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We have expert reviews of the best trading platforms and brokers in the UK and if you want to trade derivatives like CFDs, or forex and stocks – our tutorials will highlight the best brokers based on criteria like trading costs, customer service and the quality of trading apps.
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CFDs
A CFD (Contract for Difference) enables the trader to speculate on currencies, stocks and other assets without paying stamp duty. Profits can be made when the price of an asset goes up OR down, making them suitable in both rising and falling markets. CFDs can also be leveraged to generate profits much larger than the actual money invested, but losses are equally leveraged. Make sure to check our list of the best CFD brokers for UK traders.Forex
Forex involves trading currencies and using differences in exchange rates to make money. The forex market is the world’s biggest and most popular asset trading market. A trader does not have to own currencies directly, but can also profit from up and down price movements through derivatives such as CFDs. Using derivatives can often be a much easier way to trade the forex market. Use our list of the best forex brokers for UK traders to find a great broker to trade with.Bitcoin
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is a brand new asset class that has seen tremendous growth and volatility since they entered the trading scene. There are many options within the cryptocurrency trading space outside of Bitcoin also, like Ethereum and hundreds of other “coins”.Stocks
Directly investing in stocks is a well-established but often slow method to grow money, where realistic returns are in the 3-7% per year range. You will also have to pay stamp duty on every investment, which makes short-term stock trading expensive. Picking stocks that pay dividends can mitigate the wait somewhat. Short-term stock trading is best done with CFDs, as stamp duty does not apply and results can be multiplied significantly due to leverage. Copy Trading
You can use copy trading to automatically copy successful traders’ actions in the markets. It’s also a great opportunity for beginners to learn from experienced traders.Day Trading
Day trading is when you invest in a financial product and then sell (close) that position before the day is over and the markets close. For some this is a way to make a living, but for that to be possible you need to make decent returns most days of the month or succeed with a few big trades. To make this possible, a day trader is most likely to use derivatives such as CFDs that make possible big gains in a short period of time due to leverage.
The Role of the FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK’s chief regulator of financial services, including those provided to retail traders.
By choosing an FCA-regulated broker, Brits can expect providers to follow strict rules governing how their funds are handled, as well as a degree of protection from high-risk financial products, though online trading will always pose a significant risk to your capital.
Chief amongst these protections is the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS):
- Investments & broker failure – If an FCA-authorised broker fails, for example due to financial difficulties, and can’t return your assets, the FSCS provides protection up to £85,000 per person, per brokerage (it doesn’t cover market losses).
- Cash deposits – From 1 December 2025, eligible cash at UK-authorised banks, building societies or credit unions is covered by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence. FCA-regulated brokers are required to hold client money at such banks, either in segregated client accounts or pooled client money accounts, and the FSCS should treat you as the beneficial owner of your share. But the £120,000 limit is shared amongst any other accounts you hold with the same banking group, including personal accounts, so larger total balances may not be fully protected. This makes it worthwhile understanding where your broker holds its bank accounts.
Other retail safeguards include that UK-regulated trading providers must not offer leverage beyond 30x (1:30) your stake, helping to protect against thumping losses, negative balance protection so you can’t lose more than you’ve deposited, and risk warnings for high-risk products like CFDs.