- Platform
- Promotion
- Comms/Spreads
- Customer Service
- Education
IG Markets is part of IG group, along with its spread betting sister, IG Index. IG group has been providing financial derivative services since the seventies and was the pioneer of spread betting. It was also one of the first companies to move into Contract For Difference trading when it formed IG Markets in 2001. IG is now the worlds no1 provider of CFD services and it is easy to see why, as this review will show.
The Platform
Firstly, IG Group has developed a cutting age platform that is quite possibly the best on the market. The ‘Pure Deal’ platform incorporates all the features you expect from a leading CFD provider such as high quality data, stop losses and limit orders, high stability and responsiveness and a sleek design. You will also find a trailing stop loss feature that changes the stop when a price moves in your favour. This feature is suitable for the more experienced trader but is a great way to protect any gains you achieve.
The platform also offers some features you might not expect like its Price improvement technology that automatically trades for you at the best price possible when you place a trade.
Price Improvement Technology
If the market goes in your favour when you are clicking away, don’t worry, the ‘Pure Deal’ platform will work its magic and ensure the improved price is taken rather than the original one you were going to deal at. To make this feature even better, your ticket will show the value of the saving achieved thanks to this innovative technology. IG Markets claims that in the quarter July to September 2011, clients globally saved over £3,890,000 thanks to its price improvement technology.
Demo Account
If you want to test the platform out before depositing funds then you are in luck! The platform is available with a demo account that incorporates all of the great features that the real money account has.
Mobile App
Like its browser platform, IG Market’s mobile platform is first class and is available on iphone, Android, Blackberry and many Nokias. Many top CFD providers do not offer mobile trading, let alone on such a broad variety of phones. The key features of IG’s mobile trading include: the ability to see your watch lists, view your open positions, search for a particular market, view a chart and more.
Commissions/Spreads
IG Markets does charge commission or spread for all trades, but don’t let this put you off. You tend to find that those CFD providers that do not charge commission fees make up for it by imposing a wider spread. Having said this IG’s fees are not the cheapest on the market although they are certainly not the worst. What you receive from other aspects of its product offering certainly make up for this.
Market Choice
If you tend to trade a wide variety of different markets you will be pleased to learn that IG offers over ten thousand of them. This is by far and away the broadest offering out of all the providers. Markets on offer include:
Commodities
Stock Indices
Shares
Options
Energies and Metals
Forex
Binaries
DMA Equities
Rates and Bonds
Summary: Without shadow of a doubt, the best CFD provider on the market. The ‘Pure Deal’ is virtually flawless, mobile trading is second to none, fees are pretty tight for most markets and IG covers more markets than any other provider. If there had to be one criticism of IG, it would be that they do not offer a new account promotion like some of their competitors. They would probably argue though that their product is so good that they don’t need to offer incentives to entice customers through their door.
Visit: IG Markets
