British retail traders are posting the highest profitability rates globally and demonstrating substantially better risk management practices than their counterparts in Europe and the Middle East, according to fresh data from Capital.com covering trading activity from May 2023 through May 2025.
The findings show nearly 29% of UK traders closed their accounts with positive returns, outpacing Europe's 27% and significantly ahead of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's 15%. UK traders also proved nearly three times less likely to face margin calls compared to MENA traders.
The data, drawn from Capital.com's platform which processed over $1.7 trillion in trading volume last year, points to a maturing British retail trading market characterized by older, wealthier participants who spread their bets across multiple asset classes.
Stop-Loss Usage Separates The UK from Other Markets
UK traders deployed stop-loss orders in nearly a quarter of their trades, roughly 60% more frequently than MENA traders who used the risk management tool in just 15.6% of trades. This disciplined approach translated directly into lower forced liquidations, with only 1.7% of UK trades hitting margin calls versus 5.4% in MENA.
The appetite for risk controls climbed sharply with age. Among baby boomer traders, more than 66% of trades included stop-loss protection.
“UK traders are striking an excellent balance between risk and discipline,” said Rupert Osborne, who heads Capital.com's UK operations. “Nearly one in four trades by UK clients are protected with a stop loss, and this figure climbs to over 66% among the oldest cohort.”
More Money Gives The UK Edge
British traders brought substantially more capital to the table than peers elsewhere. The average UK deposit hit $18,913, with a median deposit of $1,526. That median figure nearly tripled the $550 and $559 medians seen in MENA and Europe respectively, suggesting more consistent funding levels across the UK trader base.
The platform data also revealed a higher concentration of large depositors in Britain compared to Europe. Some 0.16% of UK traders made single deposits exceeding $1 million, versus just 0.03% in Europe. MENA led all regions on this metric with 0.31% of traders depositing seven figures at once.
It is also worth noting that the MENA region is currently one of the largest for Capital.com in terms of volume, accounting for 52 percent of the company’s total turnover in the first half of this year.
Age and Diversification Also Drive Results
Older traders consistently outperformed younger cohorts across multiple metrics. Baby boomers, who represented just 5% of UK traders, closed 63% of their trades profitably. They also showed greater market diversification, with 83% trading two or more asset classes compared to 79% among Gen Z traders.
Across all age groups, the US Tech 100 index emerged as the most heavily traded market, reflecting sustained demand for growth-oriented technology stocks.
The geographic spread of trading activity extended well beyond London's financial district. While the capital accounted for 34% of UK clients, the South East contributed 11.7%, the North West 9.9%, and the West Midlands 9%.
This is not the first study conducted by Capital.com. In 2023, the broker showed that diversification, along with time, can boost retail traders’ profits by 60 percent.
Information Access Correlates With Performance
Traders who regularly consumed educational content and news through the platform posted a 60% profitable position rate, 15 percentage points higher than those who didn't engage with informational resources. Yet only 0.6% of users read 10 or more news items, suggesting significant room for improved research habits.
“We see clear evidence that information is key to better trading,” Osborne said. “UK traders who regularly engage with our news and insights achieve a 60% profitable position rate.”
The profitability gap between informed and uninformed traders mirrors earlier Capital.com research. A 2023 study analyzing 100,000 global clients found traders dealing in five different asset classes typically profited from 60% of positions, while single-asset-class traders showed markedly weaker results.
Platform Growth Continues Across Regions
Capital.com has posted steady volume increases throughout 2025. The platform recorded $656 billion in first-quarter trading volume, an 11% jump from the prior quarter, with 53% originating from Middle Eastern clients. Second-quarter activity saw a 22% quarter-on-quarter increase, pushing past 59 million executed trades.
Earlier this year, Capital.com expanded its partnership with London Stock Exchange Group to integrate market data and AI-powered analytics services into its platform.
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