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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 CFD provider.1
Start trading today. Call +44 (20) 7633 5430, or email sales.en@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. We’re here 24/5.
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 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 major indices, shares and FX with daily or weekly, monthly and quarterly options.
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 options trading strategies using a variety of of US-listed options, or by pairing options trades with CFDs
Trade on volatility itself
Take a position on rising, falling and even flat markets all over the world
Ways to trade options with us
Trade listed options or use CFDs on our award-winning trading platform.2
| US-listed options and futures | CFDs | |
| 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 | CFDs are the buying and selling of contracts for difference. They 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 | Long call options: loss is limited to debit paid Short call options: loss is unlimited Long put: loss is limited to the premium paid Short put: maximum loss is the strike price x 100, less the initial credit received from selling the put |
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. |
| Accessible to | All clients | All clients |
| Traded in | $-denominated contracts | Contracts |
| Tax | Tax-deductible losses are useful for hedging3 | Tax-deductible losses are useful for hedging3 |
| Tax status | No stamp duty. In some countries, losses can be offset as a tax deduction.3 US tax may also apply | No stamp duty. In some countries, losses can be offset as a tax deduction3 |
| Commission | From $0.85 to open and $0 to close. Commissions capped at $10 per leg | 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
Choose the option to suit you from our daily, or weekly, monthly and quarterly timeframes.
Listed options or over-the-counter options
Leveraged or non-leveraged exposure with more access to options strategies
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. Trade up to three quarters ahead, with your risk limited to your opening payment (when buying)
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
Daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly options
Daily, for a low-cost, highly-leveraged way to trade intraday and longer expiries, well-suited to traditional trading strategies
No overnight funding
Pay less for long-term positions, thanks to zero overnight funding
Increased opportunity
Find opportunity on a broad range of market conditions – even flat markets
Greater control
Develop simple or complex options strategies for greater control over your trading
Go long, short or non-directional
Speculate based on your bullish or bearish stance, or use options strategies for a neutral market assumption
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 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
We have over 45 years of experience offering a truly market-leading service
*IG Group’s total markets
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 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
We have over 45 years of experience offering a truly market-leading service
*IG Group’s total markets
Trade options on the world’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.
Open an account today
1 Based on revenue (published financial statements, August 2024).
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 jurisdictions.
Contact us
New clients: +44 (20) 7633 5430 or email sales.en@ig.com
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