Copper
Copper is the third most consumed industrial metal, used in a range of manufacturing products and everyday items. Its low price point compared to silver and gold also make it an attractive metal to trade online. This copper trading tutorial covers live charts, market economics, and strategy tips. Our team have also ranked the top copper brokers:
Best Copper Brokers UK
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Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly regarded broker specialising in forex and CFDs. Serving more than 400,000 clients globally, it provides access to over 1,300 financial instruments through popular platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. Its fee structure is both low and transparent. With regulation by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, Pepperstone guarantees a safe trading environment for traders at every level.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) -
Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC xStation Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
Trade Nation is a leading FX and CFD broker regulated in the UK and Australia, among other places. The company provides competitively priced fixed and variable spreads on over 1,000 assets. Traders benefit from advanced platforms and comprehensive training materials. Additionally, the Signal Centre offers valuable trade ideas.
Instruments Regulator Platforms Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting, Cryptos (Bahamas Entity Only) FCA, ASIC, FSCA, SCB, FSA MT4 Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.1 Lots 1:500 (entity dependent) -
Fusion Markets, an online broker since 2017, operates under the regulation of ASIC, VFSC, and FSA. Renowned for offering cost-effective forex and CFD trading, it provides various account options and copy trading solutions to suit diverse trading needs. New clients can begin trading with a simple three-step registration process.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto ASIC, VFSC, FSA MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
BlackBull, a New Zealand-based CFD broker, offers a wide range of trading options across more than 26,000 instruments. Following a 2023 rebrand, it boasts a contemporary design and provides advanced trading tools along with ultra-fast execution speeds, averaging 20ms.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto FMA, FSA BlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
Founded in 1974, IG is a part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly listed brokerage (LSE: IGG). The company provides spread betting, CFD, and forex trading, offering access to over 17,000 markets. Its platforms and investing apps are notably user-friendly. Over the past 50 years, IG has consistently been an industry leader, excelling in all essential areas for traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM, JFSA Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) -
eToro, a leading multi-asset platform, provides access to trading services across thousands of CFDs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Established in 2007, it boasts millions of active traders worldwide and is sanctioned by top-tier regulators such as the FCA and CySEC. It stands out for its extensive social trading feature. Crypto investments are unstable and carry risk. Tax implications might apply. Acknowledge the risks involved. 61% of retail CFD accounts incur losses.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $50 $10 1:30
Pepperstone
XTB
Trade Nation
Fusion Markets
BlackBull Markets
IG
eToroSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the Copper are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Trade Nation | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Fusion Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| BlackBull Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| eToro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the Copper support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Trade Nation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Fusion Markets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| BlackBull Markets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| eToro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the Copper at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| XTB | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Trade Nation | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Fusion Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| BlackBull Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| eToro | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the Copper good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Support Rating | Education Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| XTB | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Trade Nation | ✔ | $0 | 0.1 Lots | ||
| Fusion Markets | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| BlackBull Markets | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IG | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| eToro | ✔ | $50 | $10 |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the Copper offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| XTB | - | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Trade Nation | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:500 (entity dependent) | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Fusion Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| BlackBull Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cTrader Automate | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| eToro | Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Copper.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| XTB | |||||||||
| Trade Nation | |||||||||
| Fusion Markets | |||||||||
| BlackBull Markets | |||||||||
| IG | |||||||||
| eToro |
Our Take On Pepperstone
"Pepperstone is a premier trading platform, providing tight spreads, swift execution, and sophisticated charting tools for seasoned traders. Beginners benefit from no minimum deposit, comprehensive learning materials, and outstanding 24/7 support."
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, delivering a streamlined and tax-efficient trading experience with sophisticated analytical tools.
- In recent years, Pepperstone has significantly enhanced the deposit and withdrawal process. By 2025, clients can use Apple Pay and Google Pay, while 2024 saw the introduction of PIX and SPEI for customers in Brazil and Mexico.
- Pepperstone offers rapid execution speeds of approximately 30ms, enabling swift order processing and execution, making it ideal for traders.
Cons
- Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.
- Pepperstone doesn't offer cTrader Copy, a favoured feature for copying trades found in the cTrader platform, which is available on other platforms such as IC Markets. However, Pepperstone has launched its own user-friendly copy trading app.
- Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
Our Take On XTB
"XTB excels for novice traders with its superb xStation platform, minimal trading costs, no required deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are fully integrated into the platform."
