Advantages of Spread Betting

Spread betting offers several benefits, including tax advantages as profits are often tax-free, leveraged trading that allows traders to control larger positions with less capital, and a wide range of markets to trade in, including stocks, indices, currencies, commodities, and more. It provides flexibility and the potential for profits regardless of market direction, as traders can speculate on both.

No Capital Gains Tax

Profits that you make through financial spread betting are exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax*.

Whilst profits made from spread betting do not count towards your Capital Gains allowance, any losses cannot be offset against profits elsewhere.

*Tax treatment also depends upon your individual circumstances.

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Going Long & Short

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With financial spread betting you can profit from both rising and falling prices.

When you trade on stocks and shares in the traditional manner, you are relying on the value of your shares rising over time to make a profit.

However, with spread betting you can place a 'buy' trade if you think the market will rise, or a 'sell' trade if you think it will fall. This is called ‘going long’ and ‘going short’.


No Stamp Duty

Any financial spread bet you place is not currently subject to Stamp Duty. Traditional investors buying shares from a stockbroker may be charged Stamp Duty at 0.5% on the value of the shares, a tax not levied on spread bets.

However, please be aware that tax treatment depends upon the individual circumstances of each client. Tax laws may well change in the future.

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Trade Thousands of Markets

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Trade thousands of markets with Spreadex including indices, FX, commodities, shares, rates, ETFs, options and more from one account.

You can even spread bet on several markets in specified out-of-hours sessions including markets such as the FTSE, DAX and a range of US shares.

Discover our full range of markets. 


Trade with Leverage

Financial spread betting is a form of leveraged trading. It allows you to take out positions with larger exposures for a relatively small outlay.

With Spreadex you can trade with exceptionally competitive margin rates.

Learn more about our highly competitive margin rates.

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No Minimum Deposits

No Minimum Deposit

With a traditional broker you often have to deposit a minimum amount and also place a minimum number of trades to avoid an inactivity fee.

When you open an account with Spreadex there are no joining fees, minimum deposits or trade requirements.


Hedge Your Positions

You can use financial spread bets to hedge your current portfolio.

For example, if you owned shares in HSBC and feared they were going to fall in value you could place a sell spread bet which would offset any potential losses if the stock fell in price, without having to give up the stock and crystallise a Capital Gains Tax gain or loss.

See an example of a shares spread bet here.

Managing Your Risks

Quiz Question

Which of the following statements about advantages of Spread betting is correct?

Correct - The answer is c. I own a derivative of the underlying asset and don’t have to pay capital gains tax in the UK.

Incorrect - Please try again.

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What is CFD Trading?

Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading, as per financial spread betting, offers you leveraged access to trade the global markets.