IG Group continued to see strong growth in the number of accounts opened over the first quarter of its financial year, the spread betting group said yesterday. Revenue for the three months to end August was up 29 per cent to £53m.

During the quarter IG, which benefits from volatility in stock and foreign exchange markets, as well as from betting on major sporting and political events, signed up 45 per cent more customers for its spread betting and contracts for difference accounts than it had in the same period of 2007.