Pros
- XTB processes withdrawals swiftly, paying within 3 business days, subject to the method and amount.
- Setting up an XTB account is straightforward and fully online, requiring only a few minutes. This simplicity eases new traders into the world of trading.
- Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
Cons
- XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
- It is frustrating that XTB products do not allow traders to modify the default leverage level. Manually adjusting leverage can greatly reduce risk in forex and CFD trading.
- The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.
Our Take On Trade Nation
"Trade Nation is ideal for novice traders seeking diverse markets on an easy-to-use platform. It offers no minimum deposit, complimentary funding options, and robust educational resources."
Pros
- Global traders can use accounts in various currencies.
- Access a comprehensive selection of investments through leveraged CFDs, enabling both long and short strategies.
- Trade Nation, a highly regarded and well-regulated broker, was formerly known as Core Spreads.
Cons
- Reduced legal safeguards with an offshore entity.
Our Take On Fusion Markets
"Fusion Markets offers forex traders competitive pricing with minimal spreads, low commissions, and new TradingView integration. It is an excellent choice, especially for Australian traders, given its base and regulation by ASIC."
Pros
- With an average execution speed of approximately 37 milliseconds, traders can secure optimal prices more effectively, outpacing many competitors in rapidly changing markets.
- Fusion Markets consistently impresses traders with its competitive pricing, featuring tight spreads and lower-than-average commissions. These cost-effective options are particularly attractive to those engaging in frequent trading.
- Fusion Markets provides algo traders with a sponsored VPS and offers a 25% discount for choosing the NYC Servers VPS for MT4 or cTrader.
Cons
- Fusion Market falls short compared to competitors like IG in education, offering few guides and live video sessions for enhancing trader skills.
- Unlike AvaTrade, there is no specialised trading platform or app tailored for beginners, which is a significant disadvantage.
- Traders from outside Australia need to register with loosely regulated international firms that offer limited protection, lacking both safeguards and negative balance protection.
Our Take On BlackBull Markets
"Following the upgrade to Equinix servers in New York, London, and Tokyo, BlackBull has reduced latency, making it a clear choice for stock CFD trading using ECN pricing."
Pros
- BlackBulls's research excels, particularly in the daily 'Trading Opportunities' articles. These publications simplify complex market dynamics into clear insights, enabling traders to effectively capitalise on emerging trends.
- BlackBull provides everything a trader needs: execution speeds under 100ms, leverage as high as 1:500, and competitive spreads starting at 0.0 pips.
- After collaborating with ZuluTrade and Myfxbook, upgrading its CopyTrader, and activating cTrader Copy, BlackBull provides an exceptionally thorough trading experience.
Cons
- Despite an expanding range of over 26,000 assets, including new additions to Asia Pacific indices, their offerings are primarily equities. The selection of currency pairs and indices remains average.
- Unlike many leading brokers, BlackBull imposes a bothersome $5 fee for withdrawals. This charge can reduce the overall cost-effectiveness, particularly for traders who regularly transfer funds.
- BlackBull does not offer its own trading platform, instead utilising MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView. Although these platforms are highly regarded, some brokers, such as eToro, provide proprietary platforms with distinct features that cater well to novice traders.
Our Take On IG
"IG offers a complete package with an intuitive online platform, top-tier beginner education, advanced charting tools through its TradingView integration, real-time data, and swift execution for seasoned traders."
Pros
- The web-based platform supports traders at every level, offering advanced charting tools and real-time market data vital for trading. Additionally, IG now includes TradingView integration.
- IG stands out with its extensive range of instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it has recently introduced US-listed futures and options, along with an AI Index. These options enhance opportunities for diversification in trading.
- The IG app provides an excellent mobile trading experience with an intuitive design, earning it the Runner Up position in our 'Best Trading App' award.
Cons
- Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
- IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 after two years, discouraging occasional traders.
- In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
Our Take On eToro
"eToro's social trading platform excels with its outstanding user experience and lively community chat, aiding beginners in spotting opportunities. It offers competitive fees on numerous CFDs and real stocks, alongside exceptional rewards for seasoned strategists."
Pros
- Leading traders participating in the broker's Popular Investor Programme can earn yearly compensation of up to 1.5% of the copied assets.
- eToro has enhanced its investment portfolio by frequently introducing new crypto assets. It currently offers a selection of over 100 digital currencies.
