1.Choose how you want to buy European stocks – investing or trading
Most of the time, you can buy European shares directly, unlike many other foreign stocks which need to be dual-listed in the UK or US.
There are two ways you can get exposure to European stocks – you can either invest in them directly or you can trade them using derivatives. Here’s a quick overview of each option:
Investing in European shares
Investing in European shares involves buying the shares outright by putting up the full value of the position.
Why would I invest?
- You want to enjoy dividends
- You plan to invest over the long term
- You want to own shares outright
- You want voting rights in the companies you invest in
Trading European shares
Trading European shares involves derivative products like spread bets and contracts for difference (CFDs).
Why would I trade?
- You can open a position with just a small initial deposit called margin
- You can make a profit whether the stock’s value goes up or down
- You don’t pay tax on spread bets1
- CFDs can be used to offset profits against losses as a tax deduction1
3.Understand the charges to buy European shares
If you’re looking to invest in European stocks, then you’ll pay a minimum commission of €10 to open a position. We’ll automatically convert your pounds into euros for just a 0.5% fee. There may be other charges, like custody fees, to consider.
How much does it cost to buy European shares from the UK?
| Commission per trade | Minimum charge online | Minimum charge phone | |
| Ireland | 0.1% | €10 | €50 |
| Germany | 0.1% | €10 | €50 |
| Netherlands | 0.1% | €10 | €50 |
| Belgium | 0.1% | €10 | €50 |
| Austria | 0.1% | €10 | €50 |
See our full share dealing charges
You’ll incur our standard costs when you trade derivatives on European shares. There are no commission charges on spread bets but you’ll pay commission on CFDs.
Learn more about our full spread bet and CFD charges