TradingPlatforms energy trading platfoms
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If you want to get into commodities trading, don’t limit yourself to the gold and silver markets. You may also want to consider trading the energy markets, one of the most important markets for all types of industries.

In this guide we have reviewed some of the platforms where you can trade energy. We will also look at the basics of energy trading, such as the main strategies and the different ways in which you can trade energy.

Energy Trading Platforms in the UK List December 2023

There are several different trading platforms that let you trade on a variety of assets. However, not all online trading platforms support energy trading. This broker should provide you with access to a variety of instruments at low fees and should also have a seamless user interface. There are very few brokers that fit this criterion, and these have been discussed below.

In This Guide
  1. eToro – a regulated platform that allows traders to trade thousands of assets across a variety of product classes. The platform has over 2400 products ranging from stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and indices.
  2. XTB  – an established online trading platform that offers 0% commissions on stock trading. An established online trading platform that offers 0% commissions on stock trading.
  3. AvaTrade – aCFD platform that can be used for energy trading, and it is suitable for experienced UK traders. It offersa leverage of up to 5x for retail traders, and of up to 200x for professional trading accounts.
  4. Trade Nation  – a well-known energy trading platform in the UK.  The platform has a strong reputation and places a heavy focus on security.
  5. Admiral Markets – an established platform that provides a range of different account types to suit all traders. Admiral Markets also supports a variety of charting platforms including MetaTrader, StereoTrader and Web Trader.
  6. PepperStone –  a global brokerage that provides energy trading as well as forex, indicies, commodities, share CFDs and ETFs. PepperStoneis regulated in 7 jurisdictions around the world, including in the UK by the FCA.
  7. Plus500 – a trading platform that allows traders to trade with leverage of up to 1:30. Traders benefits from 0% commissions on stocks and tight spreads on all assets across the platform.
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7 Providers that match your filters

Payment methods

Features

Customer service

Classification

1or more

Mobile App

1or more

Fixed commissions per operation

£1or more

Account Fee

£1or more

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Buy shares and ETFs with low commissions
  • Social and copy trading network
  • Invest and trade crypto with low fees
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
9/10
Features
Cfds Copy Portfolio Etfs Funds Krypto Robo Advisor Stocks
Payment methods
Bank Transfer
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Account Info

Account From
£10
Deposit fees
£0
ETFS
300+
Inactivity fees
£10/month after 12 months
Leverage
Maximum 1:30, minimum 1:2
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
£10
Stocks
3 000+
CFD Position
Fees are charged relative to the value of the position
CFDS
3 000+
Trading fees
£0
Withdrawal fees
£5

Fees per operation

Bonds
-
Cryptocurrencies
1%
CFDS
Spread – Currency from 1 PIP, commodities from 2 PIPS, indices from 0,75 points, stocks and ETFs from 0,15 %
DAX
N/A
Copy Portfolio
0%
ETFS
No commission
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
Variable commissions
Savings Plan
NA
Robo Advisor
No additional charge for copy trading
Funds
N/A

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Commission-Free Trading
  • Free Demo Trading
  • Large number of tradeable assets
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
8/10
Features
Cfds Etfs Krypto Stocks
Payment methods
Credit Card Paypal Sepa Transfer Skrill
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Account Info

Account From
£1
Deposit fees
£0
ETFS
130+
Inactivity fees
£0
Leverage
1:30
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
0,01 lot
Stocks
2100+
CFD Position
XTB charges a 'swap' which is dependant on lot size and market.
CFDS
2100+
Trading fees
£0
Withdrawal fees
£0

Fees per operation

Bonds
N/A
Cryptocurrencies
No commission, spread on CFDs from 0.22%
CFDS
No commission, spread depending on market you trade
DAX
Spread from 0.9 pips
Copy Portfolio
N/A
ETFS
No commission
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
No commission (UP TO EUR 100,000 MONTHLY TURNOVER)
Savings Plan
N/A
Robo Advisor
N/A
Funds
N/A

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Users can access daily market analysis and real-time data
  • Low commissions and tight spreads
  • Available on mobile
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
7/10
Features
Bonds Cfds Etfs Funds Krypto Stocks
Payment methods
Bank Transfer Credit Card Neteller Paypal Skrill
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Account Info

