CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Ask definition

Ask has a particular significance in relation to IG's platform. Here, we define ask in general investing and explain what it means to you when trading with IG.

The ask refers to the price at which you can buy an asset or security from a seller. It can be variously referred to as ask, the ask, or asking price.

With IG

When trading with IG, the ask will be the price you need to pay in order to buy a particular asset: so we usually refer to it as the ‘buy’ price. As such, it will always be the higher of the two prices listed on our platform. If EUR/USD has a spread of 1.0443/1.0445, for example, 1.0445 would be the ask.

The opposite of the ask – the price at which you can sell an asset or security to a buyer – is referred to as the sell price, or the bid. The difference between the two is the ‘spread’.

Elsewhere

If you are trading a market that cannot be sold (like bitcoin on certain exchanges), only the ask price will be available. If you are selling an asset to another person and setting the price yourself, that will be referred to as the ask.

Once again, the opposite of the ask is the bid: or the price at which a trader is willing to buy a certain financial instrument. Trades are executed when a matching ask and bid are found.

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IG is a trading name of IG Markets Ltd and IG Markets South Africa Limited. International accounts are offered by IG Markets Limited in the UK (FCA Number 195355), a juristic representative of IG Markets South Africa Limited (FSP No 41393). South African residents are required to obtain the necessary tax clearance certificates in order to utilise their foreign investment allowance should the South African resident wish to open an offshore account with IG Markets Limited.

IG provides execution only services and enters into principal to principal transactions with its clients on IG’s prices. Such trades are not on exchange. IG Markets South Africa Limited is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 41393). Whilst IG Markets South Africa Limited is a regulated FSP, CFDs issued by IG are not regulated by the FAIS Act as they are undertaken on a principal-to-principal basis.

IG Markets South Africa Limited is an authorised over-the-counter derivative provider and is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

The information on this site is not directed at residents of the United States or Belgium or any particular country outside South Africa and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

Voted SA’s top CFD provider in Business Day Investors Monthly Annual Stockbroker Awards in 2012, best platform for Active Day Traders in 2013 and 2014, SA's best Online Broker in 2015 and 2017 and SA's best CFD provider in 2020 as well as SA's Top CFD Broker in 2021.

Ask definition

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