IG review: Trade forex and CFDs with a global broker

Important: This broker offers CFDs which are a leveraged product and can result in the loss of your entire capital. Ensure you fully understand the risks before trading.

Compare IG as an online broker to trade gold stocks, ETFs and CFDs

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IG Markets background

Established in 1974 as IG Index, the company now has offices across 15 countries and boasts more than 150,000 clients worldwide. IG is the world’s, and therefore Singapore’s, largest provider of CFDs and forex. The company’s size and reach is reflected in its parent company, IG Group’s, listing on the London Stock Exchange. It was also named as the best forex provider in Singapore by Global Brands Magazine in 2020.

IG Markets are a CFD and forex industry stalwart, with a famous claim of being the first company of its type. This history and experience just adds to IG’s level of trust that clients can expect if you choose to open an account.

Key features of IG forex and CFD trading

Let’s take a look at some of the key features that are likely to influence your final decision around whether an IG forex account is right for you. Take the time to consider the forex trading account features that are most useful to your own trading and go from there.

Ability to trade both CFDs and forex

One of IG’s biggest drawcards is the fact that you’re able to trade both forex and individual stock market CFDs alongside one another, within the same trading platform. Many MT4 only forex brokers only allow you to trade index CFDs, but through IGs online trading platform, you’re able to trade a whole range of company CFDs alongside the forex, indices and commodities markets that every broker offers.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) supported

If trading forex on MT4 is a deciding factor for you, IG customers can also choose to use the world’s most popular forex trading platform instead. Switching between platforms is simple and as you’ll see in the trading platforms section of this review, depending on whether you’re at home or on the go, IG offers a number of platforms to choose between.

Fast execution and out of hours trading

IG guarantees the fast and reliable execution of all trades. Its systems are engineered to cope with a large number of trades in a short period of time, while its trading platforms are designed to cope with large volumes of traffic. Plus, you can also trade outside of standard trading hours on some CFD markets.

Account access

In addition to downloadable software and its web-based platform, you can download the IG trading app to your Apple, Android or Windows smartphone or tablet. The popularity of mobile trading apps shows that this is the future of the industry. Traders want to be able to access markets whenever they see opportunity, no matter where they are. IG’s mobile access is seamless across all platforms.

Low spreads

IG offers competitive spreads across all forex currency pairs with an average of just 0.75 points. AUD/USD has a minimum spread of 0.6 and an average spread of 0.76, while EUR/USD has a minimum spread of 0.6 and an average spread of 0.70. If you’re looking to trade some more exotic markets, then download a demo account from IG and further your research into their spreads in live market conditions.

Flexible leverage

IG are flexible with the amount of leverage that you can access on your trading account. They offer the ability for you to make the choice of leverage you’d like, all the way up to a maximum leverage level when trading forex, of 200:1.

Regulated in Singapore

IG is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and holds all client money in a segregated bank account. With more traders trusting IG with their money than any other broker, IG are regarded as a safe and trusted option for Singaporean forex and CFD traders.

What markets can I trade with an IG forex and CFD account?

An IG forex account opens up access to a whole raft of different markets, across a range of asset classes. Whether it’s forex, CFDs, commodities, indices or something else you’re after, then you can most likely trade it through IG.

Trade forex and CFDs with IG

• Forex. Trade more than 70 forex currency pairs.
• CFDs. Trade both local and international stock CFDs in over 17,000 markets.
• Indices. Trade more than 31 global indices, including 22 indices with 24-hour trading such as the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100.
• Commodities. Access 26 key commodity markets from gold and silver to niche metals and energies.
• Options. Trade on major indices, forex, stocks and more.
• Interest rates. Speculate on a range of global interest rate movements.
• Bonds. Hedge against government bond holdings.
• ETPs, ETFs and IPOs. Access exchange-traded products, exchange-traded funds and initial public offerings.

Trade stock market CFDs with IG

While trading Singaporean and international stocks via CFDs makes gaining exposure a simple process, if you’re looking to buy and hold physical stocks, then you’re going to need to use a separate stock trading account.

Check out our IG share trading review page if that is where your investment focus lies.

Trade cryptocurrency CFDs with IG

Trading cryptocurrency CFDs can be attractive. You don’t need your own wallet, and you can also profit by shorting cryptocurrencies ahead of dropping value, instead of just buying with the expectation of price increases.

