Best 6 UK Bond Brokers (April 2024)

A list of the Top UK Bond Brokers for April 2024 are:

1. AvaTrade
2. IG
3. ActivTrades
4. CMC Markets
5. Interactive Brokers
6. TILLIT

Comparison Chart of the Best UK Bond Brokers for April 2024:

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of IG retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with IG. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Description of the Best UK Bond Brokers for April 2024:

AvaTrade is a CFD Regulated broker with +1,000 financial instruments and multiple trading platforms. It has been operating since 2006.

It offers a 20% welcome bonus up to $10,000, according to regulation and a free 21-day demo account with $100,000.

Instruments include:

• Metals
• Commodities
• Stocks
• FX Options
• Oil
• ETFs
• Options
• Crypto currencies
• CFDs
• Indexes
• Shares
• Spread betting
• Indices
• Forex
• Bonds

AVATrade EU Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. (No.C53877) Ava Trade Markets Ltd. is regulated by the B.V.I Financial Services Commission. It is also highly regulated in Australia, South Africa, Japan, Middle East, Cyprus and Israel

You can not trade with AvaTrade in the US, North Korea, New Zealand, Iran or Belgium.

Mínimum deposit of $100, no withdraw limit and no fees.

IG invented spread betting in 1974 and today is the world’s leading online trading provider with more traders trusting them with their money than anyone else

IG is authorised and regulated by the FCA and provides traders access to over 18,000 markets. IG offers more 24-hour indices than any other provider, and extended hours on over 70 key US stocks 

For those who prefer to own the underlying asset, IG offers access to over 13,000 global shares and ETFs, or a wealth portfolio managed by one of their experts. 

Benefits:

• Advanced platform and charting – L2 dealer, ProRealTime and MT4
• Demo account
• Extended trading hours
• Extensive range of products
• Daily expert analysis & educational resources
• Round-the-clock customer service
• Negative balance protection for retail clients

*Based on revenue (published financial statements, October 2022). 24/7 excludes the hours from 10 pm Friday to 8 am Saturday (UK time), and 20 minutes just before the weekday market opens on Sunday night.

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of IG retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with IG. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

ActivTrades is a traditional CFD broker and has been trading for more than 20 years on 140 markets. ActivTrades is authorized and regulated by the FCA, CSSF and SCB.

Its strong points include:

• No minimum first-time deposit
• No commissions
• Several payment methods for deposits and withdrawals
• Tight spreads from 0.5 pips

It offers one of the best execution speeds in the industry with low latency below 0.004s.

It utilizes the most advanced technology to improve users' trading efficiency – users can automate trades, build integrations and create trading apps using ActivTrades' market-leading CFD and spread betting technology.

Exceptional trading infrastructure is available on ActivTrader and MetaTrader 4 and 5.

ActivTrades invests deeply in specially developed educational materials for its clients – including webinars, regular outlooks, manuals, etc.

Type of offers: ActivTrades focuses on well-developed products in its trading portfolio. Customers can choose from over 1,000 CFD or spread betting instruments across forex, indices, shares, commodities, financials and ETFs.

It also offers investing solutions for its institutional partners.

Spread betting allows UK residents ONLY to trade the prices of financial instruments, including forex, indices, commodities and LSE shares.

Spread betting and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread betting and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Fees: Vary but average about 0.1% commission

CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and is a UK-based broker that is publicly traded.

CMC Markets offers a comprehensive government bond listing and is good for beginner investors.

The CMC ‘Next Generation’ trading platform is modern, easy to use and available on multiple platforms including smartphones.

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Fees: 0.01% commission with a minimum of £1.

Interactive Brokers was founded in America in 1978, and the trading technology that is used to provide financial services is simple to use. It is available on computer and smart phones.

TILLIT is a UK-based financial services company that offers a variety of investment products and services, including bond brokerage. It is a well-established company with a strong track record of providing quality investment services to its clients.

TILLIT offers a comprehensive range of bond brokerage services to its clients, including:

• Access to a wide range of bonds: TILLIT provides access to a wide range of bonds, including government bonds, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds. This gives their clients the opportunity to invest in a variety of fixed-income securities and diversify their portfolios.
• Competitive spreads: TILLIT offers competitive spreads on bonds, which can help their clients reduce their trading costs.
• Experienced bond traders: TILLIT has a team of experienced bond traders who can help their clients develop and implement investment strategies that are tailored to their individual needs and risk tolerances.
• A range of online tools and resources: TILLIT provides a range of online tools and resources to help their clients research and invest in bonds.

There are several benefits to using TILLIT as a bond broker, including:

• Access to a wide range of bonds: TILLIT's extensive network of relationships with issuers and market makers gives their clients access to a wide range of bonds that may not be available through other brokers.
• Competitive spreads: TILLIT's competitive spreads can help clients reduce their trading costs and improve their returns.
• Experienced bond traders: TILLIT's team of experienced bond traders can provide clients with valuable insights and advice on the bond market.
• A user-friendly online platform: TILLIT's online platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it easy for clients to research, trade, and manage their bond portfolios.
• Excellent customer service: TILLIT provides excellent customer service to its clients, with a team of dedicated customer service representatives who are ready to assist with any questions or concerns.

Overall, TILLIT is a well-respected and reputable bond broker that offers a wide range of services and benefits to its clients. If you are looking for a bond broker that can provide you with access to a wide range of bonds, competitive spreads, and experienced bond traders, TILLIT is a good option to consider.

