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Best Natural Gas Forex Brokers

BrokerNotes.co

Written by BrokerNotes.co
Fact-checked by Steven Hatzakis
Fact-checked by Joey Shadeck
Edited by John Bringans

August 29, 2023

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A member of our editorial team used a proprietary blend of Generative AI technologies to assist in the creation of the content on this page. All information contained herein has been fact-checked by our lead writer in conjunction with our research team, and thoroughly edited by our editorial staff. Learn more about our generative AI policies, our editorial principles, and our testing methodologies.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source primarily composed of methane, a hydrocarbon compound, as well as smaller amounts of gaseous hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, butane, and pentane. Natural gas is formed from the remains of decayed plants and animals that have been subjected to intense heat and pressure for millions of years. Located deep inside the Earth, natural gas is often found in close proximity to other solid and liquid hydrocarbons like coal and crude oil.

Natural gas is notable for being one of the cleanest burning hydrocarbons on Earth. When combusted, it produces negligible amounts of sulfur, mercury, and particulates. Natural gas contributes to about 33% of the energy used in the United States according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Natural gas is a significant commodity in the global marketplace due to its wide range of uses in heating, electricity generation, and industrial applications. As a commodity, natural gas is traded on several exchanges around the world. Natural gas prices are influenced by factors such as supply, demand, weather conditions, economic indicators, and geopolitical events.

Best Forex Brokers for Trading Natural Gas

Here are our picks for the best forex brokers for trading natural gas.

  • IG
    - 9.9/10 Overall
  • Saxo Bank - 9.7/10 Overall
  • Interactive Brokers - 9.7/10 Overall
  • CMC Markets - 9.6/10 Overall
  • FOREX.com
    - 9.3/10 Overall
  • City Index - 9.2/10 Overall
  • XTB - 9/10 Overall
  • eToro - 8.8/10 Overall
  • Swissquote - 8.7/10 Overall
IG
9.9/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit£250.00
Tier-1 Licenses8
Tradeable Symbols (Total)19537

Year after year, IG has shown itself to be the best broker in the forex industry and a fantastic choice for forex traders. Highly trusted and regulated across the globe, IG delivers a wide variety of rich features, market research, and powerful trading tools. Fans of copy trading will appreciate IG’s seamless integration of trading signals into its web platform.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
Visit Site

Join 239,000+ traders worldwide.

(Trading forex carries a high level of risk.)

Saxo Bank
9.7/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit€2,000
Tier-1 Licenses7
Tradeable Symbols (Total)70000

Saxo Bank is a highly trusted broker that operates multiple banks and is regulated across the globe. Saxo Bank delivers an incredible cross-platform experience alongside powerful research and a vast selection of more than 60,000 symbols across multiple asset classes. It’s worth noting that minimum deposits at Saxo are steep.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
Interactive Brokers
9.7/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit$0
Tier-1 Licenses9
Tradeable Symbols (Total)8500

Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted broker regulated across the globe that delivers access to over 100 markets, including forex and CFDs. Its Trader Workstation (TWS) platform offers a variety of advanced trading tools for experienced traders, and IBKR's web-based platform is great for beginner forex traders.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
CMC Markets
9.6/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit$0
Tier-1 Licenses5
Tradeable Symbols (Total)12074

CMC Markets is a highly trusted multi-asset broker regulated in multiple Tier-1 jurisdictions. CMC's powerful Next Generation trading platform for web and mobile delivers a huge selection of markets and a fantastic user experience. CMC Markets also ranks highly for its high-quality research and educational content.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
FOREX.com
9.3/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit$100
Tier-1 Licenses7
Tradeable Symbols (Total)5500

FOREX.com is a highly trusted brand with a long history of offering forex in the U.S. and across the globe. FOREX.com offers its own flagship trading platforms for web and desktop, as well as the full MetaTrader suite. Though its pricing is higher than average, FOREX.com is a balanced choice for traders of all experience levels.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)Yes
Visit Site

A Global Market Leader!

(Trading forex carries a high level of risk.)

City Index
9.2/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit£100.00
Tier-1 Licenses7
Tradeable Symbols (Total)13500

City Index, part of StoneX Group, is an award-winning, highly trusted broker with a long history of offering forex and CFDs across its global offices. City Index delivers a well-designed mobile trading app and a powerful web platform, as well as a large range of tradeable markets (though pricing is just average).

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
XTB
9/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit$0
Tier-1 Licenses2
Tradeable Symbols (Total)6010

XTB is a highly trusted brand with a proprietary platform (xStation 5) that delivers a rich selection of trading tools. XTB also offers CFDs for a wide range of asset classes, including multiple cryptocurrencies. Beginners will appreciate XTB's excellent educational content and the hundreds of lessons that are available via its Trading Academy.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
eToro
8.8/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit$10-$10,000
Tier-1 Licenses3
Tradeable Symbols (Total)3479

Best known for its copy trading platform suite, eToro is a highly trusted broker offering a large selection of cryptocurrency products, CFDs, shares, forex pairs, and a wide range of powerful trading tools. It’s worth noting that eToro is not a discount broker (though it offers zero-dollar commissions for U.S. stocks).

