US trading platform Robinhood has announced that it will launch trading options for its UK customers.

Options are contracts between buyers and sellers whose value is derived from an underlying asset, such as a stock or an index. These contracts fall under the category of financial instruments known as derivatives.

Robinhood said its customers in the UK can now trade options on stocks and indices which will offer investors the ability to trade on broad market indices which will offer more diversification and flexibility.

Robinhood will also provide educational resources, including an options guide and video series, to enable customers to understand how to trade options. There will also be round the clock support for customers which will include help from options specialists.

The service will be rolled out to all UK customers over the next few days.

The company added that it plans to continue adding new products and features for its UK customers to meet their evolving needs.

“Options trading has historically been difficult for UK investors to access due to high fees, complicated platforms, and limited educational resources,” said Jordan Sinclair, president of Robinhood UK. “Today, we’re excited to roll out a US options trading experience that is both affordable and accessible, and leverages Robinhood’s powerful suite of tools to help UK investors take control of their financial future.”

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