Plus500 investment products: Unveiling Opportunities
Understanding the range of Plus500 investment products is crucial for any potential investor. Unlike some brokers, Plus500 primarily offers Forex trading through Contracts for Difference (CFDs), rather than non-deliverable spot forex as a rolling contract.
In 2021, Plus500 expanded its offerings by launching shares trading via Plus500 Invest and also acquired a futures firm in the U.S. This diversification broadens the scope of available Plus500 investment products.
Plus500 CFD Trading and Other Offerings
The core of Plus500’s offerings revolves around CFDs. This allows clients to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset.
Here’s a summary of key Plus500 investment products:
- Plus500 Forex: All forex trading is conducted through CFDs. There are 71 forex pairs available.
- Plus500 Share trading: Available for both U.S. and international stocks. Non-CFD shares are exclusively offered through the Plus500 Invest platform.
- Plus500 cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency trading is available via CFDs. It’s important to note that trading the underlying asset (e.g., buying actual Bitcoin) is not supported.
Important Disclaimer: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker’s U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except for Professional clients).
Summary of Plus500 Investment Products
A more detailed look at the investment products shows the breadth of Plus500’s platform:
- Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs): Yes
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 2800
- Forex Pairs (Total): 71
- U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD): Yes
- Int’l Stock Trading (Non CFD): Yes
- Social Trading / Copy Trading: No
- Cryptocurrency (Physical): No
- Cryptocurrency (CFD): Yes
Plus500 Fees and Commissions
When considering Plus500 investment products, understanding the fee structure is essential. Plus500’s pricing generally aligns with the industry average, though it might trail some leading forex brokers for active traders.
Plus500 does not offer retail client discounts, but it does provide cash rebates for qualifying Professional clients. This acts as an active trader program for eligible users.
For the EUR/USD, Plus500 displays a dynamic spread of 0.8 pips. This average spread was consistent in August 2021, placing it in line with industry standards.
Key Details on Plus500 Fees
- Minimum Initial Deposit: €100
- Average Spread EUR/USD – Standard: 0.6 (as of Aug 2018)
- Active Trader or VIP Discounts: No
- Execution: Market Maker
Trading Platforms and Mobile Experience
Plus500 offers a streamlined trading experience across its platforms. The mobile app closely mirrors the WebTrader browser platform, ensuring a consistent user experience.
While the platforms are user-friendly, they may lack the advanced tools found with industry leaders. For instance, Plus500’s web charts do not sync with the mobile app, a feature available on other platforms.
Plus500 has enhanced its charting capabilities, now featuring 109 indicators and over 20 drawing tools. However, there’s still room for improvement in areas like news, research, and advanced trading tools, which are currently absent from the mobile app.
Platform Features
- Android App: Yes
- Apple iOS App: Yes
- Mobile Alerts – Basic Fields: Yes
- Watchlists – Total Fields: 9
- Watchlist Syncing: Yes
- Charting – Indicators / Studies (Total): 110
- Charting – Drawing Tools (Total): 21
- Mobile Charting – Draw Trendlines: Yes
- Charting – Multiple Time Frames: No
- Forex Calendar: Yes
Conclusion
Plus500 offers a solid range of investment products, particularly for those interested in CFD trading across various asset classes including Forex, shares, and cryptocurrency. The platform’s ease of use makes it a strong contender for casual investors, and its ongoing refinements are closing the gap with industry leaders.
While Plus500 fees are competitive, active traders might find more advantageous pricing elsewhere. Overall, the available Plus500 investment products provide substantial opportunities for diverse trading strategies.