Account From
$100
Deposit fees
$0
ETFS
60+ (only CFDs)
Inactivity fees
$50 after 3 months
Leverage
1:30
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
0.001 Lot
Stocks
90+ (only CFDs)
CFD Position
Daily swap rate of 0.0058%
CFDS
1000+
Trading fees
$0
Withdrawal fees
$0

Fees per operation

Bonds
0.03 - 0.06 pips
Cryptocurrencies
Spreads, 0.1 – 2% markup across different cryptocurrencies
CFDS
Spreads, 0.1 – 2% markup across different assets
DAX
Variable spread
Copy Portfolio
-
ETFS
Spread, 5%
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
Spreads, 0.13 – 0.2% markup across different stocks
Savings Plan
N/A
Robo Advisor
N/A
Funds
N/A

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Low trading commissions
  • Zero withdrawal or inactivity fees
  • Trade Nation is compatible with MT4
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
5/10
Features
Bonds Cfds Copy Portfolio Robo Advisor Stocks
Payment methods
Bank Transfer Credit Card Neteller Skrill
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Account Info

Account From
£0
Deposit fees
£0
ETFS
Variable spreads from 0.45 points
Inactivity fees
£0
Leverage
1:30
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
£0
Stocks
1500+
CFD Position
2.5%
CFDS
100+
Trading fees
Spreads
Withdrawal fees
£0

Fees per operation

Bonds
1.8
Cryptocurrencies
N/A
CFDS
Yes, spreads from 0.3
DAX
From 0.9
Copy Portfolio
-
ETFS
0.45 points
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
0.1%
Savings Plan
N/A
Robo Advisor
Variable spread
Funds
N/A

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Trade over 8000 financial assets
  • It is possible to trade CFDs and place spread bets
  • Low commissions and fees
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
6/10
Features
Bonds Cfds Etfs Funds Stocks
Payment methods
Bank Transfer Credit Card Neteller Paypal Skrill
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

67.3% of CFD clients lose money.

Account Info

Account From
£100
Deposit fees
£0
ETFS
360+
Inactivity fees
£10 equivalent/per month after 24 months
Leverage
1:30
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
€1
Stocks
3000+
CFD Position
Variable spreads
CFDS
4000+
Trading fees
Spreads
Withdrawal fees
1 Free withdraw/ month, 1€ thereafter

Fees per operation

Bonds
Spreads, depending on the market that you trade
Cryptocurrencies
Spreads, depending on the market that you trade
CFDS
Spreads, depending on the market that you trade
DAX
-
Copy Portfolio
-
ETFS
$0.02 per share
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
$0.02 per US share, 0.1% – 0.15% for other markets
Savings Plan
N/A
Robo Advisor
N/A
Funds
N/A

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Zero commissions, low fees and tight spreads
  • +Insights feature tracking customers' activity
  • Access to over 2800 financial instruments
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
6/10
Features
Cfds Etfs Funds Stocks
Payment methods
Bank Transfer Credit Card Paypal Skrill
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Account Info

Account From
£100
Deposit fees
-
ETFS
90+ (Only CFDs)
Inactivity fees
£10 per month after 3 months
Leverage
Forex 1:30, Share & ETFs 1:5
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
Varies on asset
Stocks
1500+
CFD Position
% relative to size of position and position value
CFDS
2800+
Trading fees
-
Withdrawal fees
-

Fees per operation

Bonds
-
Cryptocurrencies
Spread, depending on the market that you trade
CFDS
0.7 - 2 pips
DAX
commissions and variable spreads
Copy Portfolio
N?A
ETFS
Spread, depending on the market that you trade
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
0.7 - 2 pips
Savings Plan
N/A
Robo Advisor
N/A
Funds
N/A

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0
What we like
  • Trade Volatility 75 with cTrader
  • Integrates with MT4 and MT5 trading platforms
  • Very low VIX trading spreads
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
7/10
Features
Cfds Etfs Krypto Stocks
Payment methods
Credit Card Paypal Sepa Transfer
Total Fees (for 12 months)
£ 0

76.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.

