Which brokers let Singapore traders trade CFDs on margin?
Verdict
- Pepperstone lets Singapore residents trade CFDs on margin through Pepperstone Markets Limited (SCB Bahamas, SIA-F217), with retail margin from 0.5% on forex, gold and major indices.
- Pepperstone has no MAS licence. If you want a Singapore-licensed margin account, IG Asia, CMC Markets Singapore, Saxo, OANDA, Plus500SG, eToro Singapore, StoneX and Phillip Securities hold MAS licences.
- XS also accepts Singapore residents and publishes a 40% margin call and 20% stop-out.
- Tiger Brokers is MAS-licensed but does not offer CFDs; Capital.com does not accept Singapore residents.
Every CFD is a margin product: you post a deposit and the broker lends exposure on the rest. The real questions are how much margin each broker asks for, who regulates the company, and what happens when your margin runs low.
Margin rates at Pepperstone
Pepperstone sets retail margin by asset class on its international costs page, and the SCB retail tiered-margin table raises the requirement as position size grows. Here is what the base rates mean in money:
| Instrument | Margin rate | Margin on USD 10,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Forex, gold, major indices | 0.5% (1:200) | USD 50 |
| Commodities except gold | 2% (1:50) | USD 200 |
| Stocks | 5% (1:20) | USD 500 |
| BTC/USD | 5% (1:20) | USD 500 |
| Other metals | 10% (1:10) | USD 1,000 |
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Brokers with a MAS licence that offer CFDs
These firms name a Singapore company with a MAS licence. Their margin rates are not in our fact set, so compare them on each site.
- IG Asia Pte Ltd (capital markets services licence).
- CMC Markets Singapore.
- Saxo Capital Markets Pte. Ltd.
- OANDA (capital markets services licence, Co. Reg. 200704926K).
- Plus500SG Pte Ltd (CMS100648).
- eToro Singapore Pte. Ltd. (CMS101824).
- StoneX Financial Pte. Ltd., trading as FOREX.com in Singapore.
- Phillip Securities (POEMS CFDs), with no minimum deposit to open a CFD account.
When margin runs out
Margin trading fails through the stop-out: when equity falls below a set share of the margin in use, the broker starts closing positions. XS publishes its levels, a margin call at 40% and stop-out at 20%. Our data does not include Pepperstone's levels, so check them in your client terms. At Pepperstone, retail clients are protected from negative equity under the SCB terms, so a gap cannot leave you owing money; Pro clients have only a discretionary cover up to USD 100,000.
Two brokers that do not fit
- Tiger Brokers: MAS-licensed, but its Singapore offer is stocks, ETFs, options and futures; FX exposure is through CME futures, not CFDs.
- Capital.com: offers CFDs on margin elsewhere, but does not accept Singapore residents.
Sources
Margin and licensing pages.
Is margin trading the same as borrowing money?
In effect, yes: your margin is a deposit and the broker gives you exposure larger than it. Losses are calculated on the full position, not on the margin.
What is the minimum to start trading CFDs on margin at Pepperstone?
Pepperstone asks for USD 10 or the local equivalent to fund an account; how much margin each trade needs depends on its size and instrument.
Do I pay interest on CFD margin positions?
Positions held overnight usually carry a financing charge (swap). Check the swap shown in your platform for each instrument.
Trading CFDs on margin magnifies both gains and losses, and you can lose money rapidly. Only trade with money you can afford to lose. This page is not investment advice.