Financial Spread Trading - Account Overview
Spread betting is a high-risk, high reward activity. It offers a tax efficient way of trading a wide variety of products across the global financial markets. It’s a versatile tool that can help you to profit from both up and downward movements in prices (if you bet in the right direction). With Barclays Stockbrokers Financial Spreads you can bet on a variety of instruments including major indices, currencies, commodities and individual equities quoted on leading exchanges, and their associated options.
- No direct commission or stamp duty *
- Ability to bet on markets going down (going short) as well as up
- All profits free of UK Capital Gains Tax **
- Leverage - deposit only a fraction of the contract value
Account Options
You can trade Barclays Stockbrokers Financial Spreads online or over the phone. We have two types of account available for clients wishing to spread bet – a standard account and a limited risk account. Both accounts are free from UK Capital Gains Tax and UK Stamp Duty for most people, however tax laws can change**.
Find out more
More about Financial Spread Trading
Apply for Financial Spread Trading Account
Try Spread betting for yourself with our Simulator
Important information
A key feature of spread betting is the leverage that it affords. Fluctuations in the value of the underlying instrument can quickly lead to profits or losses, which can exceed the initial deposit. Ensure you fully understand the risks, as spread betting is not suitable for everyone. Barclays Stockbrokers Financial Spreads offers an ‘execution only’ service and is not registered to give investment advice.
Barclays Stockbrokers Financial Spreads is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and private customer funds are held in a segregated account. You should make sure you have read the Risk Warning Notice, Terms & Policies before opening an account. You may also be required to complete an appropriateness assessment.
Barclays Stockbrokers Financial Spreads is a trading name of City Index Limited (CI) whose registered office is Moorgate Hall, 155 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6XB. For the purposes of CFD trading any contract is between you and CI and all dealing, administration and settlement is carried out by them and Barclays Stockbrokers are not responsible for any of the functions they perform or the following web pages.
Barclays Stockbrokers Limited and City Index Limited have remuneration and fee sharing agreements in place. Details of any shared commission, spreads, finance charges and fees shared for CFD and Financial Spread Trades placed are available upon request.
* You are betting on the outcome of the share price and are not taking delivery of a share and are therefore not entitled to dividends.
**Tax laws can change. Spread betting profits and losses are not currently subject to UK capital gains tax.
Subject to meeting all your obligations, bets may be left to run to expiry or may be closed at any time during the advertised trading hours relevant to the market in question.
