News Trading
News trading uses analysis of economic reports and events to predict market prices. Using the news for trading is a versatile strategy that can be applied to all market types, though specific events to look out for will vary between assets.
Whether you’re considering news trading forex, stocks or oil, read our guide to find out how you can benefit from today’s wealth of news sources to predict prices. We’ll walk through an example news trading strategy, as well as explaining how you can use algorithmic bots to capitalise on the release of economic data.
Trading Brokers
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Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly esteemed forex and CFD broker with more than 830,000 clients globally. It provides access to 1,400+ instruments via platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, with competitive and clear fees. Regulated by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, it guarantees a safe trading environment for all traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, CMA, SCB Pepperstone Trading Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist 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 TN Trader, MT4, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.1 Lots 1:30 -
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) stands as a leading brokerage, offering access to 170+ markets in 40 nations alongside extensive investment services. With 40+ years in finance, this Nasdaq-listed entity complies with regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, ensuring global trustworthiness in trading.
Instruments Regulator Platforms Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 $100 1:30 -
Eightcap, an acclaimed broker regulated by the FCA, offers exceptionally low trading costs. Recognised as the top-rated brand by TradingView's vast user base of 100 million, traders can directly access the platform. UK traders can open a live account with a minimum deposit of just £100.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA MT4, MT5, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage £100 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
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 CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) -
Established in 2001, FOREX.com is a division of StoneX, a global financial entity catering to over a million clients. It is regulated across the US, UK, EU, Australia, and other regions. The broker offers diverse markets beyond forex and delivers competitive pricing on advanced platforms.
Instruments Regulator Platforms Forex, CFDs, Stock CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA, CMA WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $100 0.01 Lots 1:30
Pepperstone
XTB
Trade Nation
Interactive Brokers
Eightcap
IG
Forex.comSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the News Trading 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 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Forex.com | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the News Trading 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 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Forex.com | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the News Trading 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 | ✘ | ||
| Interactive Brokers | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Eightcap | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Forex.com | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the News Trading 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 | ||
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | $0 | $100 | ||
| Eightcap | ✔ | £100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IG | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Forex.com | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the News Trading 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 | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | Capitalise.ai, TWS API | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Eightcap | TradingView Bots | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Forex.com | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the News Trading.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| XTB | |||||||||
| Trade Nation | |||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | |||||||||
| Eightcap | |||||||||
| IG | |||||||||
| Forex.com |
Our Take On Pepperstone
"Pepperstone excels in trading with tight spreads, swift execution, and advanced charting for seasoned traders. Beginners enjoy zero minimum deposit, comprehensive educational materials, and outstanding 24/5 support, including 18-hour weekend assistance."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- 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.
- Provides a specialised CopyTrading app for traders preferring a passive investment strategy.
- Recognised customer support is accessible through phone, email, or live chat, with response times under five minutes. Service agents are friendly and well-versed in products and trading tools.
Cons
- Overnight holding fees exceed those of some Market Maker brokers (typically Benchmark + 2.5%). Pepperstone suits traders and forex scalpers well but is less ideal for swing traders who keep positions open overnight.
- Provides limited internal market analysis and collaborates with third-party firms like Autochartist to address this. This issue is minor, given the abundance of other sources offering comprehensive market insights.
- Execution might not appear as dependable in rapid markets as headline speeds imply. Our tests showed swift execution at targeted prices. However, community feedback highlights concerns over slippage, stop-loss fills, and order triggers sensitive to spreads amid volatility.
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."William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- XTB has raised interest rates on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs (for ETFs and real shares, or 0.2% on trades over €100k) for UK clients, offering access to a wide array of markets.
- Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
- XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
Cons
- The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
- Trading fees are competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads of about 1 pip. However, they are not as low as the most affordable brokers, such as IC Markets. Additionally, an inactivity fee applies after a year.
- 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.
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."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Global traders can use accounts in various currencies.
- Beginners benefit from a modest initial deposit.
- TradingView can now link with Trade Nation accounts, offering enhanced multi-chart features and direct trade execution capabilities.
Cons
- Reduced legal safeguards with an offshore entity.
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
- The new IBKR Desktop platform combines the top features of TWS with customised tools such as Option Lattice and MultiSort Screeners, providing an impressive trading experience for traders of all skill levels.
- Interactive Brokers has introduced ForecastTrader, a distinctive zero-commission offering. Users trade yes/no Forecast Contracts on political, economic, and climate events with fixed $1 payouts per contract. Benefit from 24/6 market access and earn up to 3.14% APY on held 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
- 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.
- In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8m by the US OFAC for operating in sanctioned areas. That same year, FINRA imposed a $125k fine for lapses in municipal bond disclosure.
- You are limited to a single active session per account, meaning you cannot use both your desktop programme and mobile app at the same time. This restriction can occasionally lead to a frustrating experience for traders.