IG lets you go long or short on bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Ethereum (ETH), Ripple and Bitcoin Gold. Some of the markets you can trade include:

• BTC/USD
• BTC/EUR
• BTC/GBP
• BCH/USD
• BCH/EUR
• BCH/GBP
• ETH/USD

You can also leverage your position with a 20% margin requirement on bitcoin and Ethereum, and 40% on Bitcoin Cash.

Types of trading platforms

IG has a large selection of trading platforms that you’re able to choose between. After registering for a forex and CFD account with IG, you can then gain access to the following:

• IG Trading Platform. The IG trading platform features a range of useful trading tools including trading charts, signals and personalised alerts.
• Web-based platform. IG’s online trading platform enables you to trade via your web browser, and customise your theme. Open and close your positions in a few clicks, view split charts and signal analysis, set up trading alerts and receive breaking news via Reuters and Twitter. The web-based platform supports Google Chrome (recommended), Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 11 and Safari (Mac only).
• Mobile trading apps. Trade on the go with IG’s trading apps, free to download and featuring native designs across all major mobile and tablet devices. Access market data and analysis and live prices before logging in.
• MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The most popular forex trading platform in the world, popular among traders for its fast execution, automated trading, customisable interface and enhanced trading tools. The IG version of MT4 comes with 18 free bespoke add-ons and indicators. Plus, you can access your account via the MT4 app on both Android and iPhone. Simply request access to MT4 in your client portal.
• Advanced platforms. Advanced traders can register for L2 Dealer, IG’s downloadable DMA (Direct Market Access) platform. Get direct access to stock market CFDs and forex currency pairs. This is for professional traders only and is only available via specific request.

IG Markets account types

There are two ways to access forex markets with IG:

• CFDs. CFDs allow you to trade using leverage and don’t require you to pay a commission to open a position. Think of this as your standard retail trading account option, accessible through the IG trading platform or MT4.
• L2 Dealer. This is IG’s direct market access service. L2 Dealer is available to professional traders by request only. It allows you to buy and sell CFDs priced directly from Currenex liquidity pool spreads.

Customer support options

If you ever have a question about your IG account or about a specific trade, 24-hour Singapore customer support is available from Monday to Friday. Phone, email, and Twitter customer support options are all offered. Alternatively, you can search IG’s extensive online help centre to see if your question has already been answered.

IG also offers a number of online educational resources and information to help you make better trading decisions. These include forex trading education pages, webinars and in-depth guides. There’s even an IG Academy app, available from Google Play or the Apple App Store, that provides engaging step-by-step courses that teach you how to trade.

Spreads and fees

The spreads on an IG forex and CFD trading account are highly competitive.

• Spread. The spread is the difference between the buy and sell price on a trade. This varies between products, but as an example the minimum spread applied on the forex AUD/USD currency pair is 0.6 pips. When trading with Forex Direct (direct to market) traders can access tighter spreads, from 0.142 pips for EUR/USD.
• Margin. The margin is the amount needed for you to open a trade. IG margins start from just 5% of the trade value.
• Commission. All IG CFDs are commission-free, except stocks CFDs which vary. The commission charged on Singapore stocks CFDs is 0.1% (S$15 minimum) for online trades.
• FX currency exchange rates. When you trade a market that is denominated in a currency other than your local currency you pay an FX conversion, or exchange rate. IG offers a competitive FX conversion rate of 0.5%.

Account funding options

The quickest way to deposit funds into your IG account is via debit or credit card (Visa or Mastercard). You can also instantly deposit funds using bank transfer.

While cheque is another accepted payment method, funds will however take on average two business days to clear. The charges for the different funding methods are outlined below.

Minimum deposit

If you’re funding your account via bank transfer, then there is no minimum deposit required to open an IG forex account.

If you’re using a debit or credit card however, then the minimum deposit required to fund your account is $450.

Pros and cons of trading on an IG forex account

How to open an IG forex trading account?

It’s completely free to open a forex and CFD trading account with IG. The online application process takes around five minutes and there is no obligation to fund your account or place any trades. You will need to:

• Provide your name
• Enter your email address
• Create a username and password
• Specify your country of residence
• Specify whether you want to trade CFDs, forex or both

IG will work as quickly as possible to approve your application and once your account is open you can fund your account and start trading when you’re ready.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I install MetaTrader 4 on my computer?

  Download the set-up file from the IG website and then follow the instructions to complete the installation.

• Can I open more than one trading account with IG?

  No, this is not normally possible.

• How can I withdraw funds from my account?

  It’s free to withdraw money from your account by electronic funds transfer.