ETFs are bought and sold on a stock exchange in much the same way as company shares. They can track a sector, an index, stocks from a country or region, commodities and currencies. ETFs are also available with leverage or short positions and can be a good way to diversify your portfolio.

An etf trading platform provide a wealth of information about the funds they offer, including their history and performance, so that investors can make informed decisions about which ETFs to include in their portfolios. It should also offer a variety of order types, including market, limit and stop-limit orders, and it should be easy to create custom screeners to narrow down the list of potential ETFs to trade.

Some brokerages specialize in ETF trading, offering a wide selection of funds and competitive commission rates. TD Ameritrade, for example, offers a clean and efficient interface with top-tier research and analysis tools and advanced trading features. Its robust screener includes 45 preset ETF screeners and enables traders to customize their search criteria. The firm also offers advanced functionality with thinkorswim, its flagship platform that provides further technical analysis and trend-generating functionalities.

Best Free Trading Platforms in the UK for 2024

IG is another ETF specialist that offers a great balance between quality and cost. Its advanced trading platform gives access to over 5400 global ETFs with advanced charting and analytics tools. It also offers low costs, a comprehensive range of order types and a smart portfolio capability that allows investors to choose from pre-built BlackRock ETFs based on their risk appetite and long-term investment goals.…