertise and support of the world’s No.1 trading provider.1
* Demo accounts only available for spread betting and CFD trading
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
What is options trading?
Options trading is the act of buying and selling options. These are contracts that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a set price, if it moves beyond that price within a set timeframe.
With us, you can trade options in two ways:
- Trade listed options with a US options and futures account. Here, you can implement basic or complex options strategies
- Trade options with spread bets or CFDs. This involves taking a position on the underlying options price, not entering into the options contract directly or employing complex strategies
Why trade options with us?
Find an option to suit you
Trade listed options on thousands of US shares, ETFs and futures, or trade underlying index, forex, or shares options using spread bets or CFDs
Pay zero spread on expiry
Buy and sell options with no closing spread when you hold them until their fixed expiry date
Discover new opportunities
Develop trading strategies using a variety of US-listed options, or by pairing options trades with CFDs or spread bets
Trade on volatility itself
Take a position on rising, falling and even flat markets in the UK and all over the world
Ways to trade options with us
Trade listed options or use spread bets or CFDs on our award-winning trading platform.2
| US-listed options and futures | OTC: spread betting and CFD trading | |
| Main features | Listed options and futures are both derivative products. Options are contracts between two parties to exchange 100 shares at a specific price by a certain expiration date. Futures enable you to speculate on the upward or downward direction of a futures contract | Spread betting stakes an amount of money for every point the underlying market moves. CFDs are the buying and selling of contracts for difference. Both spread bets and CFDs are leveraged, meaning you put down a deposit to gain exposure to a position, with profit and loss calculated on the full position size. |
| Risks |
|
Buying call or put options, your risk is always limited to the margin you paid to open the position. However, when selling call or put options your risk is potentially unlimited |
| Traded in | $-denominated contracts | Spread bets: £ (or other base currency) per point CFDs: contracts |
| Tax | No stamp duty. CGT may apply. Tax deductible losses are useful for hedging.3 US tax may also apply | Spread bets: no stamp duty. Profits are generally tax-free in the UK3 CFDs: no stamp duty Tax deductible losses are useful for hedging3 |
| Costs | From $0.85 to open and $0 to close. Commissions capped at $10 per leg | Spread bets: commission-free (only pay the spread) CFDs: commission free (except on shares) |
| Platforms | Web and mobile platforms | Web and mobile platforms |
| Learn more | Learn more |
What are options?
Options are contracts that give you the right – but not the obligation – to buy or sell an underlying asset before a certain expiry date. You can use them to speculate on the price of a financial market, and in some cases its volatility too.
What are options?
Options are contracts that give you the right – but not the obligation – to buy or sell an underlying asset before a certain expiry date. You can use them to speculate on the price of a financial market, and in some cases its volatility too.
How do I trade options?
- Discover how options work
- Learn the differences between buying options and selling them
- Choose a trading strategy
- Create an account
- Open your first position
Benefits of trading options in the UK
Choose the option to suit you from our daily, or weekly, monthly and quarterly timeframes.
Listed options
Leveraged or non-leveraged exposure with more access to options strategies
Over-the counter options
For a flexible, highly leveraged way to trade options – using spread bets and CFDs
Best platforms2
Open positions on our award-winning platforms2 with innovative capabilities and risk-management tools
Go long, short or non-directional
Speculate based on your bullish or bearish stance, or use options strategies for a neutral market assumption
Lower spreads
Trade daily options with reduced spreads – the same as on regular spot markets
Flexible leverage
Get the leverage you want by choosing your strike and trade size
Limited risk
Cap your maximum risk when you buy daily options – you’ll never lose more than the margin you pay to open
Greater freedom
Hold daily options positions even if the market moves against you, knowing that your risk is limited to the margin you paid to open
No overnight funding
Pay less for long-term (ie weekly, monthly or quarterly) positions, thanks to zero overnight funding
Greater control
Develop simple or complex options strategies for greater control over your trading
Risks of trading options
Trading on margin
Trading on margin magnifies both your potential profits and possible losses. You could lose more than your initial outlay.
Currency risk
If you deposit or withdraw funds in a different currency than USD, an adverse move in exchange rate could reduce the real value of your funds.
Expiration risk
US-listed options can be exercised at any time up to expiry, so you may have to buy or sell the full amount of the underlying asset to fulfil the contract’s terms.
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
Trade options on the UK’s best trading platform2
US options and futures platform
Get fast, reliable execution on web and mobile when you trade options on our award-winning2 platform from our friends at tastytrade.
IG’s online platforms
Take a position on your favourite markets with our native, award-winning2 web and mobile trading applications.
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We’ve been a market-leading online trading and investment provider for 50 years.
Start trading CFDs to discover opportunities on 17,000+ markets.
Take advantage of movement in currency prices – with over 80 FX pairs to choose from.
1 Based on revenue (published financial statements, 2023).
2 Best trading platform as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards and Professional Trader Awards 2024. Best trading app as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024.
3 Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
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