Educational Articles

Knowledge Base

Reading time • 3 minute(s)

Trading 24/5: how to trade US stocks outside regular market hours

What is Trading 24/5? Trading 24/5 lets XTB clients trade selected US stocks outside regular market hours, from early Monday to late Friday. Instead of waiting for the US market to open at 14:30 UK time, you can react to news, earnings and global events as they happen. Trading 24/5 applies to selected US-listed stocks. It is not switched on automatically: you choose to enable it in the XTB app and accept the terms before you can trade outside regular hours. This guide explains how US trading hours work, what you can trade with Trading 24/5, the risks to consider, and how to switch it on.

Reading time • 7 minute(s)

Best Options Trading Platform – How to Choose?

Ever stared at a dozen trading platforms and wondered which one will actually make your life easier instead of turning every trade into a tiny stress test? Choosing the best options trading platform isn’t about flashy charts or even “zero commissions” headlines. It’s about clarity, execution quality, trust, and tools that help you think in probabilities, not panic.

Reading time • 9 minute(s)

Options Trading Explained: What Are Options?

Ever wish you could take a position in a stock, crypto, or index without actually buying it outright… and still profit if your market view plays out? That’s the core idea behind options trading. Think of an option as a time-limited ticket: it gives you the right to buy or sell an asset at a set price, offering flexibility, strategic leverage, and yes… a few twists that make this market so fascinating.

Reading time • 26 minute(s)

Gold Trading: A Beginner's Guide

Cultural backgrounds recognise gold as a safe investment by many people around the world – even those who do not deal with the financial markets in terms of supply and demand for gold or price movements. Gold historically is seen as an asset that maintains its value despite economic uncertainty or price fluctuations due to its unique properties. Investing in gold has always been an attractive option for investors looking to diversify their portfolios, hedge against inflation, or simply enjoy the beauty, value of gold and prestige of owning gold as a physical commodity. Today, technological advances have created various ways and gold options to invest in the precious metal - even from the palm of your hand. In this article you will learn how to buy and trade gold, how to trade gold CFDs and what is the best time to choose to start trading gold.

Reading time • 6 minute(s)

Best Stock Broker - How to Choose the Best UK Broker

Many individuals embarking on their trading journey often seek out the best brokerage firms in the UK. In the competitive world of online trading, XTB offers a comprehensive range of services and features designed to cater to traders of various experience levels and trading styles. In this article, we delve into what XTB offers, exploring the tools, platforms, and services that traders can expect to find catering to both beginner and experienced traders.

Reading time • 7 minute(s)

International Women's Day: Why representation in investing is so important

Every year on March 8th, the world comes together to celebrate International Women's Day. International Women's Day is a globally celebrated occasion dedicated to honouring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. It serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality and the advancement of women's rights. Originating from early 20th-century labour movements, and the fight for women's suffrage, International Women's Day has evolved into a powerful platform for advocating for gender parity, challenging stereotypes, and promoting inclusivity in all spheres of life. It's a day to recognise the remarkable contributions of women throughout history, celebrate their accomplishments, and reaffirm our commitment to building a more equitable society for all genders. Let's use this opportunity to celebrate the remarkable women in our lives, raise awareness of ongoing challenges, and advocate for a world where all women and girls have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Reading time • 5 minute(s)

Navigating Black Friday

As the holiday season approaches, so does one of the most anticipated shopping events of the year – Black Friday. Traditionally recognised as the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, Black Friday has evolved into a global shopping phenomenon, offering consumers great discounts and deals. In this article, we delve into research conducted by XTB on the top 10 performing retail stocks for potential investment opportunities. Additionally, we will provide insights for smart shopping strategies during the Black Friday extravaganza, ensuring that you make the most of this annual opportunity.

Reading time • 9 minute(s)

Forex Trading - How to Invest in Forex CFDs

In this article, you will learn the importance of the FX market, the factors affecting it, and how to trade in the forex market.

Reading time • 8 minute(s)

Indices Trading

In this article, you will learn what a stock market index is, the importance of indices, which are the major world indices and how to trade indices with CFDs.

Reading time • 8 minute(s)

Oil Trading – How to Invest in Oil

Crude Oil is recognised as the No.1 commodity in the world. In this article you will learn how to trade crude oil via CFDs.

Reading time • 8 minute(s)

Short Selling – What Is Short Trading?

Investing is usually associated with buying stocks and other securities – it seems intuitive for most people, which is why most of us would rather experience a bull market than a bear market environment. However, investors ought to be aware that they can also benefit from falling prices. Find out how in this article.

Reading time • 8 minute(s)

Portfolio Diversification – How to diversify your trading portfolio?

Every investor has probably heard of portfolio diversification at a certain stage of their investing career. It is perceived as an absolutely essential part of institutional investors’ strategies. However, the importance of diversification among retail investors often tends to be overlooked. Many might wonder - what exactly does diversification mean and how do you diversify your portfolio? In this article, we try to answer those and similar questions.

Reading time • 12 minute(s)

Technical Analysis - What is technical analysis of the financial markets?

Technical analysis is a widely recognised method of chart analysis aimed at forecasting future prices of stocks, currencies or commodities. How is it different from fundamental analysis? Both approaches differ in virtually all aspects.

Reading time • 9 minute(s)

What Is Fundamental Analysis?

Market prices are moving everyday - but why? What is moving them? Why do investors decide to buy one asset and sell the other? This can be explained by fundamental analysis.

Reading time • 11 minute(s)

Trading for Beginners: How You Can Enter the Market Today

Entering the world of trading for the first time can seem daunting for any beginner trader. Which is why we’ve prepared this guide to help you prepare a plan for how you can enter the markets in a responsible way that can maximise your chances of success. Read on to find out how you can enter the market with no prior trading experience.

Reading time • 5 minute(s)

Chart Patterns: A Detailed Guide

Chart patterns are a popular method used in technical analysis to analyse and predict price movements in the financial markets. Traders and investors use chart patterns to identify potential entry and exit points in the market, which can help them make more informed trading decisions. These patterns are formed by the price movements of a financial instrument, such as a stock, currency pair, commodity, or index, over a specific period of time. Here, we'll explore some common chart patterns and their characteristics.

Reading time • 9 minute(s)

Women In Trading: Is Trading Still A Male Dominated Industry?

Discover how XTB is helping women to enter the investing world and gain confidence in a male dominated industry. A panel discussion featuring Caroline Rundell aka Trading Angel, Annika Masrani aka Finpact and Emily from Mindfully Trading.

Reading time • 5 minute(s)

5 financial mistakes to avoid when investing online

Investments can be an excellent opportunity to grow your wealth, but it is essential to proceed with caution. Avoiding common mistakes is critical to ensuring lasting financial success. In this article, we'll look at the five most common mistakes investors tend to make and give you tips on how to avoid them.

Reading time • 7 minute(s)

The Best Trading Platform for Beginners

A reliable platform is the basis for both traders and investors. The XTB platform combines all the features of a professional trading platform, which was also built with beginners in mind. In this article you will learn: What is a trading platform? Use cases of best trading platforms Why is the correct choice of platform so important for beginners? Features of best trading platforms for beginners xStation5 - innovative trading platform

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