It is true that bonds are supposed to be a fail-safe type of investment, but the truth is that a bond investment is just like any other investment: they are not fail-proof and it is possible to lose money and to lose it big in bond investments. Just ask investors who put money in some of the bankrupt governments or banks in the Eurozone and they can tell you better how they are still trying to save what is left of their fingers after getting them burnt.
Exactly how do losses occur in the bond market and how can investors prevent themselves from losing money investing in bonds? Here are a few tips to serve as a guide.
Bond Trading Brokers UK
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Our picks at a glance
- 1 Spreadex Top score: Mobile 4.5 Info Visit Spreadex
- 2 Interactive Brokers Top score: Trust 4.6 Info Visit Interactive Brokers
- 3 IG Top score: Fees 4.5 Info Visit IG
- 4 Trade Nation Top score: Support 4.4 Info Visit Trade Nation
- 5 Vantage Top score: Trust 4.7 Info Visit Vantage
- 6 CMC Markets Top score: Trust 4.7 Info Visit CMC Markets
- 7 ActivTrades Top score: Mobile 3.4 Info Visit ActivTrades
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Our top pick
Spreadex provides spread betting and CFDs on over 19 global bonds and interest rates, such as Japanese Government Bonds and Euribor futures. With spreads starting at 2, traders access leverage up to 1:30. Both novices and experienced traders can enhance their strategies using the platform's top-tier features, which include integrated macroeconomic data and advanced order options.
- Instruments
- Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting
- Regulator
- FCA
- Platforms
- Spreadex Platform, TradingView, AutoChartist
- Min. Deposit
- £0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods)
- Min. Trade
- £0.01
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail), 1:200 (Pro)
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Interactive Brokers remains a leading bond broker, offering an impressive range of over 1 million products. The firm's Bond Search tool efficiently filters through popular treasuries, notes, and niche municipal securities. Their commission rates are competitive, beginning at 0.2 basis points for the initial $1 million of face value.
- Instruments
- Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs
- Regulator
- SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS
- Platforms
- Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Min. Trade
- $1
- Leverage
- 1:30
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IG consistently ranks in the top 5 for its versatile bond offerings. Traders have the opportunity to invest in global bond futures and ETFs through CFDs, share dealing, or spread betting, all with competitive spreads starting from just 1 point. For those more serious about trading, correlated interest rate products are available, alongside extra investment perks like dividend coupons.
- Instruments
- CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only)
- Regulator
- CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA, CONSOB
- Platforms
- Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Min. Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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Trade Nation provides a selection of well-known bond futures through its exclusive TN Trader platform. With a leverage ratio of 1:5, low fixed spreads, and no required minimum deposit, Trade Nation is an excellent choice for novice traders keen to enter the bond market with ease. The platform also features robust analysis tools, such as a signal centre, to identify market opportunities effectively.
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Min. Trade
- 0.1 Lots
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail), 1:200 (Pro)
73.8% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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Accessible on both MT4 and MT5 platforms, Vantage's bond offerings span various government and corporate markets. Traders can engage with just 1 lot and speculate on fluctuating prices. A comprehensive selection of educational resources and market analysis tools is also available for those aiming to enhance their short-term trading strategies.
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Spread betting
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC, CIMA
- Platforms
- ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
- Min. Deposit
- $50
- Min. Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Leverage
- 1:30
72.65% of accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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CMC Markets provides a superb range of over 50 government bonds and interest rate products, with spreads starting at just 1 point. Traders can enhance their strategies using the company's unique market insights and pattern recognition tools. Additionally, those trading in large volumes can benefit from spread discounts of up to 21% on treasuries through the CMC Price+ programme.
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting, Certificates and Warrants (Germany and Austria)
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA
- Platforms
- Web, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Min. Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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ActivTrades provides access to six bonds, such as the US Treasury Bond and Euro Bund, with competitive spreads starting at 0.5 pips. Its real strength lies in swift and efficient order execution, catering perfectly to active traders.
