CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. On average, 74–89% of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs.
You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please consider our Risk Disclosure.
CFDs & Spread Bets

Trade the
world’s markets. Long or short.

Gain leveraged exposure to indices, forex, commodities, shares, and more — without owning the underlying asset. Speculate on rising and falling prices across 10,000+ instruments.

Open live account Try a free demo
Instruments 10,000+ CFDs & spread bets Global markets
Leverage up to 30:1 Retail forex (FCA limit) Regulated
Min. spread from 0.1pips Tight, transparent pricing Regulated
Spread bets Tax-free* No CGT or stamp duty UK only

Asset classes available

Indices Forex Commodities Shares Crypto ETFs Bonds Interest

Product overview

Two products. One platform. Unlimited markets.

CFDs and spread bets let you trade the same markets using leverage, but they work differently — and the tax treatment is distinct. Here’s everything you need to know.

Important risk warning — please read before continuing CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading these products. You should consider whether you understand how these products work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Leverage can work against you as well as for you. Losses can exceed your initial deposit.
Contracts for difference

CFD Trading

Speculate on price movements across thousands of markets with leverage. Profit from rising or falling prices without owning the underlying asset.

How it works

  • Go long or short

    Profit from both rising and falling markets by buying (going long) or selling (going short).

  • Leveraged exposure

    Control a large position with a small margin deposit. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses.

  • No asset ownership

    Trade indices, forex, shares, and commodities without the cost and complexity of ownership.

  • Overnight financing

    Positions held overnight incur a daily financing charge based on the size of your trade.

  • Negative balance protection

    FCA regulation means you cannot lose more than the funds in your trading account.

Tax note: CFD profits are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Losses may be offset against other capital gains. Stamp duty does not apply. Seek independent tax advice.
Learn about CFDs →
Financial spread betting

Spread Betting

Spread betting lets you speculate on price movements by staking an amount per point of movement. Your profit or loss depends on how far the market moves in your direction.

How it works

  • Stake per point

    Choose how much to risk per point of movement — e.g. £5/point on the FTSE 100.

  • Long and short positions

    Bet on markets rising or falling across the same 10,000+ instruments as CFDs.

  • Full leverage access

    Identical leverage ratios to CFDs, regulated by the FCA for retail clients.

  • Overnight financing

    Daily financing charges apply to positions held open past the daily rollover time.

  • Negative balance protection

    Regulated under FCA COBS rules. Your account balance cannot go below zero.

Tax advantage: Spread betting profits are currently exempt from Capital Gains Tax and stamp duty in the UK. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Losses cannot be offset against other gains.
Learn about spread betting →

Why trade with us

Built for serious traders

Professional-grade tools, regulated infrastructure, and pricing that doesn’t eat into your edge.

Ultra-fast execution

Orders execute in under 10ms with no dealer intervention, no partial fills, and no requotes. Your trade goes through at the price you see.

<10 ms average

Tight, transparent spreads

Spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD and 1 point on the FTSE 100. No hidden charges — the spread is the only cost on most instruments.

From 0.6 pips

Negative balance protection

FCA regulation mandates negative balance protection for all retail clients. You can never lose more than the funds deposited in your account.

FCA regulated

Advanced charting tools

Full technical analysis suite including 60+ indicators, drawing tools, and multi-timeframe charts. Available on web, desktop, and mobile.

60+ indicators

Risk management orders

Stop-losses, take-profits, and guaranteed stop orders available across all instruments. Manage downside precisely — even in volatile conditions.

Guaranteed stops

Extended trading hours

Trade indices and key markets outside standard exchange hours. React to breaking news and economic data before and after the main session.

24/5 available

Asset class breakdown

10,000+ instruments across every market

Trade CFDs or spread bets on the world’s most liquid markets — with the same account, the same platform, and the same tight pricing.

Stock Indices

Trade the world’s major equity indices — from the FTSE 100 and S&P 500 to the Nikkei and DAX. Indices provide broad market exposure in a single position, with leverage up to 20:1 for retail clients.

80+
Indices available
20:1
Max leverage
1 pt
FTSE 100 spread

Forex

Trade over 330 currency pairs — from major pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD to exotic crosses. Forex is the world’s most liquid market, with $7.5 trillion traded daily. Leverage up to 30:1 on major pairs.

330+
Currency pairs
30:1
Max leverage
0.6
EUR/USD pips

Commodities

Trade CFDs or spread bets on hard and soft commodities — from gold and oil to natural gas, wheat, and coffee. Commodities provide a hedge against inflation and diversify beyond equities.

