Can you trade futures at Saxo?
Futures trading is increasingly popular, but it's still something of a niche product aimed at more experienced traders, so not all brokers offer it and trading conditions can differ widely.
Good news: you can trade futures at Saxo, under good conditions and with access to many futures markets. Open your Saxo account or read on for details and comparisons.
I've tested dozens of brokers in recent years, including their futures trading features. Saxo impressed me overall; here's why:
- It has an above-average futures trading score based on fees, products and UX.
- Saxo offers access to 28 futures markets.
- Futures trading fees at Saxo are high.
- Trading platform and research quality make a difference.
- See how Saxo compares to the best in class.
Before we begin, let's see if Saxo is available in your country:
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62% of retail CFD accounts lose money
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Saxo excels in futures-related fees, products, tools
To assess whether Saxo is a great place to trade futures, we calculated a comprehensive futures score that takes into account futures trading fees, the potential number of futures products available, and the quality of the broker's trading platform (including charting and other research tools).
Saxo's overall futures score of 3.7 stars is considered above average among the brokers we cover that offer futures trading. Here's how Saxo scored against some close rivals:
Broker | Futures score |
---|---|
Saxo | 3.7 /5 |
Swissquote | 3.3 /5 |
Interactive Brokers | 4.5 /5 |
Need a refresher course on futures trading? Here's a high-level overview of all you need to know about futures, as well as an expert view on the pros and cons of futures trading.
Saxo has access to 28 futures markets
Saxo Bank covers a lot of futures markets.
You can trade futures on the following underlying asset types:
- commodities
- stocks
- equity indexes
- bonds
- currencies
Broker | Futures markets (#) |
---|---|
Saxo | 28 |
Swissquote | 6 |
Interactive Brokers | 32 |
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62% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Futures fees at Saxo are high
Unlike most brokers, Saxo Bank charges a carrying cost for overnight positions in futures. The carrying cost is calculated on the basis of the daily margin requirement and is applied to positions held overnight. This can be quite a significant amount if you hold the contract for a longer time.
The funding rate used for calculating the carrying cost is based on the relevant Interbank rate, plus a markup (350 bps for Classic accounts).
In the table below, we listed futures trading fees (calculated in USD terms) at Saxo and some of its competitors for trading 10 futures contracts.
Broker | US micro e-mini stock index futures | UK stock index futures |
---|---|---|
Saxo | $30.0 | $37.8 |
Swissquote | $19.9 | - |
Interactive Brokers | $2.5 | $21.4 |
Please note that some brokers don't charge a separate fee for closing a futures trade. In these cases, in order to represent this discount properly, we calculated with just half of the opening fee, because most other brokers charge for both the opening and closing transactions.
So what's all the fuss about fees? Aren't they just a tiny fraction of the value of a typical trade? Well, they may be, but differences in fees among brokers can still be substantial.
🧮Of the 100+ brokers we cover, the cheapest one charges $1.4 for trading 10 US micro e-mini stock index futures contracts, while the most expensive one charges $35; the average fee comes to $11.34.
Even if you're just a casual trader who does one or two futures deals a month, the difference in trading fees can add up to hundreds of dollars a year. Just think of all the goodies you can buy with that money!
Trading platform and research quality make a difference
Trading fees and product selection are only part of the story when it comes to futures trading.
- A great trading interface (especially on desktop) with user-friendly search and order functions, good charting capabilities and quality research material are a futures trader's best friend.
- Costs don't stop at trading fees; if you trade frequently and want to take out money from your account often, withdrawal fees can sting.
In the table below, you can check how Saxo compares to some close competitors in trading platform quality and other features.
Broker | Research score | Charting quality |
---|---|---|
Saxo | 5.0 /5 | Great |
Swissquote | 4.8 /5 | Great |
Interactive Brokers | 4.5 /5 | Great |
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money
See some great alternatives to Saxo
Saxo is great for futures trading, but can you go one better? See for yourself by browsing our top ten list of the best futures brokers in your country.
Alternatively, if you want a broader comparison or have some specific other brokers in mind, you can use our broker comparison tool to size up futures brokers along many different criteria.
Still missing something? Our knowledgeable AI assistant Nuri is here to answer all your futures-related needs.
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62% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Check out this short video for a behind-the-scenes peek into how our experts personally test and evaluate brokers.
Further reading
Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.