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Futures
- Regulator
- FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC, BACEN, CVM, CONSOB
- Platforms
- ActivTrades, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Min. Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Leverage
- 1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
Compare
Safety Comparison
Compare how safe the How Not to Lose Money in Bonds are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
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4.0 | ||||
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4.7 | ||||
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4.4 | ||||
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4.3 | ||||
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4.6 | ||||
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4.8 | ||||
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3.5 |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the How Not to Lose Money in Bonds support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
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Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the How Not to Lose Money in Bonds at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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iOS & Android | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.3 | 4.5 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.6 | 4.0 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
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iOS & Android | 3.6 | 3.9 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.1 | 3.7 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.9 | 3.8 |
Beginners Comparison
Are the How Not to Lose Money in Bonds 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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£0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) | £0.01 | 4.3 | 4.0 | |
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$0 | $1 | 3.0 | 4.3 | |
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$0 | 0.01 Lots | 4.5 | 4.8 | |
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$0 | 0.1 Lots | 4.9 | 4.2 | |
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$50 | 0.01 Lots | 4.4 | 4.0 | |
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$0 | 0.01 Lots | 4.5 | 4.3 | |
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$0 | 0.01 Lots | 3.5 | 3.0 |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the How Not to Lose Money in Bonds offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1:30 (Retail), 1:200 (Pro) | ||||||
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TWS API | 1:30 | |||||
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | |||||
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | 1:30 (Retail), 1:200 (Pro) | |||||
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Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | 1:30 | |||||
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | |||||
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Yes (APIs), Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | 1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro) |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the How Not to Lose Money in Bonds.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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4.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
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4.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
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4.4 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
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4.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
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4.6 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
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4.8 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
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3.5 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
Our Take On Spreadex
Spreadex attracts UK traders keen on spread betting in financial markets and traditional sports wagers. It offers low fees for short trades, and spread bet profits are tax-free. With a robust charting platform and no minimum deposit, it's easy to begin.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- Spreadex has integrated Autochartist-powered trading signals into its desktop platform. This offers real-time, pattern-based insights aimed at assisting active traders in spotting potential opportunities.
- During live trials near London, Spreadex exhibited 120–200ms round-trip latency across over 50 FTSE and EUR/USD trades. There were no requotes, and slippage remained largely controlled under normal market conditions.
- Over 10,000 instruments and superior access to AIM small-caps are available, including exclusive offerings not found with larger brokers. This provides UK-centric traders with enhanced opportunities in niche small-cap configurations.
Cons
- Spreadex requires real funds initially, offering no demo accounts. Few spread betting brokers neglect to accommodate new traders in this manner.
- CFDs, financial spread bets, sports, and casino activities are combined in one account balance. For serious traders, this means non-trading losses can immediately decrease the margin for trading positions.
- Execution is satisfactory, though not top-tier. Tests showed 0.2–0.4 pip slippage in stable liquid markets, but news-induced volatility increased some fills to around 1 pip. Thinner AIM stocks often experienced 2–4 point slippage.
Our Take On Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers ranks highly for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, live data, and bespoke layouts via the new IBKR Desktop app. Its competitive pricing and sophisticated order choices appeal to traders, and its wide equity options are industry-leading.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account.
- Interactive Brokers has introduced a single platform linking prediction markets on Kalshi, CME Group, and ForecastEx. Users can trade yes/no contracts on political, economic, and climate events, with fixed $1 payouts. Enjoy 24/6 market access and earn interest on eligible positions.
- The TWS platform is tailored for intermediate and advanced traders, featuring over 100 order types and a dependable real-time market data feed with exceptional uptime.
Cons
- TWS has a steep learning curve, making it difficult for newcomers to navigate and grasp its features.
- IBKR offers a variety of research tools, but their inconsistent placement across trading platforms and the 'Account Management' webpage creates a confusing experience for users.
- Support can be sluggish and frustrating. Tests reveal that you may face challenges reaching customer service quickly, which could result in delays in issue resolution.
Our Take On IG
IG offers a complete package: an easy-to-use web platform, top-tier beginner education, enhanced charting via TradingView, up-to-date data, and strong trade execution for seasoned traders.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- IG excels with its diverse instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it provides US-listed futures, options, and an AI Index, ensuring varied diversification opportunities.
- IG plans to broaden its offering with prediction markets on politics, sport and entertainment in the UK, subject to a gambling licence, with further regions potentially to follow.
- IG secured a crypto asset license from the FCA, enabling its return to the UK market. It now offers buying, selling, and storage services for over 55 digital tokens with fees starting at 1.49%, all under FCA regulation.