- The trading app provides a top-tier social environment featuring an engaging feed and community chat, which we enjoy using.
Cons
- There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.
- The only significant contact option, besides the in-platform live chat, is limited.
- The minimum withdrawal is set at $30, accompanied by a $5 fee. This may impact traders with limited funds, particularly those just starting out.
Copper Trading Basics
Copper was the first metal used by humans thousands of years ago. Today, its use cases span building construction, electric generators, wiring in cars, appliances, and computers, plus jewellery like belt buckles. As the best non-precious metal conductor of electricity, the global telecommunication network depends heavily on the soft metal.
The global copper market was valued at $291 billion in 2021, with forecasts that it will grow to $447 billion by 2030. The largest market share is held by the Asia-Pacific region with around 67%. This is driven predominantly by consumption in China.
The largest copper companies in the world include Glencore, BHP Biliton and LS-Nikko Co. Having said this, the largest copper mining company by production is Codelco, a Chilean-owned firm. The company produced around 1.7 million metric tonnes of the commodity in 2021.
Importantly for traders, a copper deficit may be a prominent issue across global markets throughout 2025 and beyond, fuelled by challenging supply issues in South America alongside increased demand. Chile produces the most copper in the world, accounting for 27% of the global supply. However, it reported a 7% decrease in volumes for 2022. This, alongside protests and political unrest in Peru (another major producer), has resulted in further declines in supply.
Price Chart
Note, the trading symbol for copper may vary between online brokers.
What Influences The Price Of Copper?
Economic Health
The copper trading price is largely influenced by the health of the global economy due to its use in nearly all sectors, including construction, electronics, heating, and electricity. Some even refer to the commodity as ‘Dr Copper’. If the economy experiences growth, the price of copper typically rises due to increased demand.
Given the large demand for copper in China, the price of the commodity is particularly linked to the country’s economy. For example, prices saw an uptick in early 2023 as China came out of tough lockdown measures following the COVID-19 pandemic, though this subsided somewhat as fear in the banking sector spread to other asset classes.
Supply & Demand
Any changes in production volumes can have a significant impact on the availability of copper and therefore market prices. This includes any political and environmental issues in copper-producing regions.
For example, there was a spike in the price of the commodity following the 2015 earthquake in Chile, the world’s largest supplier. More recently, Peru has been rocked with political and civil unrest leading to Glencore, one of the largest global natural resource companies, suspending its mining operations in a key location in January 2023.
China
Changes in key markets will have a strong influence on the lb copper price. Again, Chinese demand will continue to play a pivotal role in the price of copper.
The country is undertaking several initiatives, which are likely to increase their demand for the metal. This includes upgrading to higher efficiency vehicles, green manufacturing activities, and the concept of ‘smart factories’.
How To Trade Copper
The best copper trading brokers offer several investing vehicles:
CFDs
One of the most popular ways to trade copper is via CFDs. Contracts for difference are an agreement between two parties (trader and broker) to exchange the price difference of copper between the entry and exit points. CFDs allow retail investors to try and profit from both upward or downward price movements.
Margin trading can also be used to amplify position sizes. Admiral Markets, for example, offers copper CFDs with leverage of 1:10, meaning you can borrow 10x more than you put down.
Note that when trading CFDs, you do not own the underlying asset, in this case, copper. Margin requirements may also vary between platforms.
Stocks
Another way to gain exposure to copper trading is by purchasing stocks in companies involved in the industry.
This could include organisations involved in the production and exploration of the metal such as Southern Copper Corp and Taseko Mines Ltd. Alternatively, Antofagasta is the UK’s largest copper mining company which trades on the FTSE 100.
Futures
Investors can trade copper futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the London Metal Exchange (LME), and the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX). With this type of contract, you speculate on the price of the commodity at a set date and time in the future.
The London Metal Exchange, for example, offers trading on Copper A Grade futures with prices quoted in dollars per tonne with sizes of 25 tonnes.
ETFs
An ETF is another investment product offered by online brokers. Exchange-traded funds are typically structured to mirror a specific market segment. You can directly trade funds that contain metal-producing companies or gain exposure to copper alongside a basket of other assets, including additional metals.
Popular ETFs include the iPath Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total and the United States Copper Index Fund (CPER).
Spot Market
Spot trading copper involves purchasing or selling the commodity at the current market price.
Also sometimes available with leverage, IG Index for instance, offers copper spot trading with a minimum size of 0.25 and leverage up to 1:10.
