ARK ETFs have generated significant interest in the investment world over the past few years. As an innovative investment vehicle, ARK ETFs offer exposure to cutting-edge industries and technologies. With their popularity soaring, many investors in the UK are wondering how they can get in on the action and invest in ARK ETFs.
Investors in the UK who want to buy the ARK ETF may be disappointed to find it unavailable. However, there is a way around this limitation. One option is to use eToro, a platform that allows investors to trade the ARK CFD.
In this article, we’ll explore the best way to purchase the ARK Innovation instrument. Read on to find out how to buy ARK ETF in UK.
What is the ARK Innovation ETF?
ARKK is an actively managed Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) that invests primarily (at least 65% of its assets) in US and foreign equity shares of firms pertinent to disruptive innovation’s investment theme. This strategy emphasizes the long-term growth of capital.
ARKK is filled with innovative enterprises chosen to represent the adviser’s most confident investment strategies in this space. The adviser describes “disruptive innovation” as a new product or service made possible by technology and having the ability to alter how the world functions.
The portfolio of ARKK primarily consists of enterprises in energy, transportation, artificial intelligence, genomics, shared technology, automation, infrastructure and services, and innovations that improve the efficiency of financial services.
Can You Buy ARK Innovation ETF in the UK?
No. Because US-listed ETFs do not adhere to the European UCITS legislation, you cannot directly purchase the ETF. You may have noticed that the ARK Innovation ETF is a US ETF because its ISIN (US00214Q1040) begins with “US”. As a result, if you look for how to buy ARK ETF in the UK and search for “ARK innovation” or “ARKK” in any UK broker, no results will likely come up.
Since you can’t buy ARK Innovation ETF on any UK broker, how do you purchase ARKK?
How to Buy ARK ETF indirectly in the UK
The only way to gain exposure to ARKK in the UK is through contract-for-difference (CFD) trading. Although CFDs are typically seen as riskier investments, the ARKK CFD offers a 1:1 leverage option and has followed a similar trajectory to the ETF, making it a strong choice for investors.
Trading ARKK CFD can be done using a broker such as eToro, and trading a CFD on eToro is comparable to trading an ETF. This is because the ARKK CFD will provide you with the same access to the ARKK ETF by simulating its daily movements.
Best Broker to Invest in ARK Innovation ETF in the UK
eToro is a popular and reliable broker for investing in ARK Innovation CFD in the United Kingdom. With a user-friendly platform, low fees, and a wide range of investment options, eToro offers a great experience for beginner and advanced traders. Also, top-tier financial regulators oversee eToro, giving traders extra security.
Features of eToro
- Products: eToro offers a wide range of products, including ETFs, equities, commodities, crypto assets and forex. Additionally, eToro offers CFD trading on various assets, including the ARK Innovation CFD.
- Minimum Deposit: The minimum deposit to open an account on eToro is $50, which is relatively low compared to other brokers.
- Fees: The fees charged by eToro are typically low, with no commission fees on stock trades and competitive spreads on other instruments. There are some fees to be aware of, such as withdrawal and overnight fees on leveraged positions.
- Regulation: eToro is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the FCA in the UK and CySEC in Cyprus, providing traders with an added layer of security.
- Trader Education: For traders, eToro provides various educational resources, including seminars, video lessons, and an extensive knowledge base. To assist traders in making wise investing selections, eToro also offers market research and analysis.
- Copytrading: eToro is distinguished by its distinct social trading feature. Using this feature, you can research and automatically copy the trades of experienced traders. This is a great way for beginners to learn and potentially earn.
- Mobile App: eToro’s mobile app is highly rated and offers many of the same features as the desktop platform. This can be convenient for traders who want to monitor their investments on the go.
Pros and Cons of eToro
Pros:
- Invest in a wide range of instruments, such as CFDs
- User-friendly platform
- Copytrading feature
- Demo account
- Regulated by top-tier authorities such as the FCA
Cons:
- Limited customer service
- Overnight fees on leveraged positions
- High non-trading feesa
How to buy ARK ETF on eToro
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to buy ARK ETF in UK on eToro:
- Open an account with eToro.