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 has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
- IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 to $18 after two years, discouraging occasional investors.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Our Take On Trade Nation
Trade Nation caters to discretionary traders aiming to speculate on major indices like the US 500 or liquid FX pairs, with the certainty of fixed spreads. Our tests revealed the TN Trader's fixed spreads to be advantageous, especially during economic announcements, thanks to its dependable charting and capped spreads.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- Trade Nation's 2026 alliance with Volt has streamlined payments for Australian traders, enabling instant deposits and withdrawals via PayID. Faster payout features are also anticipated for UK and EU clients.
- The broker expanded into Europe after receiving CMVM approval in Portugal, enhancing protections for European clients.
- During tests of the TN Trader account in standard market conditions, fixed spreads remained stable. Major forex pairs experienced prompt order fills, albeit with slight entry level drift as prices fluctuated between click and execution.
Cons
- Offshore SCB and FSA firms offer retail investors leverage up to 1:200 and 1:500. In contrast, regions like the UK, Europe, and Australia cap leverage at 1:30. Thus, an FSA client can access 16 times more exposure than a UK retail client on identical trades. However, this comes with reduced oversight and no compensation schemes.
- The FCA, CMVM, and ASIC clients are ineligible for the 2–20% rebate scheme. Consequently, active traders in these areas cannot receive transaction rebates.
- There is no raw or ECN pricing tier, often favoured by traders. Regardless of your deposit or trading volume, you receive the same fixed (or variable on MT4) pricing as novices, rendering it particularly unsuitable for scalpers.
73.8% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Our Take On Vantage
Vantage is an ideal choice for CFD traders looking for a well-regulated broker with access to the dependable MetaTrader platforms. With a swift sign-up process and a minimum deposit of $50, starting trading is simple and fast.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- Vantage upholds a high trust score through its solid reputation, backed by premier regulation from the FCA and ASIC.
- In 2026, the app was enhanced to provide comprehensive asset visibility, consolidating balances from Contract, Copy, and Funding accounts onto a single screen.
- Vantage has enhanced its trading tools for experienced traders, introducing AutoFibo EA to pinpoint potential market reversals.
Cons
- It's unfortunate that some clients must register with the offshore firm, which provides reduced regulatory safeguards.
- To access optimal trading conditions, a substantial deposit of $10,000 is required. This includes a commission of $1.50 per transaction per side.
- Based on tests, average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower compared to other options.
72.65% of accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Our Take On CMC Markets
Equipped with advanced charts and a broad array of tradable CFDs, including an unmatched selection of currencies and bespoke indices, CMC Markets offers an excellent online platform for traders at any level.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- The CMC web platform offers an excellent user experience, featuring advanced trading chart tools and customisable options, suitable for both novice and seasoned traders. It also supports MT4, MT5, and, from 2025, TradingView.
- CMC Markets has introduced an AI News feature. This leverages AI to highlight and summarise market stories instead of executing trades, suggesting the future direction of broker research tools.
- We upgraded its 'Assets & Markets' rating due to frequent product expansions in 2025 and 2026. These include extended hours for 5,000+ US stocks and ETFs, new share CFDs, certificates, warrants, and fractional shares in certain areas.
Cons
- Although there have been improvements, the online platform still needs further refinement to match the user-friendly trading experience offered by competitors such as IG.
- A £15 monthly inactivity fee applies after a year of no activity, possibly discouraging casual investors.
- The CMC Markets app provides a comprehensive trading package; however, its design and user experience lag behind market leaders such as eToro.
69% of retail CFD accounts lose money when trading with this provider.
Our Take On ActivTrades
ActivTrades stands out for traders at every level, offering nearly unparalleled execution speeds of 4ms. Choose from top-tier trading software like MT4, MT5, TradingView, or the user-friendly ActivTrader, perfect for budding traders.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- ActivTrades provides competitive spreads, especially for forex trading, starting at 0.5 pips on major currency pairs without extra commissions. Additionally, the €/£10 inactivity fee is only applied after 52 weeks, benefiting active traders.
- While cTrader isn't supported, MT4, MT5, TradingView, and the broker's ActivTrader platform accommodate various trading requirements. The firm's web-based platform has proven user-friendly and visually appealing for novices during testing.
- ActivTrades is a reputable firm with over 20 years in the financial sector. It holds authorizations from three top-tier regulatory bodies, according to DayTrading.com's Regulation & Trust Rating. For UK traders, it offers enhanced protection with £1 million in investor compensation, surpassing the £85,000 provided by the FSCS, should the firm face insolvency.
