IC Markets
FP Markets Stock Trading: Share CFDs, Commissions, Hours and Swaps
FP Markets offers share CFDs on US, UK, European, Hong Kong and Australian companies, with commissions from 2 cents a share in the US and 0.10% in the UK and Europe. You don't own the shares, and positions pay daily financing. Here is how FP Markets stock trading works.
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FP Markets lets you trade shares as CFDs. Its FAQ explains that with a CFD you trade on price only and don't take ownership of the underlying shares. FP Markets says it offers over 10,000 CFD products in total, with share CFDs covering large companies across the US, UK, Europe, Hong Kong and Australia. Unlike forex on the Standard account, share CFDs carry a commission on every trade.
FP Markets' account types page lists stocks on the Raw account, and its fees tables show share CFDs on MT5 and cTrader.
| Product | Share CFDs (no ownership) |
|---|---|
| Markets | US, UK, Europe, Hong Kong, Australia |
| US commission | 2 cents per share per side, min US$2 |
| UK and Europe | 0.10% per side, min £2 or €2 |
| Platforms (fees tables) | MT5, cTrader |
| Swap | Percentage-based, triple on Friday |
Commissions by market
| Market | Commission per side | Minimum per side |
|---|---|---|
| US (NYSE, NASDAQ) | 2 cents per share | US$2 |
| United Kingdom | 0.10% of value | £2 |
| Europe | 0.10% of value | €2 |
| Hong Kong | 0.20% of value | US$2 |
| Australia | 0.05% of value | A$5 |
FP Markets charges the commission when you open and again when you close. ETF CFDs on NYSE and NASDAQ follow the US rate.
Worked examples
Buy 100 US shares and sell them later: at 2 cents a share, each side costs $2, so the round trip is $4. With 50 shares, each side would be $1, but the US$2 minimum applies, so you still pay $4 round trip. For UK shares, a £10,000 position costs 0.10%, or £10, each way.
| Trade | Commission per side | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| 100 US shares | $2 | $4 |
| 500 US shares | $10 | $20 |
| £10,000 UK position | £10 | £20 |
| £1,000 UK position | £2 (minimum) | £4 |
Overnight financing
Share CFDs held overnight pay a swap calculated as a percentage. FP Markets' FAQ gives the formula: lots × swap rate × closing price ÷ 100 ÷ 360, per day. Its example: one lot of Apple at a closing bid of $164.96 with a long swap rate of 5 costs about $0.02 a day, as quoted. Share CFDs take their weekend charge on Friday night, with indices, energies and crypto.
Trading hours
| Market | Hours (server time, GMT+2/+3) |
|---|---|
| US stocks | 16:30 to 23:00 |
| UK stocks | 11:00 to 19:30 |
| European stocks | 11:00 to 19:30 |
| Australian stocks | 01:00 to 07:00 |
| Hong Kong stocks | 04:30 to 07:00, 08:00 to 11:00 |
Share CFDs can only be traded while the underlying exchange is open, and prices can gap at the open. Our FP Markets trading hours guide covers other markets.
Dividends and corporate actions
Because you don't own the shares, you have no voting rights. Brokers typically adjust share CFD positions for dividends and corporate actions such as splits; check FP Markets' contract specifications and legal documents for how it treats them before holding through an ex-dividend date.
Leverage on shares
Share CFDs carry lower leverage than forex. Check the margin for each share in MetaTrader by right-clicking the symbol in Market Watch and opening Specifications. Our FP Markets leverage guide explains margin.
Placing a share CFD trade
- Open a Raw account on MT5 or cTrader.
- Find the share in Market Watch; right-click and choose Show all if it is hidden.
- Check the hours and the commission for that market.
- Set your size and a stop loss, then place the trade.
- Close before the weekend if you don't want Friday's triple financing.
Is FP Markets good for shares?
For short-term trading across several stock markets from one account, with the ability to go short, FP Markets' share CFDs are competitive, particularly its 2-cent US rate. Long-term investors are better served by buying shares outright, since daily financing builds up and CFDs give no ownership. Compare with XM vs FP Markets.
Shares vs indices
| Share CFDs | Index CFDs | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Yes, per market | None |
| Hours | Exchange session only | Nearly 24 hours on major indices |
| Single-company risk | Yes | Spread across the index |
| Triple financing | Friday | Friday |
If you want exposure to US tech without company-specific earnings risk, an index such as the US100 trades longer hours and carries no commission. Our FP Markets trading hours guide lists index sessions.
Australian shares
FP Markets' FAQ says ASX products are made available on request by emailing its onboarding team, and that ASX pricing carries an A$10 monthly data fee charged whether or not you log in or trade. Ask before enabling them if you only trade occasionally.
Earnings and gaps
Share prices often gap when companies report results or news breaks outside market hours. Because share CFDs only trade during the exchange session, a stop loss can only fill at the first price after the open, which may be far from your level. FP Markets says it can't guarantee stop losses.
Check the reporting calendar for any share you hold, and reduce or close positions before results if a large gap would hurt your account.
On FP Markets' US share CFDs, the $2 minimum per side is the number to watch. For small trades it dominates the cost, so either trade sizes where 2 cents a share exceeds it, or accept that small positions cost $4 round trip.
Ethan bought 300 shares of a US tech company as a CFD on MT5. The commission was $6 each way. He closed the position two days later before the weekend, paying a few cents of financing and avoiding Friday's triple charge.
Frequently asked
Can I trade stocks with FP Markets?
Yes, as share CFDs on US, UK, European, Hong Kong and Australian markets. You don't own the shares.
What is FP Markets' commission on US shares?
2 cents per share per side, with a minimum of US$2 per side.
What is FP Markets' commission on UK shares?
0.10% of the trade value per side, with a minimum of £2.
Which FP Markets platforms offer share CFDs?
FP Markets' fees tables list share and ETF CFDs on MT5 and cTrader, and its account page lists stocks on the Raw account.
What are FP Markets' US stock trading hours?
16:30 to 23:00 server time (GMT+2 or GMT+3).
How are swaps on share CFDs calculated at FP Markets?
As a percentage: lots × swap rate × closing price ÷ 100 ÷ 360 per day.
Do I get dividends on FP Markets share CFDs?
You don't own the shares. Check FP Markets' contract specifications and legal documents for how dividends and corporate actions are handled.
Is there a minimum commission on FP Markets UK shares?
Yes, £2 per side, or 0.10% of the trade value if that is higher.
Can I trade Australian shares at FP Markets?
FP Markets' FAQ says ASX products are available on request, with an A$10 monthly data fee.
Can I short shares at FP Markets?
Yes. Share CFDs let you go long or short.
Does FP Markets guarantee stops on shares?
No. FP Markets fills orders at the first available price once triggered.
When are FP Markets share swaps charged?
At 00:00 server time, with a triple charge for the weekend on Friday night.
Are ETFs available at FP Markets?
Yes. ETF CFDs on NYSE and NASDAQ are listed with the US share commission.
Do FP Markets share CFDs need a Raw account?
FP Markets' account types page lists stocks on the Raw account, so open a Raw account on MT5 or cTrader to trade them.
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