What is Spread Betting
How Spread Betting Works
When you place a spread bet, you are not buying or selling the actual currency pair. Instead, you are betting on whether the market price will rise or fall. The broker quotes two prices: the bid (sell) and the ask (buy). The difference between them is the 'spread'. You choose a stake per point—for example, $1 per pip. If the market moves 10 pips in your direction, you make $10. If it moves against you, you lose $10.
Why Nauru Traders Use Spread Betting
For retail traders in Nauru, spread betting is attractive because it is generally free from capital gains tax, as it is considered a form of gambling in many jurisdictions. Nauru does not tax trading profits, but spread betting adds an extra layer of tax efficiency. You can trade major forex pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY with leverage, meaning you only need a small margin to control a larger position.
Example with USD
Imagine you think the EUR/USD will rise. The broker quotes a spread of 1.1050/1.1052. You place a 'buy' spread bet at 1.1052 with a stake of $5 per pip. If the price rises to 1.1062, you earn 10 pips × $5 = $50 profit. If it falls to 1.1042, you lose 10 pips × $5 = $50. Your risk is limited to your stop-loss level.