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)No
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)No
Swissquote
8.7/10 Overall
Minimum Deposit$1000
Tier-1 Licenses5
Tradeable Symbols (Total)472

Swissquote delivers a balanced offering of easy-to-use proprietary trading platforms and popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader and TradingView. Swissquote also offers a staggering 3 million financial products. It’s worth noting that Swissquote's pricing is more expensive than what you'd find with low-cost forex brokers.

Apple iOS AppYes
Android AppNo
Proprietary PlatformYes
Desktop Platform (Windows)Yes
Web PlatformYes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)Yes

Ways to trade natural gas

Traders can trade natural gas using several different financial instruments. Here are the most common ways to trade natural gas:

Contracts for Difference (CFD): These are agreements between traders and brokers that reflect the price movement of natural gas. CFDs enable traders to speculate on the price of an underlying asset without actually owning the physical commodity. The primary appeal of natural gas CFDs for traders is the the opportunity to benefit from both rising and falling price movements. Learn more by checking out our guide to CFD trading platforms.

Spot trades: Natural gas spot trades are settled instantaneously and operate independently of futures contracts. They directly reflect the current price of natural gas and exhibi a higher level of volatility than futures. This volatility often leads to complexities in deliveries, which is mirrored in the spot prices.

Futures contracts: These agreements allow traders to purchase or sell natural gas at a set price and specific future date.

Options: These are contracts granting traders the privilege, without obligation, to buy or sell natural gas at a predetermined price and future date. To profit from their trades, options traders must accurately predict the magnitude and timing of the movement in natural gas futures.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): These are publicly traded funds engineered to follow the price of an underlying asset, industry, or index. ETFs present a viable investment vehicle for natural gas.

Pros and Cons of Trading Natural Gas

Pros

  • Natural gas is a commodity that boasts high trading volumes, making it an attractive option for traders looking to leverage their trades and capitalize on commodities with significant liquidity.
  • Compared to coal and petroleum, natural gas is often perceived as a more eco-friendly alternative.
  • When burned, natural gas produces fewer emissions than other fossil fuels, emitting only half the amount of carbon dioxide as coal and roughly one-third less than oil. Additionally, it releases lesser amounts of harmful chemicals such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

Cons

  • Trading in natural gas can carry high risks due to the volatility and unpredictability of its prices. Factors ranging from irregular weather patterns to disruptions in gas supply can dramatically influence natural gas prices.
  • As a non-renewable resource, natural gas will deplete over time.
  • If not managed correctly, the extraction process of natural gas can pose significant environmental hazards.

Natural gas statistics

  • According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas is considered a primary source of energy. In 2021, natural gas made up 36% of the total U.S. primary energy production. U.S. dry natural gas production outpaced total U.S. natural gas consumption by approximately 10.8% in the same year.
  • When it comes to natural gas production, the United States and Russia lead the pack. In 2021, the U.S. production of natural gas reached nearly 934 billion cubic meters, surpassing Russia's production by over 230 billion cubic meters.
  • As of the start of 2020, the estimated total of world's proven reserves of natural gas stood at around 7,257 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). By 2021, this estimate was slightly lower, at 6,822.66 trillion cubic feet.

What forex broker is best for trading natural gas?

IG is the best broker for trading natural gas. IG provides access to 19537 tradeable symbols and 100 different forex pairs, compared to the median number of 982 symbols and an average of 66 available forex pairs across the 60+ brokers reviewed on BrokerNotes.

Check out a gallery of screenshots from IG's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.

What affects the price of natural gas?

Natural gas can be a volatile trading commodity, and prices can be subject to large fluctuations. This volatility can present both opportunities and risks for traders. For example, colder-than-expected winter weather can drive up demand for natural gas for heating, potentially leading to price increases. On the other hand, a warmer-than-average winter or an increase in production can lead to oversupply and price drops.

In addition to its role as an energy source, natural gas also serves as a raw material in the manufacture of a variety of products, including fertilizers, plastics, and chemicals. This adds another layer of complexity to its role as a commodity, as changes in these industries can also impact natural gas prices.

Are there any trading strategies specific for natural gas?

Multiple trading strategies can be utilized when dealing with natural gas. These include day trading, range trading, and breakout trading, among others. Fundamental analysis is another vital strategy, focusing on supply and demand dynamics as well as broader macroeconomic factors that could influence the price of natural gas. Contracts for Difference (CFDs), a type of derivative instrument, offer an alternative method for trading in natural gas. CFDs provide traders with the opportunity to speculate on the price of natural gas and shares related to this commodity.

