Arbitrage trading is a technique used to take advantage of differences in price in substantially identical assets across different markets or in different types of instruments. The process involves the simultaneous buying and selling of an asset in order to profit from a discrepancy in the price in two different markets or exchanges. The existence of arbitrage trading opportunities helps keep financial markets efficient and liquid, and ensures that large price deviations do not exist for extended periods.
In this guide, we explain how it works and list the best brokers for arbitrage trading if you’re a retail investor interested in forex and other global financial markets.
Top-Rated Brokers For Arbitrage Trading
We checked these brokers cater to retail investors looking to deploy arbitrage-style strategies with key components like fast execution and low fees:
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
71.28% of retail traders lose money when trading CFDs -
- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
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- Demo account
- Regulator: CySEC, MISA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
84.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money. -
- Demo account
- Instruments: Spot, Futures, Swaps, Options, X-Perp Stocks
- Regulator: FinCEN, VARA
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA-UAE
- Min. deposit: $20
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- Demo account
- Instruments: Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
- Regulator: SEC, FINRA, MAS, SFC, ASIC, CIRO, JFSA, SC
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- Eightcap 4.6/5 During our last evaluations, Eightcap delivered fast and stable execution, with most market orders filled in under 60ms on the Raw account. We encountered minimal slippage and no requotes, even during volatile periods. Execution also remained consistent across MetaTrader and TradingView, making it well-suited for both manual and algo traders.
- Fusion Markets 4.6/5 When we tested Fusion Markets, execution was impressively sharp. Market orders were consistently filled near-instantly, even on volatile forex pairs. Slippage was negligible, and we experienced no requotes. Their ECN-style setup, combined with raw spreads, helped maintain trade accuracy, making it a strong performer for speed-focused strategies like scalping.
- FXCC 4.6/5 FXCC showed reliable execution with no requotes and only minor slippage on fast-moving pairs during our evaluations. Orders filled quickly on the ECN XL account, typically within 100ms. While not the fastest broker we’ve tested, consistency stood out, especially during news events where other brokers often struggled to maintain stability.
- OKX 4.1/5 OKX is a respected cryptocurrency firm, established in 2017, that offers a large suite of products, from trading to NFTs. Traders can access over 400 crypto tokens via OTC trading and derivatives. With an excellent web platform, developer tools and dynamic charts, OKX is a popular choice for technical traders.
- PU Prime 4.5/5 PU Prime is a forex and CFD broker offering direct market access on forex, commodities, stocks, bonds, indices, and ETFs. With four account types (Cent, Standard, Prime, ECN) and multiple platforms, from MetaTrader to its own PU Prime app, it’s built for active traders at every level.
- Moomoo 3.2/5 Moomoo is an SEC-regulated app-based investment platform that offers a straightforward and affordable way to invest in Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Australian and US stocks, ETFs and other assets. Margin trading is available and the brand offers a zero-deposit account as well as several bonuses.
Community Sentiment
See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
| Broker | Our Users' Rating | Trustpilot Score | Trustpilot Reviews | iOS App Rating | Android App Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eightcap | 3909 | ||||
| Fusion Markets | 10479 | ||||
| FXCC | 227 | ||||
| OKX | 1766 | ||||
| PU Prime | 1878 | ||||
| Moomoo | 736 |
Eightcap
Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms, education via Labs, and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 120+ crypto CFDs, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Eightcap quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs in Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD
Pros
- With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
- Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools and resources, including MT4 and MT5, and more recently the 100-million strong social trading network TradingView.
- Eightcap added TradeLocker in 2026 for certain regions, marking it out as the best regulated TradeLocker broker, while still delivering Eightcap's ultra-fast execution and low fees for active traders on the charting software.
Cons
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
- Despite a useful library of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap still trails IG’s comprehensive toolkit for aspiring traders with its dedicated IG Academy app and 18 course categories.
- Eightcap needs to continue bolstering its suite of 800+ instruments to match category leaders like Blackbull Markets with its 26,000+ assets, featuring a particularly weak selection of commodities.
Fusion Markets
Fusion Markets is a standout option for forex traders looking for excellent pricing with spreads near zero, industry-low commissions and recently TradingView integration. It’s a particularly good broker for Australian traders where the company is headquartered and regulated by the ASIC.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Fusion Markets quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- Fusion Markets continues to impress with its pricing that provides tight spreads with below-average commissions that will appeal to active day traders.
- Fusion Markets offers best-in-class support with very fast, friendly and helpful responses during tests and no frustrating automated chatbot to navigate.
- Average execution speeds of around 37 milliseconds are noticeably faster than many rivals and can help day traders secure optimal prices in fast-moving markets.
Cons
- There is no proprietary trading platform or app built with beginners in mind, a notable drawback compared to AvaTrade.
- The demo account expires after 30 days, limiting its potential as a useful trading tool alongside a real-money account.