Account Info

Account From
$0
Deposit fees
$0
ETFS
100+ (CFDs only)
Inactivity fees
$0
Leverage
1:30
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
$0
Stocks
600+ (only CFDs)
CFD Position
0.05556%
CFDS
1200+
Trading fees
Spreads
Withdrawal fees
$0

Fees per operation

Bonds
N/A
Cryptocurrencies
No commission, spread on CFDs
CFDS
Spreads, depending on the market that you trade
DAX
-
Copy Portfolio
N?A
ETFS
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
CFD Position
Yes, depending on the market that you trade
Stocks
No commission, spread on CFDs
Savings Plan
N/A
Robo Advisor
N/A
Funds
N/A

1. eToro – Trade energy with a regulated broker

etoro energy trading platformseToro is a regulated platform that allows traders to trade thousands of assets across a variety of product classes. The platform has over 2400 products ranging from stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and indices. It is a social trading platform with over 20 million users registered.

On eToro, you can trade energy CFDs as commodities, which means that while you will not own the underlying asset, you will be able to profit from the fluctuations in energy prices.  Some of the major energy commodities that you can trade on include different oil and natural gas benchmarks.

eToro also provides leverage of up t0x for buying and selling energy assets. In addition to this, you can also trade energy via the different energy ETF options that eToro offers, such as the Vanguard Energy ETF, the iShares Global Energy ETF, and the Invesco Solar ETF. For all these ETFs, eToro provides a leverage of up to 5x.

energy trading platforms

eToro has a minimum deposit of £10 for UK traders. The platform offers competitive spreads on energy trading and charges no commissions, in addition to having a social feed where you can get popular macroeconomic updates and news. They have designed the user interface in a way that makes the platform very simple to navigate, and the presence of a demo trading account makes it easier for new users of the platform to get used to it before they start actually trading.

74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. XTB – Trade energy stocks with 0% commissions

xtb global energy trading platform

XTB is an established online trading platform that offers 0% commissions on stock trading. That means it is possible to trade energy stocks for free (although a spread may be charged).

As well as offering a good range of energy stocks, XTB also offers forex, indices, commodities, and ETFs. There are over 2500 assets available to trade on the platform altogether.

To conduct analysis and make informed decisions, traders can choose to use the XStation charting tool. This platform provides market-leading indicators that can be used to carry out technical and fundamental analysis.

XTB trading platform for energy stocks

XTB is also available on mobile via the XStation mobile app. Traders can manage their open trades in the go and conduct market analysis whenever it suits them. XTB is regulated by the FCA and offers 24/5 customer support. Available deposit methods include credit card, debit card, bank transfer and e-wallets.

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when 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.

3. AvaTrade – UK trading platform that is compatible with MT4

avatrade energy trading ukAvaTrade is another CFD platform that can be used for energy trading, and it is suitable for experienced UK traders. One of the biggest standout factors for AvaTrade is the diversity it offers in terms of the different trading platforms, which include the MT4 trading platform, MT5, AvaOptions, and AvaTradeGo. It offers a leverage of up to 5x for retail traders, and of up to 200x for professional trading accounts.

energy trading platform uk

AvaTrade is also one of the top platform choices for automated trading strategies because it offers fast execution times and low spreads (0.28). They also do not charge any commissions, making it one of the cheapest platforms to trade energy. Their minimum deposit is 100 GBP, which you can fund instantly with a debit or a credit card. They are a regulated platform in several jurisdictions, including the FCA in the UK.

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4. Trade Nation – Trade energy stocks with a UK regulated broker

Trade Nation power trading software

Trade Nation is a well-known energy trading platform in the UK that has recently partnered with the Aston Villa football team. The platform has a strong reputation and places a heavy focus on security. Not only is it regulated by the FCA, Trade Nation also protects users’ money by holding it in segregated accounts that are managed by Barclays Bank.

Trade Nation can be used to trade commodities, such as oil, and CFD energy stocks. Users can also access forex markets if they wish to diversify their trading strategy. Trade Nation provides professional trading accounts to experienced users who want to access advanced tools.