Our Take On Eightcap
"Eightcap excels for traders, offering diverse charting platforms, educational Labs, and AI tools. With over 120 crypto CFDs, it stands out in crypto trading and has won our 'Best Crypto Broker' award twice consecutively."William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- In 2026, Eightcap integrated TradeLocker in select areas, establishing itself as the premier regulated broker for this platform. It continues to offer ultra-fast execution and competitive fees for active traders using the charting software.
- In 2021, Eightcap enhanced its lineup, now providing an extensive range of cryptocurrency CFDs. It offers crypto/fiat and crypto/crypto pairs, along with crypto indices for comprehensive market exposure.
- Eightcap excels with a suite of advanced trading tools, such as MT4 and MT5, and has recently joined the 100-million-user social trading network, TradingView.
Cons
- Despite the growing range of tools available, Eightcap lacks popular industry resources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. These provide advanced charting analytics, live news, and essential market insights for traders focused on short-term strategies.
- Eightcap must enhance its range of over 800 instruments to rival top competitors like Blackbull Markets, which offers 26,000+ assets, especially improving its limited commodities selection.
- Despite a helpful array of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap lags behind IG's extensive resources for aspiring traders. IG boasts a dedicated Academy app and features 18 diverse course categories.
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 provides a wide range of professional and engaging educational materials, such as webinars, articles, and analyses, tailored for traders.
- 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.
- 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.
Cons
- Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.
- IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
- In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
Our Take On Forex.com
"FOREX.com excels in serving traders of all levels, offering more than 80 currency pairs, spreads starting at 0.0 pips, and competitive commissions. Its robust charting platforms provide over 100 technical indicators and comprehensive research tools."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- With more than two decades of expertise, strong regulatory governance, and numerous accolades, including a second-place finish in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com is globally renowned as a reliable trading platform.
- An abundance of educational resources is available, such as tutorials, webinars, and an extensive YouTube channel, designed to enhance your understanding of financial markets.
- FOREX.com provides top-tier forex rates beginning at 0.0 pips, along with attractive cashback rebates up to 15% for dedicated traders.
Cons
- US clients are not protected against negative balances, which means you could end up owing more than your initial deposit.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform provides around 600 instruments, a notable reduction compared to the more than 5,500 options on its other platforms.
- Demo accounts are typically limited to 90 days, hindering effective strategy testing.
What Is News Trading?
Trading on the news is based on analysis of economic news and events, unlike technical analysis which uses charts and indicators to predict patterns. However, technical analysis can be used in combination with news-driven trading to confirm any predicted trends. News trading involves reacting to events that are both scheduled and unscheduled.
Scheduled news trading uses reports from recurring or one-off events with predictable timings, such as company announcements or general elections. Day traders take advantage of the volatility that often surrounds stocks just before and after an announcement, unlike longer-term investors who will be interested in whether the overall trend is likely to reverse. Speculation can be just as important, if not more important, than the reported figures themselves. The most successful scheduled trading will come from traders who have carried out in-depth research of the company, asset or market they are trading.
Unscheduled events are ‘one-off’ occurrences. These are the unpredictable events such as the 2008 financial crisis or Covid-19 pandemic, that a trader will likely be unprepared for. However, the potentially significant impact of these events means there can be high profits to be made.
News Trading Markets
News affects everything and can therefore be applied to all markets including forex, stocks cryptos, oil, futures, gold and binary options, though certain news events will have a stronger effect on specific market directions.
Forex
When trading news on forex now, central bank announcements and political news can have large influences on price. UK news traders should consider the effect of a general election or Bank of England online announcements on the FTSE100 and USD/GBP when developing indices and forex news trading strategies. The EU referendum result in 2016 saw a strong breakout of EUR/GBP, for example.
2016 Brexit referendum impact on EUR GBP
Stocks
Company share price is likely to be impacted by periodic company announcements and annual reports. Stock news trading strategies can be developed based on patterns seen around these news releases.
M&S trading news effect on trading volume and share price
Cryptos
Cryptos are primarily affected by supply and demand and are not influenced by monetary policy. News reports about trading regulation and competing altcoins are significant when news trading cryptocurrency.
Commodities
Gold news traders should keep on top of updates regarding inflation, deflation and supply and demand. Supply and demand are also extremely influential on the price of oil and gas, along with any news relating to OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).
How To Trade On The News
Trading on the news involves three key steps: find a suitable broker, conduct research and establish a trading strategy.
Choosing A Broker
First, you’ll need to decide on a broker to execute your trades. Basic checks include whether they offer access to the market you are interested in, the associated spreads and fees, and if they are regulated. The FCA is a reputable regulator in the UK, which ensures protection of funds up to £85,000 through the FSCS.
The tools offered by the broker should also be a deciding factor. In particular, review their trading platform, which might be proprietary or a popular third-party platform such as MetaTrader. Either way, an easily accessible economic news calendar and the ability to place pending orders to lock profit and minimise losses is crucial. Check if the broker has an app so you can keep up-to-date with news and execute trades on the go.