Comparing Copper Trading Brokers
Consider the following factors when doing a comparison of the best copper brokers:
Assets & Vehicles
How can you trade copper? Does the broker offer CFDs, futures, spread bets, plus suitable stocks and ETFs? Also consider access to other assets so you can build a diverse trading portfolio, such as cryptos.
Interactive Brokers, for example, offer copper futures on the London Metal Exchange alongside OTC contracts on aluminium, lead, tin, nickel, and zinc. The platform also offers thousands of stocks and forex instruments.
Fees
Tight spreads and no/low commission copper trading brokers should rank highly. Also check for any non-trading costs, such as deposit/withdrawal charges and account maintenance fees.
CMC Markets, for example, offers copper trading with a 0.2 minimum spread, no minimum deposit, and zero deposit fees. The minimum order size is 200.
Resources
The best copper trading brokers will offer expert analysis. XTB, for example, offers regular market reports and insights on copper trading economics and fundamentals.
Also look for educational content and materials that cover investing basics and popular trading strategies. Many leading firms also offer copy trading tools, allowing users to mirror the trades of other investors.
XTB Market News – Copper Prices
Trading Platform
Brokers that offer copper trading may provide a range of platform options, including proprietary terminals, mobile apps, and third-party tools like TradingView. Look for custom copper trading charts and graphs, price history, signals, alerts, watchlists, and news streams.
Tip: a demo account is a good way to test a broker’s platform and app before investing money.
Regulation
Leading copper trading brokers in the UK will be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulator requires that client funds are held separately from business money and that negative balance protection is provided for retail traders, amongst other safety features.
IG Index, for example, is authorised by the FCA and offers various copper instruments, including futures and ETFs.
Trading Hours
Copper trading hours will depend on the opening times of the metal exchange and online brokerage.
The London Metal Exchange is open Monday to Friday from 01:00 to 19:00 GMT. There is no pre-market trading or after-hours trading, and there is no closure for lunch. XTB offers copper CFDs from 08:30 to 19:30 GMT.
Bottom Line On Trading Copper
Copper is the third-most used industrial metal. Its application spreads across almost every sector and its value is affected by multiple factors, including global economic health, demand and supply in producing regions, plus large quantity consuming countries like China. The variety of vehicles also means investors can adopt both short and long-term copper trading strategies.
To start trading online, see our list of the best copper brokers and platforms.
FAQ
How Can I Invest In Copper?
There are several ways to invest in copper including via futures, contracts for difference (CFDs), exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and stocks of companies involved in the mining/production, distribution and use of the soft metal. The best copper trading brokers offer a choice of vehicles and services to suit different trading timeframes and strategies.
What Are The Major Copper Trading Markets?
The main copper trading markets are the London Metal Exchange (LME), the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX).
The largest miners and producers of copper include Chile, Peru, Congo, China and the US. The largest consumers of the soft metal are China, the US and Europe.
What Are The Best Copper Stocks?
Popular copper stocks include Lundin Mining Corp (Canadian), Glencore (Swiss), BHP Biliton (Australian) and LS-Nikko Co (South Korean). These companies are all major players in the mining, production and distribution of copper. Many of these firms also have operations in other metals.
What Are The LME Copper Trading Hours?
The London Metal Exchange (LME) opening times are Monday to Friday from 01:00 to 19:00 GMT. Note, copper brokers and platforms may set their own trading times. IG Index, for instance, offers online copper trading Monday to Friday from 02:02 to 18:59 GMT.
Is Copper Worth Buying?
Copper has several characteristics that make it popular with an intraday trading strategy and longer-term investing approach. Firstly, commodities like copper are often seen as a ‘safe bet’ during times of economic uncertainty and market turbulence. Copper tends to maintain its value due to the relative stability of supply and demand.
The value of copper also tends to follow the global economy due to its applications in almost all sectors. It is also playing a key role in renewable technology and the move away from fossil fuels, which helped drive up prices in 2023. Similarly, if the construction industry or housing market is booming, the price of copper tends to rise.
Which Is The Best Copper Trading Broker?
There are several top-rated copper trading brokers in the UK, including Pepperstone, XTB and CMC Markets. These platforms are all FCA-regulated, offer tight spreads and/or low commissions, plus leverage up to 1:10 on copper. Alternatively, see our full list of copper trading brokers.