Trade Nation european energy trading software

However, the standard trading account comes with a good range of education and analysis features and is also compatible with MT4 and TN Trader. Traders benefit from low-cost fixed spreads and zero commissions.

75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

5. Admiral Markets – Low spread energy trading platform

admiral markets renewable energy trading platform

Admiral Markets is an established UK trading platform that offers stock CFDs, commodities, indices, ETFs and bonds. It is possible to trade a variety of energy assets with low spreads and no commissions.

Furthermore, Admiral Markets provides a range of different account types to suit all traders. For example, the platform offers an Islamic trading account, a fractional investing account and a professional trading account.

Admiral Markets power trading platform

Notably, Admiral Markets also supports a variety of charting platforms including MetaTrader, StereoTrader and Web Trader. The platforms can be used to trade via desktop or mobile app.

To practice new trading strategies, traders can use the demo trading feature. The demo account simulates real-time trading conditions without putting any money at risk. The demo account can be used at anytime and comes at no extra cost.

74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

6. PepperStone – Regulated UK energy trading platform

Pepperstone peer to peer energy trading

PepperStone is a global brokerage that provides energy trading as well as forex, indicies, commodities, share CFDs and ETFs. The online trading platform supports over 1200 instruments and spreads start from 0.0 pips.

PepperStone is regulated in 7 jurisdictions around the world, including in the UK by the FCA. The platform is compatible with various charting tools including cTrader, Trading View, Auto Chartist, MT4, MT5 and Capitalise.ai.

pepperstone energy trading platforms

Furthermore, Pepperstone supports social trading and copy trading. It is also possible to automate the trading process by implementing an API with MT4. Traders can practice using these advanced strategies with the PeppertSone demo account, which is free to use. In terms of educational resources, PepperStone offers real-time market insights, market calendars, articles and news.

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81.7% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. 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.

7. Plus500 – Trade energy with leverage in the UK

plus500 power trading software

Plus500 is a trading platform that allows traders to trade with leverage of up to 1:30. Traders benefits from 0% commissions on stocks and tight spreads on all assets across the platform. Plus500 also offers 24/7 customer support which means that users can get help whenver they need it.

Traders can practice trading with leverage on the Plus500 demo account. The demo account is free to use and is available to all traders. Traders can also access a range of educational materials and analytical tools to inform trading decisions.

Plus500 renewable energy trading

Plus500 is available to use on both desktop and mobile app. This means that traders can manage their accounts on the go. The sign-up process is relatively straight forward and it is free to create an account in the UK.

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81% of retail investor accounts lose money when 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.

What Is An Energy Trading Platform?

Energy trading platforms are online brokerages that allow investors to trade energy assets such as stocks, ETFs and commodities. These platforms act as the middle man between investors and energy assets- making it possible to invest in a variety of assets in one place.

Energy trading platforms work like typical trading platforms. In fact, most of the energy trading platforms that we have covered in this article also offer other assets that can be traded or invested in.

Energy trading platforms provide a range of education and analysis tools that enable investors to analyze the market before making any decisions. Through the trading platforms, investors can learn about different energy assets, conduct market analysis, access real-time market data, place trades and build an energy portfolio.

Available Energy Assets in the UK

Energy is an important commodity that you can trade on the market. Energy has an impact on our daily lives, and it can affect the costs of virtually everything that we use. For example, the prices of groceries, clothes, electronic devices, the gasoline and fuel used in automobiles, and even the heating that is used in households are affected by the prices of energy.

Energy is measured in Btu or British Thermal Units, which is a measurement of the heat content of fuels. In order to get an idea of how much energy is consumed by the world, you can look at information from the US Energy Information Administration. Total world consumption of marketed energy expands from 549 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2012 to 629 quadrillion Btu in 2020 and to 815 quadrillion Btu in 2040—a 48% increase from 2012 to 2040.

UK

There are several different types of energy assets that you can choose to invest in or trade, and each of these has been discussed here in detail. Firstly, energy itself can be classified into two types, renewable and non-renewable energy. Renewable energy refers to the energy which comes from unlimited or easily replenished sources of energy. Examples of renewable sources of energy include energy that comes from water, air, and solar sources.

