There are a number of brokers in the UK that offer the ability to trade options. However, it’s important to note that most of these brokers will only provide options exposure via spread betting or CFDs, rather than offering direct option trading.
One such broker is CMC Markets, which offers options as part of its suite of financial products. The firm offers access to options across a range of markets, including foreign exchange (FX), shares, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Its options offerings include out-of-the-money and in-the-money options.
Options Trading in the UK: A Guide to the Best Brokers
Investor Centre is another notable UK-based option broker. The firm offers a wide range of share options, with the capability to buy call and put options on individual shares or whole FTSE 100, S&P 500 and DAX options. Its options offerings also include hedging, which can help traders limit potential losses on other positions they have in their portfolio.
Another UK-based option broker is Firstrade, which provides an options trading platform for both retail and professional investors. Its platform features a rich set of tools designed with options in mind, such as a strategy builder and prebuilt options strategies, as well as an integrated charting window for multi-leg trades. Its low costs will appeal to many, with the broker charging no commissions or contract fees on US options.
While IG offers a comprehensive list of options markets, its fees for British share options are slightly higher than those of a DMA broker. This is because while US traders have the flexibility to act before or after an option reaches its strike point, UK traders are only able to take action at the exact expiry time.