Spread betting

Spread betting

Spread betting with City Index provides a tax-free* way to trade on thousands of financial markets.

  • A global Spread Betting provider for 40 years
  • Tight spreads, zero commissions
  • No tax on profits or stamp duty*
  • Now available on TradingView
  • A global Spread Betting provider for 40 years
  • Tight spreads, zero commissions
  • No tax on profits or stamp duty*
  • Now available on TradingView

Award-winning provider

ForexBrokers.com #1 New Tool
Performance Analytics 2023
ForexBrokers.com Best In Class
Overall 2023
Best CFD Provider
ADVFN International Financial Awards 2023
Best Trading Platform
Online Money Awards 2022
Best App
Shares Awards 2022

Why spread bet with City Index?

 

*Spread Betting is exempt from UK stamp duty and UK Capital Gains Tax. However, tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Please seek independent advice if necessary.

Start spread betting today

Learn about spread betting

What is spread betting?

Spread betting is a way of speculating on financial markets that involves placing a bet on the future direction of an asset.

How to spread bet

Learn how to spread bet with our step-by-step guide, covering opening an account, choosing a market, managing your risk and more.

Spread betting risk management

Explore the risks involved in spread betting – and how to mitigate them – with this comprehensive guide.

Margin and leverage in spread betting

Margin and leverage are key benefits to spread betting, enabling you to do more with your capital. But how do they work?

Get access to 8,500+ spread betting markets from one account

Our key figures

0.1 m+
account holders*
1 .5k+
Spread betting markets
0.55 s
average execution speed
50 %
of trades executed

*StoneX retail trading live and demo accounts globally in the last 2 years.

See our spread betting costs

*For non-US equities, minimum spread is 10 bps either side of the underlying market spread. For US equities, minimum spread is 1.5c either side of the market spread.

There’s no commission to pay when you spread bet. Instead, all the costs to open and close your position are covered in the difference between the buy and sell prices (known as the spread). If you keep a daily funded bet open overnight, you’ll pay overnight funding.

Trade wherever you are, on our fast, reliable platforms

Customisable charts

16 chart types with 80+ indicators designed to help you pinpoint your next opportunity.


Award-winning platform

Our intuitive technology is designed to suit traders of all levels.


Actionable trade ideas

Our research portal highlights trade ideas using fundamental and technical analysis.


Insightful data

Receive all the latest market news and expert commentary direct from Reuters in-app.

Platforms Mobile

Exclusive trading tools

City Index provides clients with the dynamic and innovative trading tools that they can rely on to navigate volatile markets.

Performance Analytics
Performance Analytics

Performance Analytics

Your digital mentor. It’s time to understand your trading psychology, and ensure that it works for you instead of against you.
SMART Signals
SMART Signals

SMART Signals

Receive trade ideas that are based on current market conditions and tested against historical data for accuracy.
Open an account with the best spread betting provider*
  1. Apply
    for an account
  2. Fund
    using card or bank transfer
  3. Trade
    on powerful platforms
Open an account with the best spread betting provider*

More about spread betting

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Spread betting vs CFDs

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Study your portfolio

Spread betting vs investing

Decide whether spread betting or investing is better for you with our guide.
Broker
Broker

Spread betting & tax

Learn how spread betting is taxed in the UK, including CGT and income tax.

Spread betting FAQ

Is spread betting good for beginners?

If you’re entirely new to the markets, then we wouldn’t recommend leaping straight into spread betting with a live account. We have lots of resources to make sure you’re fully equipped before risking any real capital: including the City Index Academy and a free trading demo.

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What does the spread mean in trading?

In trading, the spread is the difference between the buy and sell prices quoted on a market. For instance, if the DAX has a buy price of 15,904 and a sell price of 15,900, then it has a four-point spread.

On spread betting markets, the spread also contains the cost to open and close positions. Instead of paying commission when you trade, your costs are covered by the spread.

Find out more about the spread.

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How does spread betting work?

Spread betting works by enabling you to bet on the future direction of a market. As the market moves in your chosen direction, your bet will earn a profit. If the market moves against you, your bet will earn a loss.

Say, for example, that you bet £5 per point that the FTSE 100 will rise. For every point that the FTSE goes up, your trade will make £5. For every point it falls, you’ll lose £5.

You only realise any profit or loss when you close the position. If the FTSE has moved up 100 points when you close, your profit will make you (£5 * 100 points) £500. If it has moved down 100 points, you’ll lose £500 instead.

Learn more about the ins and outs of spread betting.

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If you have more questions visit the FAQ section or start a chat with our support.