- Fusion Market trails alternatives, notably IG, in the education department with limited guides and live video sessions to upskill new traders.
FXCC
FXCC continues to prove itself an excellent option for day traders with a particularly strong selection of 70+ currency pairs, ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips during testing, and a free VPS for qualifying traders.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
FXCC quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Metals, Energies, Crypto
- Regulator
- CySEC, MISA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD
Pros
- The free VPS for qualifying traders and the ability to build or buy EAs on MetaTrader make FXCC a strong option for algo traders.
- Customer support still relies on human agents with response times of under three minutes on live chat during our tests and knowledgeable reps - a welcome break from the frustrating AI chatbots increasingly offered by brokers.
- FXCC’s ECN XL account has been built with active traders in mind, featuring spreads from 0.0 with no commission, while also passing our execution speed benchmark for day traders.
Cons
- FXCC charges steep withdrawal fees on many of its payment methods, including $45 for bank transfers and 2% crypto transfers, which may cut into the returns of traders making regular withdrawals.
- Although regulated by the CySEC, FXCC’s offshore entity operates with weak regulatory oversight from MISA and may not provide safeguards like investor compensation in the event of broker insolvency.
- Although FXCC has bolstered its range of markets with US, European and Asian stocks, the choice of metals and energies is light, and there are no soft commodities.
OKX
OKX is a top pick for crypto traders looking for emerging coins and crypto projects to invest in. Traders can also make use of the broker's copy trading service and automated bots.
William Berg, Reviewer
OKX quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Spot, Futures, Swaps, Options, X-Perp Stocks
- Regulator
- FinCEN, VARA
- Platforms
- AlgoTrader, Quantower
- Minimum Deposit
- 10 USDT
- Minimum Trade
- Variable
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, INR, JPY, SGD, RUB, AED, SAR
Pros
- There's a vast developer lab plus access to a marketplace of pre-built trading bots with auto-arbitrage
- There's an impressive range of blockchain products, including DeFi services, NFTs and games, alongside 400+ established and emerging coins
- OKX has 50 million global clients and a license from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority
Cons
- The broker's platform and features may be complex for novices
- In 2025 OKX agreed to pay over $500 million in penalties for violating AML laws in the US
- The firm offers limited regulatory oversight, though this is common among crypto exchanges
PU Prime
PU Prime is a great fit for experienced, high-volume traders with its ECN account offering tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $1/side. The addition of an easy-to-use copy trading app, alongside the stacked Trading Academy with progression levels, also makes PU Prime a strong option for aspiring traders.
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
PU Prime quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Crypto, Bonds, ETFs, Pre-IPOs, Synthetic Indices (region-dependent)
- Regulator
- ASIC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA-UAE
- Platforms
- PU Prime App, PU Web Trader, PU Social, MT4, MT5, AutoChartist
- Minimum Deposit
- $20
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD
Pros
- PU Prime has added a dynamic leverage system for high-impact economic news releases and weekend gaps, helping to protect accounts from extreme market volatility.
- There’s a great suite of tools for short-term traders, from practical margin and position sizing calculators to economic calendars and strong technical insights via Autochartist.
- PU Prime has upped its game over the years, including launching its PU Social app in 2022, securing ASIC authorization for its Australian entity in 2025, and adding over 200 trading instruments, bringing the total to 1,000+, while 2026 brought around-the-clock share CFDs on prominent US stocks.
Cons
- Getting through to customer support can be fiddly and slow to reach a human – in our latest checks we had to navigate multiple chatbot menus and questions then enter contact details before getting to an agent.
- While PU Prime holds licenses in Australia (ASIC) and South Africa (FSCA), its offshore entities have been flagged by UK, North American, and European regulators for providing services without local authorization.
- The ECN account’s $10,000 minimum deposit puts the best pricing out of reach for some active retail traders who may end up paying more for spreads and commissions on Prime, Standard or Cent accounts.
Moomoo
Moomoo remains an excellent choice for new and intermediate stock traders who want to build a diverse investment portfolio. What really stands out is the broker's user-friendly app and the low trading fees.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Moomoo quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
- Regulator
- SEC, FINRA, MAS, SFC, ASIC, CIRO, JFSA, SC
- Platforms
- Desktop Platform, Mobile App
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- $0
- Account Currencies
- USD, CAD, AUD, JPY, MYR, HKD, SGD, CNY
Pros
- API Skills provides agentic investing to retail traders, whereby users can connect their personal AI agents like Claude or OpenAI to Moomoo's infrastructure to execute algo strategies in plain natural language
- There are reduced options contract fees from $0.65 to $0
- The Moomoo AI assistant, found in the desktop software and app, provides genuinely useful market insights to inform active traders
Cons
- There is no negative balance protection, which is a common safety feature at top-tier-regulated brokers
- The account range is narrow compared to other brokerages in its class with no managed portfolios or robo-advisor solutions
- Moomoo has faced multiple regulatory penalties in recent years, including fines and orders in 2026 that stopped it temporarily accepting some Japanese and Chinese clients
Arbitrage Trading Example
Let’s say an exchange-traded product (ETF) is trading for $50 per share and its intrinsic price based on its individual components should be $50.10.