- Complete the verification process by providing your personal information and identification documents.
- Fund your account with a deposit using a credit/debit card, bank transfer, or e-wallet.
- Search for “ARKK” in eToro’s trading platform and select the ARK Innovation ETF
- Click “Trade” and enter the amount you want to invest in the CFD.
What's the difference between ETFs and CFDs?
ETFs and CFDs are among the most traded products in the financial markets. These products were previously only available to institutional investors. Still, they are now drawing more and more attention from professional and retail traders who are lured by their ease of use, even though they are not always completely aware of how they operate. This section compares and contrasts the features and differences between trading ETFs and CFDs.
ETF
An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment fund consisting of tradable shares that can be bought and sold on a stock exchange. ETFs are similar to mutual funds but trade on an exchange like stocks. These are exchange-traded financial products that frequently reflect a certain index. ETFs provide investors with a practical option to invest in a diverse range of assets simultaneously.
CFD
A Contract for Difference (CFD) is a type of financial derivative instrument that enables traders to make predictions and earn profits based on the price fluctuations of an asset without having to possess the underlying asset itself. CFDs are typically utilized for trading in the short term.
Similarities between ETF and CFD
The broad range of markets and asset classes that ETFs and CFDs cover is their primary similarity. Both products offer traders various options, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, etc.
- Allow trading in various markets: ETFs can be composed of various asset classes, such as stocks, currencies, commodities, and indices, among others. Similarly, CFDs can also be created based on the value of diverse assets such as stocks, currencies, commodities, indices, etc.
- Leverage: By using CFDs, it is possible to trade on margin and leverage. Leverage is more difficult to use with ETFs. However, there is a leveraged fund option. Keep in mind that leverage can increase both your profits and losses.
- Predictions in both directions: ETFs generally involve a long position for profiting from an asset value rise, but Inverse/Short ETFs increase in value if their benchmark drops, allowing for two-way speculation. In contrast, CFDs enable you to speculate by taking a long or short position, potentially profiting from price fluctuations.
Differences between ETFs and CFDs
Although these two financial products appear to have many similarities, there are still several differences. Here are some differences between the two:
- Ownership: Buying an ETF entails purchasing the assets that make up the fund, while CFD traders speculate on the direction of the asset’s price without actually owning it.
- Regulation: ETFs are subject to centralized exchange regulations. Conversely, a CFD is a product of the over-the-counter (OTC) market, which gives the broker access to more lenient operating guidelines for trading CFDs.
- Diversification: ETFs expose you to a wider range of assets and specialized markets, allowing you more diversification. Diversification is only possible with CFDs when trading ETF and index-based CFDs.
Conclusion
If you are wondering how to buy ARK ETF in UK, it’s important to note that direct purchases of the ARK Innovation ETF are restricted for investors in the UK due to regulations. However, a viable option for gaining exposure to the ETF is through eToro’s CFD trading platform.
eToro is a reputable and user-friendly investment platform that is regulated by top-tier financial authorities and offers a diverse range of investment options. So, if you are looking for answers on “How to buy ARK ETF in UK”, eToro’s CFD trading platform could be a suitable choice.
FAQs
Can I buy the ARK Innovation ETF directly in the UK?
No, due to regulatory restrictions, investors in the UK cannot buy the ARK Innovation ETF directly. However, they can trade its CFD on eToro.
How to buy ARK ETF in UK on eToro?
If you want to know how to buy ARK ETF in UK, you can buy ARK ETFs’ CFD on eToro by creating an account and placing your trade.
Is it safe to invest in the ARK Innovation ETF via eToro?
eToro (UK) Ltd is a regulated broker that complies with the standards set by top-tier financial authorities, such as the FCA and CySEC. It is also a member of the FSCS. Therefore, investing in the ARK Innovation ETF via eToro can be considered safe.