Best Bond Brokers Courses for April 2024

1. The Trader – Financial Edge

Price: £174.17
Duration: 14 hours

Financial Edge is the firm trusted by the world’s top 4 Investment Banks (as rated by the FT) to train their new analysts. Founded by ex-bankers and a team of experienced instructors, they deliver technical training programs in-house and online through their range of Wall Street-recognized certified courses.

2. Stocks and Bonds – Coursera

Price: Free
Duration: Approximately 9 hours

Stocks and bonds are both investment options that allow individuals to earn a return on their money. Stocks represent ownership in a company and provide the potential for high returns, but also come with a higher level of risk. Bonds, on the other hand, represent a loan to a company or government and provide a fixed return with lower risk. The University of Michigan offers a course on stocks and bonds through Coursera, providing individuals with a comprehensive understanding of these investment options and how to best utilize them in their portfolios. You will gain skills in pricing stocks, trading in financial markets, and pricing bonds.

3. Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA) – CFI

Price: $497 per year for self-study, $847 per year for full-immersion
Duration: 60-100 hours

Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA) is a professional certification program designed by the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the field of capital markets and securities analysis. The program covers a wide range of topics, including financial modeling, valuation, trading strategies, and risk management, among others. By completing the CMSA program, individuals can enhance their career prospects and demonstrate their expertise in the field. The program is available online and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

What Are Bonds?

A bond is a loan offered by a government, business or other organisations where investors can make a fixed investment and get a predictable return over a specified period.

The bond is for a specific duration and the investors earn an income from interest (known as the coupon).

Bonds are a popular method of investing for income rather than capital growth for stability and known income in a portfolio, allowing investors to match future returns to future liabilities. Coupons can be variable or fixed rate, so income comes throughout the period of the bond – which could potentially be 30–50 years.

Bonds have a nominal rate of £100 (UK) or $1,000 (US), but these prices can fluctuate when it first comes to the market and throughout the term, although those with short durations are less likely to change over time.

Prices fluctuate because of supply and demand, the credit rating of the company issuing the bond, the coupon rate and how close it is to the end of the term.

The nominal rate is described as the ‘par value’ and is the face value of the bond.

Although bonds are seen as less risky investments than equities because they offer predictable income and returns, negative interest rates can influence the return, causing investors to take on more risk.

What Are the Different Types of Bonds?

There are several types of bonds available, each with different risk profiles and possible returns.

Bonds are rated based on risk and credit ratings by institutions like Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s to ascertain the financial stability of the entity – and therefore determine the likelihood of bonds being repaid and the interest rates being met.

Bonds are rated on an alphabetic scale, with the top rating being AAA and riskier bonds at a C or below.

Government Bonds

Often referred to as Gilts in the UK, government bonds are issued by government agencies and national treasuries.

They are considered low risk as it is more likely that the coupon and the return are likely to be paid and the conditions of the bond will be met.

A supranational bond has a similar risk profile but tends to be issued from banks.

Corporate Bonds

In general, corporate bonds are a relatively safe fixed income investment. Investment-grade corporate bonds are the most common, issued by companies with a high credit standing.

Corporate bonds tend to offer a higher coupon threshold than government bonds so offer more income.

Junk Bonds

Junk bonds are essentially corporate bonds from companies with a lower credit rating. They are considered much higher risk but offer a greater return if the risk pays off.

Junk bonds are often offered by companies that are going through some kind of financial struggle and need an injection of cash.

Savings Bonds

Savings bonds are offered by banks and building societies and are popular with retail investors, especially those with little experience of investing.

With low prices for investing and relatively low risk, savings bonds can fluctuate quickly but the maturity terms are often lengthy.

Who Regulates Bond Brokers?

Bond brokers in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Other bond brokers in other countries that trade in the UK should be regulated in their own countries as well as the FCA.

Look for regulation agencies like CySEC and ASIC for further confirmation that the broker will be held accountable if there are any problems.

Why Use a Bond Broker in 2024?

Investing in bonds as a retail investor can be difficult without a brokerage. Bond brokers specialise in bonds and other fixed-income securities, allowing private clients to invest and trade in bonds.

Bonds can be issued in very large denominations, sometimes in the billions, so investing directly needs considerable capital. A bond brokerage can get clients exposure to the bond markets with smaller capital amounts.

Bond brokers can offer investment into bonds as well as trading with bond ETFs, acting as intermediaries and, in some cases, providing research and education.

Bond brokers tend to charge either a commission or a fixed fee for trading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Bonds make a mostly reliable investment that offers an income as well as a return at the end of the term.

When considering bonds, decisions should be made depending on the credit rating of the entity issuing them. The higher the rating, the less risk in investing – although returns might not be as high.

The highest credit ratings tend to be in Gilts (government bonds) and supranational bonds as well as savings bonds, but corporate bonds offer higher coupon rates. Junk bonds are riskier but often have higher returns if they are completed.

Bonds will have a coupon (interest) rate and a maturity date. This describes the monthly income from the bond as well as the duration of the loan – and when the repayment of the amount will occur. The par value will be the repayment value at the end of the term.

Choosing the right bond broker for your investments is a personal choice, but there are certain things that are important. A well-regulated broker means that your investment will be safer, and while lower fees might be a draw getting support and education alongside research and commentary is useful if you want to understand how best to invest.

WikiJob does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice. The information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal capital.