Many brokers offer demo accounts which allow traders to practice using virtual funds first. Practising with yesterday’s trending news is a great way to get familiar with news trading.
Though Trading 212 is an FCA regulated broker, its mobile app ratings are poor. Pepperstone is a great FCA regulated broker which excels in its platform choices, offering 11 types including MetaTrader and cTrader. OctaFX, which is regulated by CySEC, is also a good option for news traders looking to use the MetaTrader platforms.
Research Markets
Taking the time to conduct in-depth research is essential for news-based trading. Books provide the framework for news trading strategies, while subscribing to a trading newspaper, newsletter or podcast will keep you up to date with today’s trading news around the world.
The top websites for news trading include Bloomberg (which also has a radio channel) and Reuters, covering events that impact various markets from brent crude oil to gold. They are also great sources of international news, including US NFP reports and stock exchange information about Nasdaq, ASX, DAX and NSE. The TradingView news feed provides a great free source of events and analysis today, while Telegram has a host of trading channels to pick up tips.
For forex specific trading news releases and updates this week, check out websites such as IG. YouTube is a rich source of information for the best forex secrets and insider tips, which also provides live demos of news trading.
Crude Oil News Trading Strategy Example
The latest crude oil price crash of 2014 was a combination of multiple factors that could have been predicted using news trading. Here, we discuss the specific events to look out for when oil news trading, in addition to how technical analysis can be used to confirm price predictions.
A range of economic news sources provided indications of the oil price decline in 2014:
- GDP reports – Countries such as China, which had pushed up oil prices due to increasing demand in the lead up to the financial crisis of 2008, had weakening economies. This could be observed in their GDP reporting from 2008 onwards.
- Forex analysis – The US Dollar is also important when news trading oil, due to its correlation with oil commodities which are generally traded in USD. Forex analysis shows the US dollar was strong in 2013, encouraging oil production.
- Supply and demand reports – An extended period of high oil prices resulted in overproduction, as captured in the International Oil Agency report which details oil supply and demand.
- OPEC news – The overproduction led the price of oil to drop, subsequently raising the question about whether OPEC would cut production in response. By following OPEC news, traders would have been made aware of the announcement in November that Saudi Arabia were to maintain their oil production levels, leading to a further decline in oil price.
These news reports are backed up by technical analysis including Moving Average (MA) indicators and the Relative Strength Index (RSI). A longer-term MA with a 200 day period can be used in combination with a shorter-term MA with a 20 day period. The shorter-term MA (blue line) crossing below the longer-term MA (green line) is an indication that the trend is moving downwards and is therefore a sell signal. The RSI (purple graph) indicates whether an asset is oversold or overbought, using a scale of 0 to 100. A reading above 80 is considered to be overbought, further confirming the sell signal.
2014 Brent crude oil crash
Algorithmic News Trading
Robots can be used to automate news trading, enabling quicker trading reactions based on vast sources of information. However, training the bot to distinguish which news is relevant can be difficult and may require more complex artificial intelligence methods. Reacting to news announcements such as interest rates at high speed is one example of a simple way to get value from using software algorithms for news trading.
Example news trading robots include Expert Advisors (EAs) and indicators which are available on MetaTrader platforms such as MT4. Many are available for free download from the MetaTrader code library, while traders can also develop bespoke news trading bots using the MQL programming language. News based trading algorithms can be designed to simply set alerts, apply pending orders or carry out more specific trades based on signals. Developers of bespoke bots can use APIs to connect their algorithms to a broker platform, enabling tracking of real-time prices.
Final Word On News Trading
News trading is a popular strategy based on the research of economic events to predict asset prices, across all markets. With traders able to access more news sources than ever, in-depth research of relevant reporting is key. Algorithmic bots can provide the trader with an advantage over manual trading methods, by enabling analysis of vast amounts of economic news data and reacting to events extremely quickly.
FAQ
What Is News Trading Vs Technical Trading?
News trading decisions are based on economic news and events, unlike technical analysis which uses charts and indicators to predict patterns. Technical analysis can be used in combination with news driven trading to confirm predicted trends.
What Is News Based Day Trading?
Day traders can take advantage of the short-term volatility surrounding markets just before and after economic events, such as central bank reports and company announcements.
Which UK Broker Is The Best For News Trading?
Pepperstone is one of the best UK broker choices for news trading. As well as being FCA regulated, it offers a huge range of platform options including MetaTrader and cTrader.
Where Can I Find Trading News Now?
The top news trading websites include Bloomberg and Reuters, covering events that impact various markets including forex. A series of other websites, such as Zerodha, have breaking news pages for traders looking to find information on assets such as gold and oil right now.
What Is a News Trading Forex Strategy?
News trading forex strategies should prepare for the impact of events such as central bank announcements and political news, including general elections. In the UK, these are likely to have the largest impact on USD/GBP and EUR/GBP forex pairs.