What time does natural gas trading start?

The trading hours for natural gas can vary, contingent upon the specific exchange. For instance, the NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas futures (NG), a globally recognized benchmark for Natural Gas pricing, operates from 5:00pm to 4:00pm CT from Sunday through Friday, with a daily 60-minute pause commencing at 4:00pm CT.

Alternatively, on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), the trading window for natural gas is open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., covering all weekdays from Monday to Friday.

Alternative Commodities To Natural Gas

BrokerNotes.co 2023 Overall Rankings

To recap, here are our top forex brokers for 2023, sorted by Overall ranking.

Company Overall Rating Minimum Deposit Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard Trust Score Tradeable Symbols (Total) Read Review Visit Site
IG logoIG 9.9 £250.00 0.86 99 19537 IG Review Visit Site
Saxo Bank logoSaxo Bank 9.7 €2,000 0.9 99 70000 Saxo Bank Review
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers 9.7 $0 0.6 99 8500 Interactive Brokers Review
CMC Markets logoCMC Markets 9.6 $0 0.51 99 12074 CMC Markets Review
TD Ameritrade logoTD Ameritrade 9.5 $0 1.25 99 0 TD Ameritrade Review
FOREX.com logoFOREX.com 9.3 $100 1.4 99 5500 FOREX.com Review Visit Site
City Index logoCity Index 9.2 £100.00 1.4 99 13500 City Index Review
XTB logoXTB 9 $0 1.07 96 6010 XTB Group Review
eToro logoeToro 8.8 $10-$10,000 1 90 3479 eToro Review
Swissquote logoSwissquote 8.7 $1000 N/A 99 472 Swissquote Review
AvaTrade logoAvaTrade 8.6 $100 0.92 94 1260 AvaTrade Review
FXCM logoFXCM 8.5 Starts from $50 1.38 95 440 FXCM Review Visit Site
Plus500 logoPlus500 8.5 €100 0.8 (August 2021) 99 2800 Plus500 Review
Capital.com logoCapital.com 8.4 $20 0.65 87 3119 Capital.com Review
XM Group logoXM Group 8.4 $5 1.6 88 1429 XM Group Review
Pepperstone logoPepperstone 8.4 $200 0.77 95 2342 Pepperstone Review
OANDA logoOANDA 8.4 $0 1.26 93 124 OANDA Review
Admiral Markets logoAdmiral Markets 8.3 $100 0.8 93 6942 Admiral Markets Review
FP Markets logoFP Markets 8.3 $100 AUD 1.2 87 10000 FP Markets Review
IC Markets logoIC Markets 8.2 $200 0.62 84 3583 IC Markets Review
Markets.com logoMarkets.com 8.2 $100 1.9 96 2179 Markets.com Review
FxPro logoFxPro 8.1 $100 1.51 90 2249 FxPro Review
Tickmill logoTickmill 8.0 $100 0.51 83 725 Tickmill Review
Fineco Bank logoFineco Bank 8.0 $0 N/A 95 126 Fineco Bank Review
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets 7.9 $0 0.827 77 26000 BlackBull Markets Review
DooPrime logoDooPrime 7.8 $100 N/A 83 10000 DooPrime Review
Vantage logoVantage 7.8 $50 1.30 90 1000 Vantage Review
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss 7.8 $100-$5000 1.6 81 1081 BDSwiss Review
HFM logoHFM 7.8 $0 1.2 86 3500 HFM Review
FlowBank logoFlowBank 7.7 $0 N/A 80 408600 FlowBank Review
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) logoHYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) 7.7 $20 0.6 88 1199 HYCM Review
Trading 212 logoTrading 212 7.6 €10 N/A 77 1785 Trading 212 Review
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets 7.6 $0 N/A 88 4000 ThinkMarkets Review
Eightcap logoEightcap 7.6 $100 1.0 85 736 Eightcap Review
Trade Nation logoTrade Nation 7.5 $0 0.6 83 601 Trade Nation Review
Moneta Markets logoMoneta Markets 7.5 $50 1.27 72 1016 Moneta Markets Review
VT Markets logoVT Markets 7.4 $100 1.2 70 1000 VT Markets Review
TMGM logoTMGM 7.8 $100 0.96 83 12000 TMGM Review
ACY Securities logoACY Securities 7.4 $50 1.2 75 1600 ACY Securities Review
easyMarkets logoeasyMarkets 7.3 $50 0.9 80 199 easyMarkets Review
RoboForex (RoboMarkets) logoRoboForex (RoboMarkets) 7.3 $100 1.4 71 12000 Roboforex (RoboMarkets) Review
IronFX logoIronFX 7.2 $50 1.2 84 340 IronFX Review
Exness logoExness 7.2 $1 0.9 68 112 Exness Review
Spreadex logoSpreadex 7.2 $0 N/A 71 2000 Spreadex Review
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets 7.2 $1 1.44 67 630 ATFX Review
Trade360 logoTrade360 7.1 $250 N/A 76 1062 Trade360 Review
Axi logoAxi 7.1 $0 N/A 81 175 Axitrader Review
GKFX logoGKFX 7.1 $0 N/A 65 354 GKFX Review
Vestle logoVestle 7.1 -1 N/A 78 750 Vestle Review
OctaFX logoOctaFX 7 $25 0.9 70 229 OctaFX Review
FXOpen logoFXOpen 7 $100 N/A 80 87 FXOpen Review
TeleTrade logoTeleTrade 7 $100 N/A 71 500 Teletrade Review
FXPrimus logoFXPrimus 6.9 $100 N/A 71 140 FXPrimus Review Visit Site
Forex4you logoForex4you 6.9 $0 N/A 61 150 Forex4you Review
LegacyFX logoLegacyFX 6.9 $500 N/A 67 425 LegacyFX Review
GBE brokers logoGBE brokers 6.8 $500 N/A 71 500 GBE Brokers Review
Alpari logoAlpari 6.8 $20 N/A 68 105 Alpari Review
TopFX logoTopFX 6.7 Depends on payment method N/A 67 655 TopFX Review
Libertex (Forex Club) logoLibertex (Forex Club) 6.7 $10 N/A 73 300 Libertex Review
ATFX logoATFX 6.6 $500 N/A 67 150 ATFX Review
UFX logoUFX 6.6 $100 3 67 619 UFX Review
Xtrade logoXtrade 6.5 $250 N/A 80 142 Xtrade Review
View More

