Share Trading
Buy or sell shares online with CFDs in some of the world's biggest companies at home or on the go with FXOpen. Sign up to our online share trading platform today.
Open a share trading accountFXOpen: Trading Stocks and Shares Made Simple
Venturing into the share market via CFDs is firmly established as a way for experienced traders to get flexible exposure to equity markets. With FXOpen, our share trading platform gives you the opportunity to trade in the fortunes of many iconic listed companies. With hundreds of stocks to choose from, start share trading today – building up your portfolio and putting your trading skills to the test.
Advantages of trading share CFDs with FXOpen
Trade shares with leverage
Trade share CFDs at FXOpen with up to 1:5 leverage.
Multiple Markets. Multiple Instruments. One Platform.
FXOpen isn't just a share trading platform. With FXOpen, expand and diversify your trading portfolio with forex trading, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrency CFDs too.
Be confident when you're trading share CFDs with us
We have a duty to all our clients to hold ourselves to the highest standards.
Place share trades direct from the chart
With multiple manual equity trading options, you can place three types of order: market, limit, and stop. Other features include trailing stop and one-click trading.
Automated share trading access
Based on your unique share trading strategy, download and use ready-made scripts and expert advisors. Or you can create your own custom scripts and indicators.
Analytics available at your fingertips
Make better informed equity trading decisions. More than 50 built-in indicators and graphic tools provide technical analysis, quotes history, strategy testing, news and more.
Share trading explained
To buy shares online is to acquire a stake in one or more companies. As a holder of shares, you effectively gain part-ownership in that enterprise. For traders, however, investing in shares is a way to both profit from the success of that company and overall economic growth.
By share trading with FXOpen, you can use derivative products to speculate on the future share price of a company. The value of that derivative is based on the underlying market. It gives you the ability to take a long or short position – depending on how you think the stock will perform.
A derivative product means that you won't actually own the stock. What it does mean, however, is that you can take a position that lets you profit from any change in its value – up or down. It also allows you to start online share trading with leverage for a fraction of the capital needed.
Investing in shares: How does it work?
With FXOpen, you can open a share trading account and start trading in the equity market now. It's all done using derivatives known as contracts for difference (CFDs). Instead of becoming an owner of any shares, you'll simply be taking a position on whether the price will go up or down.
One reason that share trading is growing in popularity is because you don't need sizeable sums to get started. CFD trading gives full exposure to the market with a smaller upfront investment using your leverage. It's then a case of predicting which way the share price is going to move.
With a CFD, you'll agree to exchange the difference in share price from when you opened your position to when you close it. If that price moves in the direction you predicted, you stand to profit. If it moves the opposite way, however, your investment will turn into a loss.
Example of how investing in shares with a CFD can work:
- Trader A makes a $1,000 trade on Company B's share price at $10.00
- Trader A predicts that price will go to $12.50
- Trader A buys 100 contracts at $10.00 a share
- Company B's share price increases to $12.50
- The initial trade value is $1,000, but the final value is $1,250
Before charges and commission, Trader A makes a gross profit of $250.
How to start share trading with FXOpen
Once you open an online share trading account with FXOpen, the next stage is to decide which share CFDs to trade. You can make an informed decision by using our tools and analysis to see how the share price of certain companies are performing. Then, it's about opening your position.
Seasoned in share trading?
Are you well-versed in the share trading process? Your extensive experience speaks volumes. What truly counts is having a clear plan when initiating your opening position. Only then can you truly know when it is best to adjust or close your position.
Through your FXOpen CFD share trading account, you have access to the information necessary for making precise decisions promptly. Whether it's insight or instinct, develop your strategy in accordance with your goals and expectations. And always bear in mind never to risk more than you can afford to lose.
The share trading platform for insightful investors
Looking for the most cost-effective form of share trading? With our dynamic platform, FXOpen allows you to match your trades with the best available prices. That's made possible thanks to our Electronic Communication Network (ECN) share trading accounts.
Sign up with FXOpen today and our ECN accounts will let you trade on the raw price of a share – paying just a small commission to do so. Our accounts are also multi-asset. So, there'll be no limit to how diverse you make your portfolio. As well as trading stocks and share CFDs, you'll find a wide range of other CFDs to invest in – FX, global indices, and commodity CFDs.
As one of the best share trading platforms, you're in total control with FXOpen. And we're here to enhance your trading experience – no matter which positions you decide to take. To find out more, get in touch with our team today. Or why not take a look at our FAQs?
What is equity trading?
First, a 'share' is a single unit of ownership. 'Equity', however, is the total stake you hold in a company i.e., more than one share. You might have three shares – which is your total equity.
The second difference refers to the meaning of 'shares' and 'equities'. More often than not, you hold 'shares' in a single company. But you could use 'equities' to describe the total amount you own in two or more companies.
So, when it comes to equity trading, you're buying and selling your total stakes in a company.
Why do people trade stocks and shares?
There are other reasons too. For example, there's a clear and transparent correlation between a company's share price and their underlying value. The better it performs, the more likely it is for the share price to increase. Similarly, you can take advantage of volatility – especially when companies are more exposed to prevailing economic or political events.
By trading shares as CFDs using leverage with FXOpen, another benefit is the smaller amount of capital needed. That leverage gives you full market exposure.
The factors to look out for when trading stocks and shares
- Share supply and demand: If shares in a company are at a premium, high demand can outweigh supply – driving up the share price in the process.
- Company news or updates: Annual reports, profit warnings, or new products come with the potential to drive a company's share price up or down.
- Broader economic factors: Both on a national and an international level, economic announcements and policies can significantly impact share prices.
- Market and industry trends: It's perhaps more a long-term consideration, but any major trends within a specific market can affect a company's price. Airline stocks, for example, were negatively impacted by reduced travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Investor mood/confidence: In some cases, it can all come down to the confidence that investors have in a particular company or sector. There may not be any tangible reason – so it can be so important to gain an understanding of any prevailing moods.
How much does it cost to trade shares online?
Taking a long position? There will be an additional overnight charge to consider.
For any questions or if there's something you aren't sure about, FXOpen is here to help. Get in touch with our team. Our live chat service is also available 6am to 6pm, five days a week.
Trading stocks and shares: what to consider?
It is also worth considering whether you fully understand how CFDs work. They are complex instruments – and the risk is significant. For more support, please take a look at our Knowledge Base.
If you're aware of all the risks involved, equity trading using CFDs can be highly rewarding.