Shares trading

Need an insight into the shares market? Here’s some key information on the world of buying and selling stocks.

What is shares trading?

Shares trading is the process of buying and selling company shares in the hope of benefitting from price fluctuations. You can buy and sell shares directly on a stock exchange, or trade over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives on their prices.

Traders generally aim to capitalise on short-term market moves. They may buy shares they expect to go up, hold them for a short period and then sell once the market rises. That differs from traditional stock investing, which involves buying and holding shares for the long term. As with all trading and investment products, there is always the possibility of loss as well as gain.

Why trade shares?

Shares are among the most popular markets to trade. They offer a way to gain exposure to a singular company’s performance, and also to global economic health. Trading on shares gives you the opportunity to go short as well as long, without having to physically buy the underlying. 

You can also access leverage to amplify your exposure. This can magnify your profits but also your losses, as both will be based on the full value of the position.

Why trade on shares with Capital.com?

Trade when it matters and sharpen your analysis with our range of smart technical-analysis tools. 

We offer spread betting and CFD trading on over 2,500 shares, giving you exposure to their price movements without having to buy them outright. We also offer extended hours on key US stocks, so you can trade on any price movements around earnings announcements that are typically announced after the market close.

Identify potential entry and exit points with our smart, intuitive charting tools, and set price alerts to notify you of significant market moves. Protect yourself against adverse market moves with our range of risk-management tools, including trailing stops which lock in positive market moves while protecting against losses.^*

Learn more about shares trading

^*Stop-losses may not be guaranteed.