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At BrokerNotes.co, our data-driven reviews of online brokers are based on our own extensive testing of each broker's products and services as well as the qualified observations of our expert editorial team. In conjunction with our sister site, ForexBrokers.com, we’ve published well over 100,000 words of research and collected thousands of data points across hundreds of variables. Our in-depth trading guides are created with the same rigorous, data-driven approach.

Our proprietary Trust Score rating system tracks data from over 100 regulatory jurisdictions to help forex traders understand the regulatory status of their forex broker and choose a broker that they can trust.

Our editorial team is led by Steven Hatzakis, an industry veteran with decades of experience and a deep understanding of the forex market. Our team conducts thorough testing on a wide range of brokers, platforms, products, technologies, third-party trading tools, and mobile apps. We also test for the availability of high-quality educational content, actionable market research resources, and the accessibility and capabilities of mobile platforms. All of our ratings and rankings are based on the collection and validation of thousands of data points and our in-depth product testing.

Part of our testing process involves in-depth research into commissions and fees. We dive into each broker’s trading costs, such as VIP rebates, inactivity fees, custody fees, bid/ask spreads (we always strive to determine the average spreads for each broker to better serve our readers), and a variety of other fee-based data points.

When testing mobile apps or mobile products, we test on both Apple and Android devices. For Apple, we test with the iPhone XS running iOS 16, and for Android we use the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra devices running Android OS 13.

All of the content on BrokerNotes.co is researched, fact-checked, and edited by members of our editorial team. Our ratings and rankings are driven by our independent data collection. We may use generative AI tools to assist in some of the rote aspects of our content production processes, but the substance of our content, as well as our opinions and evaluations are based on our extensive research and product testing. Read our Generative AI policy to learn more.

Our rigorous data validation process provides our readers with quality data they can trust. Click here to learn more about how we test.

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There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Learn more about foreign exchange risk.

About the Editorial Team

BrokerNotes.co
BrokerNotes.co

BrokerNotes is powered by a dynamic team of writers, researchers, content strategists, data analysts, editors, traders, and investors. We are obsessed with creating the best finance content on the internet, and we are dedicated to helping our readers make great choices for their money.

Steven Hatzakis
Steven Hatzakis

Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Research for BrokerNotes.co and ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. A forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher, Steven advises blockchain companies at the board level and holds a Series III license in the U.S. as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).

Joey Shadeck
Joey Shadeck

Joey Shadeck is the Content Strategist and Research Analyst for BrokerNotes.co and ForexBrokers.com. He holds dual degrees in Finance and Marketing from Oakland University, and has been an active trader and investor for close to ten years. An industry veteran, Joey obtains and verifies data, conducts research, and analyzes and validates our content.

John Bringans
John Bringans

John Bringans is the Senior Editor of BrokerNotes.co and ForexBrokers.com. An experienced media professional, John has close to a decade of editorial experience with a background that includes key leadership roles at global newsroom outlets. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, and conducts research on forex and the financial services industry while assisting in the production of content.

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