74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

On the other hand, non-renewable sources of energy, as the name suggests, are sources of energy that are not endless. For example, coal, petroleum, oil, and other fossil fuels can be considered non-renewable sources of energy.

For starters, you can choose to invest in the commodities themselves, through a variety of means that have been discussed below. The major commodities that you could trade or invest in include oil, natural gas, and gasoline.

Now that the different products through which you can engage in trading energy have been discussed, below are the different ways in which these products can be traded.

Trading the Commodities Themselves

One way of energy trading is to trade the commodities themselves. This can be done in 3 ways: the spot market, the futures market, and the CFDs market. If you’re not looking to buy physical energy units such as a barrel of oil or a block of natural gas, then you need to understand the different types of markets that are available. The two main markets are the spot market and the futures market.

The primary difference between the two is that the spot market shows you the current price of the asset, as in the price at which you can immediately buy and sell the asset. This price is derived from the interbank spot market and the different over the counter global markets. This spot price is the benchmark for different types of energy trading and plays an integral role in the industry.

On the other hand, energy futures such as oil and natural gas futures have expiry dates, which could be anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. The normal expiry period for an energy futures contract is 12 months. Owning a futures contract entitles you to buy or sell a particular asset at a fixed price in the future. The price of futures contracts is higher than the spot prices because there are a lot of costs involved in carrying a futures contract, such as storage, insurance, and interest rate financing.

For example, if you buy a futures contract for oil at $75 a barrel with an expiry of 12 months, this means that after a year you will be able to buy a barrel of oil at $75 irrespective of the spot price at the time. This would be beneficial if the spot price at the time is greater than $75. At the same time, you could also sell the futures contract in the secondary market at any point before the expiry at a profit.

There are a few nuances associated with this. For example, depending on where the oil was refined and its quality, there are different benchmarks that are used for oil prices. Two commonly used benchmarks for oil prices are the WTI Futures and the Brent Oil Futures. Both of them usually trend in the same direction but is important for you as an energy trader to know the difference between the two. Brent is oil that is drilled out of the North Sea adjoining the UK and Norway while WTI Crude is extracted in the US.

74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Trading via CFDs

Another way to trade different types of energy electronically is to do so via CFDs which track the spot price of different energy assets. They work the same as trading on other commodities. When you buy a unit of an energy CFD, you do not actually own the underlying asset. However, the price of the CFD will move exactly in sync with the spot price of the energy asset, meaning that you can sell the CFD at any time at the spot price of the underlying asset.

renewable energy trading

Therefore, there are several different ways in which you can trade energy assets directly on the commodities market, but many traders prefer to do so through the CFDs market. According to the source, is estimated that the CFD market will grow significantly in the forecasted period i.e. 2020 to 2027.

Many CFD platforms allow traders to employ some level of leverage to encourage them to take on larger positions. This will reduce the amount of capital that you have to put up yourself while still allowing you to maintain a high rate of profitability, making CFD trading attractive.

Trading Companies Directly Affected by Energy Prices

The second way of profiting through movements in the prices of energy companies is to invest or trade companies that are directly affected by energy price fluctuations. For example, if the prices of oil go up, all the companies that are refining and selling oil will make larger profits than normal, since their costs are relatively the same while their revenues will go up.

Therefore, whenever oil prices go up, this is generally accompanied by an increase in the prices of oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, and Chevron. The same also applies to natural gas prices and the companies that directly deal with the refining, production, and sale of natural gas.

74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

One thing to watch out for while trading energy companies is that the movements in their stock prices are not just affected by the energy prices. The companies can be affected by a variety of other factors too, which is why it is important for the companies you invest in to have solid fundamentals.

When trading or investing in energy stocks, you should consider all aspects of company fundamentals, including its market capitalisation, share price, P/E ratio and dividend yield. In particular, a high dividend payout indicates that the company has relatively stable cash flows and balance sheets, which rewards the investor with consistent dividends.

Trading ETFs and Indices Tied to Energy Prices

The last way to trade energy prices is to do so via ETFs. There are several ETFs that track energy price movements and move in tandem with these prices. Investing in such ETFs will allow you to profit from energy price movements in a convenient manner.