35+
Commodities
10:1
Max leverage
0.3
Gold spread

Share CFDs

Trade CFDs or spread bets on individual company shares from the US, UK, Europe, and Asia. Go short on stocks you think are overvalued, or use leverage to amplify gains on your convictions.

9,000+
Share CFDs
5:1
Max leverage
0%
Commission (UK)

ETFs, Bonds & More

Round out your trading with CFDs on ETFs, government and corporate bonds, interest rates, and sector-based share baskets. Access broad market themes with full leverage flexibility.

500+
ETF CFDs
100+
Bonds & rates
5:1
Max leverage
Understanding leverage

How leverage works and why it matters

Leverage lets you control a larger position than your deposit. You put up a fraction of the full trade value (the margin), and the broker effectively lends you the rest. This amplifies both potential profits and potential losses by the same factor.

The FCA caps leverage for retail clients to protect against excessive losses: up to 30:1 on major forex pairs, 20:1 on major indices, and 5:1 on individual shares.

Warning:The example shown assumes a favourable outcome. The same leverage on a losing trade would result in a loss of £1,000 from a £100 deposit on a 10:1 leveraged position. Always use stop-losses and risk only what you can afford to lose.
Example:Trading gold at 20:1 leverage
  • Your margin deposit£500
  • Leverage applied20:1
  • Total position value£10,000
  • Gold price moves up 2%+£200 position gain
  • Your return on deposit+40% on £500
  • If gold moves down 2%−40% on £500 (−£200)

FCA retail leverage limits

30:1Major Forex
20:1Major Indices
10:1Commodities
5:1Individual Shares
5:1ETFs
2:1Crypto CFDs

Side-by-side comparison

CFDs vs Spread Bets — which is right for you?

Both products provide leveraged exposure to the same markets. The key differences come down to tax treatment, position sizing, and how profits and losses are calculated.

CFDs Spread Bets
UK availability✓ Yes✓ Yes
Markets available10,000+ instruments10,000+ instruments
Long & short trading✓ Yes✓ Yes
LeverageUp to 30:1 (retail FCA limit)Up to 30:1 (retail FCA limit)
Profit/loss calculationPrice difference × number of contractsStake per point × points moved
Capital Gains TaxProfits subject to CGT✓ Currently exempt
Stamp dutyNot applicableNot applicable
Losses offset against gains✓ Yes (CGT)Not applicable
Available outside the UK✓ YesUK residents only
Overnight financingDaily charge appliesDaily charge applies
Negative balance protection✓ Yes (FCA regulated)✓ Yes (FCA regulated)
Demo account available✓ Yes✓ Yes

* Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change. Seek independent tax advice.

Risk disclosure

Understand the risks before you trade

CFDs and spread bets are high-risk products. Leverage magnifies both profits and losses, and you should never commit funds you cannot afford to lose. The FCA requires us to be explicit about these risks.

  • Leverage means losses can exceed your initial deposit (though negative balance protection applies for retail clients)
  • Markets can move rapidly and against your position, resulting in rapid loss of capital
  • Overnight financing charges erode the value of long-term leveraged positions
  • Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results
  • Guaranteed stop orders carry a small premium but protect against gapping
  • You should only trade with money you can afford to lose entirely
76%
of retail investor accounts lose money trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider
30:1
Maximum leverage for retail clients on major forex pairs (FCA mandated cap)
ESMA / FCA Retail Client Risk Warning

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% 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.

FCA regulatory disclosure

EC Markets is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: XXXXXXX). Negative balance protection is mandatory for all retail client accounts under FCA COBS rules. Professional clients may have different protections — see our client classification policy.

Getting started

Open your account in minutes

We recommend all new traders start with a free demo account before risking real capital.

01

Apply online

Complete our online application in under 10 minutes. We’ll ask about your trading experience as required by FCA regulation.

02

Practice on a demo

Use £10,000 of virtual funds to practise your strategy with real market conditions — no risk to your capital.

03

Fund your account

Deposit from £100 by bank transfer or card. Your funds are held in segregated client accounts.

04

Start trading

Open your first CFD or spread bet. Set stop-losses to manage your risk before entering any position.

Demo account

Try before you trade. Zero risk.

Our demo account gives you full access to the live platform with £10,000 of virtual funds — so you can learn the mechanics, test strategies, and build confidence before committing real capital.

