What leverage can Singapore traders get on CFDs?
Verdict
- At Pepperstone, our top pick, Singapore retail clients can use up to 1:200 on FX, gold and major indices, 1:50 on other commodities and 1:20 on shares and BTC/USD.
- Those limits come from Pepperstone Markets Limited, licensed in the Bahamas (SCB SIA-F217), not from MAS; Pepperstone has no Singapore licence.
- Clients who qualify as professional can go to 1:500 on FX, gold and major indices, but lose the standing negative-balance protection retail clients get.
- MAS-licensed brokers apply their own Singapore limits, which are not in our verified data; check each firm's Singapore margin table.
The leverage you get depends less on where you live than on which company and regulator hold your account. Here are the figures Pepperstone publishes for Singapore residents, what professional status changes, and what to look up at MAS-licensed firms.
Pepperstone's limits for Singapore residents
| Market | Retail | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | 1:200 | 1:500 |
| Gold | 1:200 | 1:500 |
| Major indices | 1:200 | 1:500 |
| Minor indices | Not listed | 1:100 |
| Commodities excl. gold | 1:50 | Energies 1:20 |
| Other metals | 1:10 | 1:50 |
| Shares | 1:20 | Not listed |
| BTC/USD | 1:20 | 1:500 |
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What 1:200 means in dollars
Leverage sets the deposit, or margin, that a position needs. One standard lot of EUR/USD is about $100,000 of currency, so at 1:200 it needs $500 of margin; at 1:20 the same trade needs $5,000. The profit or loss per pip is the same either way, about $10, so higher leverage lets you open bigger trades on less money and lose it faster. Pepperstone discloses that 80% of retail accounts lose money with this entity.
Becoming a professional client
On the international site you self-certify that you meet two of three tests: experience of leveraged trading, cash and investments over USD 500,000, and professional experience in financial services. Pro clients get the higher limits above but only a discretionary, one-time negative-balance cover of up to USD 100,000, where retail clients are not liable for negative equity at all. One Pepperstone page advertises up to 1:1000 on gold and forex for pros, but its own table and costs page say 1:500.
Leverage elsewhere
- XS: its standard account page lists up to 1:2000 with dynamic leverage, without naming the entity; XS lists no MAS licence.
- Pepperstone under ASIC or the FCA: 1:30 on major FX, for comparison.
- IG, CMC Markets, OANDA and other MAS-licensed firms: Singapore limits not in our data; check their Singapore margin pages.
Sources
What is the maximum leverage on forex for a Singapore retail trader at Pepperstone?
1:200, through Pepperstone Markets Limited in the Bahamas.
Does Pepperstone's leverage follow MAS rules?
No. Pepperstone holds no MAS licence; its limits for Singapore residents are set under its Bahamas entity.
Is higher leverage better?
It lowers the margin you post, not the risk. Losses per pip are the same, and a small move can use up a small deposit.
Margin trading in CFDs is risky: a small price move against you can cost far more than you expect. Check that you understand leverage and can absorb losses. This is general information, not financial advice.