Some of the common oil and natural gas ETFs include the Vanguard Energy ETF, the iShares Global Energy ETF, and the Invesco Solar ETF. In addition to this, you can also invest in a variety of funds that allocate their money among a pool of companies that have something in common.

This is more commonly done in case you wish to invest in renewable sources of energy. Since there are no major companies that trade in renewable energy sources the way there are with non-renewable sources, and the commodities markets for renewable energy assets are not very liquid, it is much better and safer to invest in ETFs and funds for this type of investing.

Ranking Criteria

  • When choosing the platforms to recommend for trading and investing in energy assets, our experts take into account several important aspects. Firstly, the chosen platforms offer competitive spreads for energy trading and do not charge commissions, as is the case with eToro.
  • Secondly, all of the platforms mentioned above are regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including the FCA in the UK. This is very important as it increases trust and security.
  • We have also highlighted the variety of assets that you can trade, as well as the educational and analytical tools that will help you understand how the platform works and get familiar with it.

Energy Trading Strategy

There are several strategies that are used by traders in order to trade energy in the markets. While the strategy you choose will depend on your risk appetite, how much returns you wish to get, and your general preferences as a trader, there are a few tried and tested strategies that you should be aware of. Three energy trading strategies that you might find useful as a starting point for formulating your own strategies have been discussed below.

Use the WTI/Brent Ratio

One common trading strategy for oil traders is to use the WTI/Brent ratio to determine when you should buy or sell both WTI and Brent oil futures. The WTI/Brent ratio, as the name suggests, indicates how many barrels of Brent you need to buy one barrel of WTI. Since the prices of both these securities are correlated, this number can serve as a guide.

For example, if the ratio suddenly falls, then this means that the price of WTI has dropped. Because WTI and Brent are correlated, this would imply that the prices of Brent will fall soon too, so it might be suitable to short Brent CFDs.

At the same time, you could also decide to buy WTI CFDs since the price of gold has fallen and will likely increase again in the near future. Regardless of whether or not you use the WTI/Brent ratio as an indicator of trading opportunities, it is an extremely important ratio that you should know of.

Look at other energy commodities

Usually, all energy stocks move in the same direction at any given time. Some commonly traded energy assets include various oil benchmarks, natural gas, and gasoline. Occasionally, one of the energy assets is not in sync with the others, and this represents a trading opportunity because, in the long run, the asset prices are always in sync.

Trade on Macroeconomic News

The third common strategy is to trade on macroeconomic news. Energy prices are more reactive to major market news and economic happenings than other assets are, because of the volatility in the demand of supply of energy sources, particularly oil.

For example, due to uncertainties and supply chain bottlenecks caused by the pandemic, the prices of oil shot up by as much as 70%. As a general rule, if there is something wrong in the financial markets or the larger economy, energy prices tend to go up.

One strategy is to subscribe to an economic calendar that provides you with all this information so that you are well-equipped to take advantage of the volatility in the markets.

Some important data that you should be following as a part of this strategy include GDP numbers for the major countries such as the US, Europe, UK, China, Japan, and Australia; announcements by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), since they control the supply of oil in the market; Consumer Price Index releases for these countries, as it is a major indicator of inflation in the country; Non-farm payroll numbers since they indicate the level of non-seasonal employment in the economy; Employment data; and other major economic policy announcements.

Risks of Trading Energy

There are a variety of risks associated with trading energy, some of which are systemic to the market and some are specific to the traders in the energy market. These risks have been listed below:

  • The first risk that is systemic to the market is the risk of energy spills, particular in the oil markets. A spill is an unforeseen event wherein a container carrying barrels of oils faces problems and ends up unintentionally leaking oil into the oceans. This has several problems. The first problem is that it harms the environment by harming marine life. It also reduces the supply of oil for the particular market. Both of these factors cause a downturn in oil prices, and cannot be foreseen or forecasted.
  • The second problem is that energy crises and disputes that usually cause major movements in energy prices are more political than economic, which makes them difficult to forecast.
  • Many energy platforms provide high leverage to their traders for trading energy stocks and other commodities. However, this is a double-edged sword, as using increased leverage can reduce the margin of error and open up the trader to massive losses if the trade goes against them.
  • Another risk of trading energy markets is that they are usually less liquid than other commodities, such as gold and silver. While this might not be a major problem trading with market makers using CFDs, but it can be the source of problems if you’re trading the underlying asset in the spot or futures markets.