Practice account

The real platform. Virtual money. No consequences.

Every feature, every market, every charting tool — identical to a live account. The only difference is that profits and losses aren’t real. It’s the safest way to learn how leverage and margin actually behave before your own money is at stake.

Open free demo Compare to live
Account typeDemo / Virtual
Virtual balance£10,000.00
Open positions3 active trades
Unrealised P&L+£284.40
Demo expires in28 days
Ready to go live?1-click upgrade

What’s included

£10,000 in virtual funds, full access to 10,000+ instruments across CFDs and spread bets, live market prices, real charting and analysis tools, and the full order management suite including stop-losses and take-profits.

How long it lasts

Your demo account is active for 30 days from the date you register. If you haven’t converted to a live account before expiry, you can request a free 30-day extension — as many times as you need.

What’s locked out

Demo accounts cannot withdraw funds, access ISA or SIPP wrappers, receive real dividends or overnight financing, use the referral programme, or place orders outside of market hours for select instruments.

What you get

Included in Demo

  • £10,000 virtual fundsReset on request if your balance runs low
  • Full instrument accessAll 10,000+ CFDs and spread bets available
  • Live market pricesReal bid/ask spreads streamed directly from liquidity providers
  • Full order typesMarket, limit, stop-entry, stop-loss, and take-profit orders
  • Advanced charting60+ indicators, drawing tools, and multi-timeframe analysis
  • Risk management toolsIncluding guaranteed stop orders at no cost in demo
  • Simulated overnight financingCharges apply virtually so you understand the real cost
  • News & market analysisFull access to in-platform news feeds and economic calendar
  • Education & supportAccess to our full help centre, guides, and live chat support
What’s not available

Live Account only

  • Real profits & lossesAll P&L is virtual and cannot be withdrawn
  • Stocks & Shares ISATax-efficient wrappers require a live funded account
  • SIPP / pension accountRetirement wrappers are unavailable on demo
  • Real dividend creditsDividend adjustments are simulated, not paid in cash
  • Referral programmeRefer-a-friend rewards only apply on live accounts
  • Deposits & withdrawalsNo real money can be added to or removed from a demo account
  • Extended-hours tradingSome after-hours instruments are unavailable in demo mode
  • Price alerts via SMSSMS-based notifications are enabled for live accounts only

Ready to go live? Here’s how it works.

Converting from demo to a live account takes under 5 minutes and doesn’t require starting over. Your settings, watchlists, and chart layouts carry across.

  1. 1
    Complete your ID verification — upload a photo ID and proof of address. Most verifications are approved within the hour.
  2. 2
    Pass the appropriateness assessment — the FCA requires us to confirm you understand the risks of leverage before activating your live account.
  3. 3
    Make your first deposit — fund your account from £100 by bank transfer or debit card. Funds are held in segregated client accounts.
  4. 4
    Your watchlists and settings carry over — everything you set up in demo transfers automatically. You can start trading immediately.
Conversion checklist
Demo registeredDone
Strategy testedDone
Photo ID uploadedPending
Appropriateness checkPending
First depositPending
Live account activePending
Open live account Try free demo

Capital at risk. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.

FAQs

Yes — withdrawals are processed within 24 hours via the same method used to deposit, free of charge. Open positions must be closed or have sufficient margin coverage.
Client funds are held in segregated accounts at top-tier banks. We’re FCA-regulated and apply robust safeguards including negative balance protection for retail clients.
You can start trading with as little as £100. There’s no minimum trade size and no inactivity fees on funded accounts.
Margin requirements depend on the instrument and leverage applied. Most retail trades can be opened with margin from 3.33% of the trade value.
Yes — leverage of up to 1:30 is available for retail clients and up to 1:200 for qualifying professional traders, in line with FCA rules.
CFD profits are subject to Capital Gains Tax in the UK. Spread betting profits are currently exempt from CGT and stamp duty. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.

Ready to start trading.

Open a free demo account and practise with virtual funds before committing real capital. Capital at risk.

Open live account Try free demo

Risk warning: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% 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 betting profits are currently exempt from Capital Gains Tax and stamp duty for UK residents; tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change. Seek independent tax advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. All spreads and prices shown are indicative only. Leverage ratios shown are the maximum available to retail clients under FCA regulations. EC Markets is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: XXXXXXX). Registered in England and Wales.

* Spread betting is only available to residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland. CFD trading is available in most jurisdictions subject to local regulation.