The type of trading platform a trader uses to buy and sell financial products is a crucial criterion when choosing a forex broker. Retail forex brokers will often provide their own proprietary trading platforms that traders can access via downloadable software or web interfaces on PCs and mobile devices. Others may support the use of third-party independent platforms like the popular MetaTrader 4 application available for free download from the developer’s website.

Most fx trading platforms takes place on the spot market, where currency pairs are bought and sold based on supply and demand. Traders attempt to profit from the price movements of a given pair by buying currencies that they expect to rise in value relative to other currencies, and selling those they believe will decline in value. Because of the leverage involved in forex trading, the potential for large profits is high, but so too are losses that can exceed initial deposits.

The Ultimate Guide to FX Trading Platforms: Unleashing the Power of Currency Trading

IG has long been an industry leader in spread betting and offers its clients a range of specialist platforms for web, mobile and tablet. Its award-winning ProRealTime platform is ideal for traders who want to take a more hands-on approach, with tools including an integrated charting package, automatic trading and extensive backtesting functionality.

IG also provides its clients with CFD trading on more than 17,000 global markets, with a range of short and long-term contracts available. These derivatives allow traders to speculate on the price movements of a wide range of assets, from stocks and ETFs to cryptocurrencies.