Is Energy Trading Regulated in the UK?

power trading platform

The buying and selling of all units of gas and electricity are regulated by the Gas and Electricity Market Authority (GEMA). They are responsible for regulating the spot and the futures markets. At the same time, many energy trading brokers, such as eToro, are regulated by a variety of worldwide regulatory agencies. This includes the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA also regulated oil trading, as well as all the CFD platforms in the UK that trade in commodities.

How To Trade Energy Assets

The process of trading energy assets such as commodities, stocks, as well as ETFs is quite straightforward and comprises very few steps. These steps have been discussed below in detail.

Step 1: Identify What Type of Energy Trading You Wish to Do

The first step to energy trading is identifying which form of trading you wish to do from the ones listed above: commodities, stocks, or ETFs. This decision could depend on a variety of factors. Traders who are familiar with fundamental analysis may prefer investing in energy stocks. On the other hand, traders who are comfortable with technical analysis may prefer to trade energy futures.

ETF energy trading platform

Step 2: Identify the Right Platform

The next step is to identify the right platform that suits your trading requirements. This platform should support the asset class that you are trading. Should not charge very high fees or commissions, and should have a variety of products available for trading.

At the same time, it is important to look at the leverage the platform provides, the other charting and analysis feature that have to assist with your technical analysis, their non-trading fees such as inactivity and deposit/withdrawal fees, and whether or not they provide a news feed for fundamental analysis, as well as other factors.

eToro energy trading platforms

Step 3: Select an Appropriate Strategy

The next step for you is to select an appropriate strategy based on the assets that you will be trading. You can either choose from one of the different strategies discussed below or come up with your own strategy. It is important for your strategy to combine both fundamental and technical analysis since both these factors affect energy prices equally. At the same time, you should also backtest your strategy to ensure that it has performed well against the market in the past.

Step 4: Begin Trading

Once you have selected an appropriate asset, platform and strategy, all that is left is for you to begin trading. You should remember to take commissions and fees into account while calculating your profits or losses. At the same time, you should also continually monitor your performance and figure out ways to tweak your strategies and fine-tune them to avoid losses and maximise your profits.

eToro power trading platform

Conclusion

In the UK, it is possible to trade energy on a variety of platforms using several strategies. Before trading energy, it is important to understand the different options that are available so that you can choose a platform and strategy that suits your needs. It is also wise to conduct market research into the energy industry before making any investment or trading decisions.

In this guide, we have discussed some possible energy trading platforms that are available to UK traders. We have also covered some common strategies that are used by some traders. Energy trading comes with financial risk and the strategies mentioned are not suitable for all traders.

FAQs

Which are energy assets to trade?

What are energy trading platforms in the UK?

How much money do I need to trade energy?

Is energy trading legal in the UK?

How can I open an account in an energy trading platform?

References:

“https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/ieo/pdf/world.pdf”
“https://guidehouseinsights.com/reports/power-trading-platforms-market#:~:text=Power%20trading%20platforms%20are%20software,competitive%20power%20exchange%20or%20through”
“https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/cfd-market/”
“https://docs.iconics.com/v10.97/genesis64/help/Apps/WBDT/EA/General_Concepts_About_Energy_Assets.htm”

Nishit Kumar Finance Writer and Analyst

Nishit Kumar Finance Writer and Analyst

Nishit is a NGL Trader Analyst at Akari Trading. He has also worked as an analyst for Morgan Stanley and Onyx Commodities.

Before starting his career in finance, Nishit studied at the University of Warick where he was an active member of the Hedge Fund society. Due to his qualifications and experience, Nishit is considered an industry expert and enjoys writing content that could help traders to make informed decisions.

As well as writing, Nishit worked as Associate Editor for The Economic Transcript until 2021. He has also written for Newsweek and has good knowledge of current events that could affect the financial markets.