What is CFD?

CFD (Contract for Difference) is a financial instrument that allows you to speculate on the price movements of various assets, including stocks, commodities, currencies, indices, and cryptos without actually owning the underlying asset.

When you trade CFDs, you're essentially entering into a contract with a broker. You can profit from the difference between the opening and closing prices of a financial instrument. If you think the price of an asset will increase, you can take a long position and buy a CFD, and if you think the price will fall, you can take a short position and sell a CFD.

CFD trading allows you to take advantage of leverage, meaning you can trade with a small amount of capital and potentially make larger profits than you would be able to with your initial investment. But be careful! It’s a two-way street: leverage can also amplify losses, so it's important to manage your risk carefully. 

CFD trading also allows you to trade a wide range of assets from a single account. This can be a good way to diversify your portfolio and try multiple markets. You don’t have to own the underlying asset, such as the stock or oil, which makes CFDs a very flexible instrument.

It is important you find the right broker if you want to trade CFDs which are legit and transparent about costs. Our experts put together the list of top CFD brokers, check it out!

Once you decided on a broker, open an account and fund your account so you can start trading. You can learn more about CFD trading in this guide.

So let’s sum up the pros and cons of CFDs!

1. ​​​​​​​Leverage: You can trade with a smaller amount of capital and potentially earn larger profits than they would be able to with their initial investment.
2. Diversification: You can access a wide range of financial markets and trade multiple asset classes from a single account. 
3. No Ownership: You can speculate on the price movements of underlying assets without actually owning them, meaning you don't have to worry about the costs and responsibilities that come with owning and storing physical assets.
4. Short Selling: You can take a short position and profit from falling prices, as well as take a long position and profit from rising prices.
5. Hedging: CFDs can be used as a hedging tool to protect against losses in other investments.

1. High Risk: CFD trading is a high-risk form of trading because of the leverage.
2. Fees and commissions: As with any other form of trading, CFD trading also costs money, common charges include: spreads, commissions, administrative charges and overnight fees.
3. Market volatility: CFD trading is particularly sensitive to market volatility, which can result in sudden and significant price movements.
4. Counterparty risk: CFD trading involves a contract between the trader and the broker, which means that you as the trader are exposed to counterparty risk. If the broker becomes insolvent, your funds may be at risk. 
5. Complexity: CFD trading can be complex and requires a certain level of knowledge and trading experience.

Making a lot of money with a small investment if you bet on the right price movement sounds attractive. But it is really important you understand the risks involved because you can lose more than you think you risk. 

We, here at BrokerChooser, do our best to help you understand the financial markets. We only recommend brokers that are regulated by top-tier regulators and out ratings onf brokers are based on time-consuming, expert analysis and are not influenced by money offered by the brokers themselves. 

What are the basics you can do to mitigate your risks: 

• Only choose top-tier regulated brokers.
• Study the underlying asset, whose price movements you will be betting on, to understand the product.
• Use risk-management strategies, such as setting a stop-loss order, when you set your trading position. A stop-loss order is an instruction to close your position if the price of the underlying asset moves against you by a certain amount. 
• Set realistic profit targets and consider closing your position once you reached them.
• Diversify your portfolio. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. 
• Monitor your positions. Keep a close eye on your open positions, and be prepared to adjust your strategy if market conditions change.
• Understand leverage: it can amplify your potential gains, but it can also amplify your potential losses. 
• Be aware of the charges, and fees which will impact your profits and losses.
• Practice with a demo account before trading with real money.
• Watch your emotions, if you get carried away, stop and think about what you are risking.

Some of the costs associated with CFD trading are similar to any other trading, and non-trading costs. These might include deposit and withdrawal, and inactivity fees. Here are charges that are closely related to CFD trading: 

1. Spreads: The spread is the difference between the buying and selling price of a CFD. It's essentially the commission that the broker charges for executing the trade. Spreads can vary depending on the broker and the CFD being traded.

2. Overnight or financing charges: If you hold a CFD position overnight, you may be charged an overnight financing charge. This is because CFDs are typically leveraged products, and the broker is effectively loaning you the funds to hold the position.

3. Commissions: Some brokers may charge a commission for trading CFDs, in addition to the spread. This commission can be a fixed fee or a percentage of the trade size.

So we know by now that you can access a lot of assets, but what are these exactly? 

• Stock CFDs - These allow traders to speculate on the price movements of individual stocks, without actually owning the underlying shares. 

• Index CFDs - You can speculate on the price movements of entire stock market indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100, or Nikkei 225. You can potentially profit from both rising and falling markets.

• Currency CFDs - You can speculate on the price movements of currency pairs, such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD, or USD/JPY. You can potentially profit from both rising and falling exchange rates.

• Commodity CFDs - Here you can speculate on the price movements of commodities such as gold, silver, oil, and natural gas, without owning any of it.

• Cryptocurrency CFDs - With these CFDs, you can speculate on the price movements of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.

• Bond CFDs - Here you can bet on the price movements of government bonds and corporate bonds. 

If you are looking for brokers that offer the best CFD trading conditions, check our top recommendations of the best CFD brokers in the world.

Our expert team here at BrokerChooser specializes in helping you find a broker that best suits your needs. We have reviewed over 100 brokers based on BrokerChooser's unique methodology.

If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to contact us via email!

Are CFDs safe?

When trading CFDs, your losses and your gains can multiply: if the price of oil drops 5% and you have a 10x CFD, you are going to lose 50% (of your capital). CFDs are usually traded on the OTC (over-the-counter) market, which is less regulated than centralized exchanges. The risk is high so it’s crucial to make sure that the broker you work with is legit and safe.

Is CFD trading tax free?

The tax rules pertaining to CFDs are different in every country. In general, profits from CFD trading may be subject to capital gains tax or income tax, while in other countries, such as some jurisdictions in the Middle East, CFD trading may be tax-free. Always check local tax regulations and consult with your accountant or a tax advisor to get the full picture. It is a good idea to keep accurate records of your CFD trading activities, including profits and losses, to ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations.

Is CFD trading good for beginners?

CFD trading can be attractive to beginners as it allows traders to potentially profit from investing a small amount. However, CFD trading is risky due to the leverage and may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who are inexperienced in financial markets. We recommend CFDs for more experienced traders. If you are a beginner, put in the time and effort to learn about financial markets and trading first, and then approach CFD trading with caution and be aware of the potential risks involved.