An arbitrageur will come into the picture and buy the ETF while simultaneously selling the individual stock components in the appropriate proportions – that is, sized to the weighting of the individual components and monetary amount of the long position in the ETF – until the price discrepancy is eliminated.
Arbitrage in Day Trading
Below are examples of arbitrage that day traders can realistically employ:
Merger Arbitrage
Because of modern-day technology, it is difficult for traders to take advantage of traditional statistical price arbitrage opportunities in the market. Proprietary trading firms and hedge funds often exploit these opportunities within a matter of seconds (sometimes even a fraction of a second) with high-powered computing capacity, leaving little opportunity for those with less sophisticated technology.
There are, however, different type of arbitrage in the market outside of basic statistical arbitrage. For example, there is a type of strategy known as “merger arbitrage” (sometimes called “takeover arbitrage”) in the market where traders attempt to arbitrage out risk in the markets.
Example
When company A seeks to buy company B, the former will usually pay the latter a premium – i.e., an amount above fair market value – in order to take control of the firm. If company B is trading at $100 per share before the takeover announcement and company A publicly announces that it will be buying its target for $125 per share, the market will never re-price company B at this new $125 takeover price.
This is due to the fact that it’s possible company A will retract its offer, company B may turn it down (or demand a higher price or engage in other negotiations), regulators may either block the deal or ask one or both companies to meet specific conditions that one or both sides may not be willing to meet, or some other third-party intervention could alter the prospective transaction.
Therefore, company B may price somewhat lower than the $125 takeover price, such as $120 to reflect an 80% chance of the deal closing – that is, high but not certain.
At the same time, because company A is paying beyond the market’s believed fair price for company B (and due to other factors, such as integration risk), company A’s price may fall from its current point in the market.
If company A was trading at $100 per share, it may fall to something lower, such as $96. Given the transaction has some chance of not occurring, the market would price company A’s stock at closer to $95 if there was a 100% probability of the deal going through to completion.
If a merger arbitrage trader believed that the transaction would follow through to completion – or at least has higher odds relative to those priced in – he or she would go long the target (company B trading at $120 per share) and short-sell the acquirer (company A trading at $95 per share).
Relative Value Arbitrage
If two stocks historically have high levels of correlation, it would be expected that, unless their business models fundamentally change, this correlation would continue to hold up.
Example
Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS) have a correlation of 80% since both began trading simultaneously in May 1999. This correlation has run as high as 96% and as low as 50%
If one observed that the current correlation was in the 50%-60% range and was due to Goldman Sachs rising more than its competitor, one could take advantage of this potential opportunity by short-selling Goldman and buying Morgan Stanley. Eventually, the trading pattern between the two could be expected to revert to the mean, after which one would close the position once the correlation normalized.
Liquidation Arbitrage
Liquidation arbitrage is a type of trading by which one invests in stocks trading below their book value. The basic metric to evaluate such cases is the price-to-book ratio (P/B). If P/B < 1 – put another way, the sum of its parts is greater than the whole – then a company is trading below its book value and would be theoretically more valuable than its current stock price if the company were liquidated.
Banks commonly trade at under their book value in environments of low interest rates, flat or inverted yield curves, and high amounts of regulation.
This strategy, like others, is not foolproof. A catalyst generally needs to emerge to push the market in the right direction rather than rudimentary measures of a particular security being cheap.
This is a common strategy under the umbrella of “value investing”.
Net-net Arbitrage
This is a form of liquidation arbitrage but involves a more conservative version of the strategy. Net-net is defined as net working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) minus the long-term portion of debt – i.e., debt with maturity of greater than one year in the future (debt coming due within one year is part of current liabilities).
Some define it as net working capital minus all liabilities. When this value is greater than the market value of equity, this would suggest that there is a high chance that, should the company be liquidated, shareholders would receive more than the stock’s current value. Or the company may be poorly managed and better unlock or realize its value under new stewardship.
Why do these opportunities occasionally exist?
For one, net-net stocks tend to be smaller capitalized stocks and more easily escape Wall Street’s attention.
As companies, they may be “in limbo” and neither value-creating nor susceptible to insolvency risk in the short- or intermediate-term, leading the share price to lag what might be implicated by its balance sheet for extended periods of time.
Moreover, investors might believe that the value of its assets may be overrepresented on its balance sheet (e.g., forthcoming markdown of inventory value) and thus may truly not be an opportunity with a high margin of safety.
More on Arbitrage Trading
- Crypto Arbitrage – How to do arbitrage trading with cryptocurrencies.