RoboForex Stock Trading: R StocksTrader, Real Stocks, CFDs and Costs

RoboForex's stock offering centres on R StocksTrader, a multi-asset platform it launched in 2016. RoboForex says it now lists more than 12,000 instruments, including more than 3,000 real stocks on the NYSE and NASDAQ, over 8,400 US stock CFDs, European stock CFDs, ETFs, indices, currencies, metals and oil. It runs in a browser and as a mobile app. An R StocksTrader account opens from $100; real US stocks need a deposit from $10,000.

MetaTrader 4 and 5 accounts also offer CFDs on US stocks on Pro, Prime and ECN, but R StocksTrader is RoboForex's dedicated stock platform.

What you can trade

Figures from RoboForex's R StocksTrader trading conditions. Orders can be placed or modified 24/7; they execute during trading hours.

Costs

RoboForex doesn't charge a separate commission on R StocksTrader orders. Instead, it adds a markup to the market spread, which it says tends towards 0.15% of the instrument's value. Leveraged positions held overnight pay interest, listed at -7% a year on US stocks above 1:1 leverage and 0% at 1:1. Its formula is opening price × volume × interest ÷ 100 ÷ 360. RoboForex's example: 100 Twitter shares at $25 with 7% interest costs about $0.49 a night.

If your account currency differs from the instrument's, a markup applies to the conversion rate. RoboForex says there are no market data fees, monthly fees or minimum volume requirements.

A worked example

RoboForex's own example: buy 50 shares of a stock at $117.03. Exposure is $5,851.50; with a 5% margin requirement, you need $292.57. If you later close at $132.35, the gross profit is ($132.35 − $117.03) × 50 = $766, less any interest for nights held.

Dividends and splits

R StocksTrader handles corporate actions automatically. On the ex-dividend date, long positions receive the dividend as a cash adjustment and short positions are charged it, at 15:00 server time. RoboForex deducts 15% US tax from dividends on US stocks, marked 'Dividend tax'. For stock splits, positions are adjusted on the server at 15:00, and active pending orders on that stock are removed.

Hedge or netting

When opening an R StocksTrader account, you choose netting, with one position per instrument, or hedging, which allows several positions in opposite directions. Copy trading on R StocksTrader needs a hedge account.

Platform tools

• Level II market depth and Time & Sales.
• A free strategy builder that needs no programming, with backtesting on data back to 1970.
• Watchlists such as Top gainers and Volume leaders.
• Order management outside trading hours.
• Copy trading on the mobile app and mobile web version.

Swap-free and leverage

R StocksTrader's conditions list swap-free for positions at 1:1 leverage only, and leverage on an R StocksTrader account can't be changed after opening. If you want unleveraged, swap-free stock holdings, open the account at 1:1. Our RoboForex leverage guide explains the rules.

Real stocks vs stock CFDs

R StocksTrader lists both real US stocks and US stock CFDs. Real stocks need a deposit from $10,000 and are capped at 4,999 shares per order; stock CFDs are available from a $100 account, with up to 20,000 shares per order and more than 8,400 instruments. Both carry leverage up to 1:20 and the same -7% interest above 1:1.

For most traders starting with a smaller balance, CFDs are the practical route. Those investing larger sums for the long term may prefer the real stock section, ideally at 1:1 leverage to avoid interest.

Before you trade stocks

Check the trading hours: US stocks execute between 13:30 and 20:00 UTC, though you can place orders at any time. Look up the ex-dividend dates of anything you'll hold, since short positions are charged dividends. And decide on hedging or netting when you open the account, as that setting stays with it.

Order types on R StocksTrader

R StocksTrader offers market orders, buy and sell limit orders, buy and sell stop orders, stop loss, take profit and trailing stops. Pending orders can be good till cancelled, valid for the day, the week or the month, or until a date you choose. For stocks, stop orders trigger on the last traded price rather than the bid or ask.

Orders submitted outside trading hours wait until the session opens. Any order still in 'Filling' status at the close of each day is cancelled automatically.

Hedging and netting for stocks

Long-term investors often prefer netting, which keeps one position per stock and makes the account easier to read. Active traders who want to hold opposite positions, or use copy trading, need hedging.

For anyone building a long-term share portfolio, R StocksTrader at 1:1 leverage avoids interest entirely, while still giving access to dividends and thousands of US stocks.

Short sellers should watch dividend dates closely, as RoboForex debits dividends from short positions on the ex-dividend date.

Frequently asked

Related reading

• RoboForex platforms
• RoboForex fees
• RoboForex account types
• RoboForex copy trading
• FP Markets stocks
• Our full RoboForex review