Cons
- The platform lacks features for copy or social trading, which is a disadvantage for traders interested in passive investing or replicating the trades of seasoned traders. This is particularly evident when compared to eToro and Vantage.
- The selection of over 1,000 markets includes forex, commodities, indices, and ETFs. However, the overall choice of asset classes is limited, with no stocks available outside the US, UK, and Europe. In comparison, BlackBull provides access to more than 26,000 markets.
- Its research tools are decent, although somewhat lacking. The expanding 'Analysis' hub is useful, but the absence of Trading Central or Autochartist means advanced technical insights are missing. This limitation may hinder traders seeking to spot opportunities in volatile markets.
Tips to Avoid Losing Money Investing in Bonds:
Tip No. 1: Never put all your faith in the credit rating agencies.
Did you know that Standard & Poor’s, one of the top-notch credit rating agencies, had Lehman Brothers still rated as Triple A just a month before the cards came crashing down at that company, triggering the 2008 global financial crisis? Or that AIG was still carrying its top credit rating at the time that the US Government stepped in with an 11th hour bailout that prevented what would have been a monumental catastrophe in the global financial system? Indeed, some of those subprime mortgages were all carrying AAA credit rating status at the time they all collapsed one by one.
The 2008 global financial crisis and the antecedents that led to it are a clear example of how unrestrained belief in the credit rating system can mislead investors. The aftermath of the global financial crisis in which the same credit rating agencies are still in business without any sort of punitive action taken against them for misleading investors, is another reason why every bond investor must perform his or her own due diligence before investing in any government, municipal or corporate bonds. If you are careless about this fact and lose money, chances are that the credit rating agencies will not give you your money back. So protect yourself before anything goes wrong.
Tip No. 2: Do some due diligence on the borrower
A bond issuer is a borrower, and just like any other borrower, you must be sure of the entity’s ability to pay you back your money. The problem with bonds is that the borrower or bond issuer is not depositing any collateral for your money. You are basically relying on the word of the bond issuer to pay you back based on the terms represented on your certificate. You cannot afford in these circumstances not to conduct some checks on the credit worthiness of the bond issuer to know if you have a good chance of getting your money back. For instance, supposing a company A is issuing a bond in order to clear debts at a time it has an overbloated overhead bill, and another company B is issuing a bond to expand a business operation which is profitable, which of the two companies would be more likely to pay back if conditions do not change? The answer should be pretty obvious.
Tip No. 3: Beware of Inflation
You need to be wary about investing in sovereign debts of countries that do not have a structured and institutionalized plan for dealing with inflation. Once a fixed-return bond is purchased and the interest payment is set, there is no way of changing this interest. So if the rate of inflation starts to rise and outstrips the interest payment on the bond, the bond is a loser. So only by a fixed-return bond in a situation where the inflationary rate is not subject to northward movements.
Tip No. 4: Hold Your Bonds to Maturity
This seems to be an area where many retail investors get it wrong. The investment disclaimer that advises investors to only “trade with money that they can lose” holds very true in the bond markets. A modification of this disclaimer would be to advise potential bond buyers not to use money that they require for essential expenditure for bond investments, so that they can actually leave any bond investments to mature. Allowing the bond to mature before selling is the only way that all interest payments plus the principal is obtained in full. Bond prices are subject to change, and selling a bond prematurely will lead to loss of money because such bonds end up being sold for a lesser price than they were bought.
Tip No. 5: Never invest in corporate bonds from the same sector
When investing in corporate bonds, it is always better to spread the risk by investing in bonds in different sectors. Never hold on to bonds in the same sector, so that a sectorial collapse doesn’t ruin your investment. You can imagine the fate of some investors who put all their bond investments in the housing market or subprime mortgage market in the US when the bubble popped.
Tip No. 6: Diversify your portfolio
This is a spin-off from the point mentioned above. There is wisdom in spreading your bond investments to cover different maturity dates, according to your circumstances or stage in life. For instance, a younger person may wish to invest in a 10 year bond for the education of his or her kids, a five year bond and a short-term bond. Those who are near retirement are obviously not going to benefit from a long term bond which is more risky anyway, so shorter term bonds may be more appropriate for this age group.
You can see from all the tips presented above that bond investments require vigilance and smart thinking on the part of the investor in order to safeguard them and not to lose money. When these tips are followed to the letter, the chances of losing money on a bond investment are far reduced.