CFD trading
Trade contracts for difference (CFDs) and access thousands of instruments with competitive spreads. Trade CFDs on forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, shares and treasuries.
New to CFD trading? Learn more with our introduction to CFDs.
Competitive spreads
Award-winning platform†
Risk management tools
Trade over 9,500 instruments
100% automated execution
What are CFDs?
Contracts for difference (CFDs) are derivative products which enable you to trade on the price movement of underlying financial assets (such as forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, shares and treasuries).
A CFD is an agreement to exchange the difference in the value of an asset from the time the contract is opened until the time at which it's closed. With a CFD you never actually own the asset or instrument you have chosen to trade, but you can still benefit if the market moves in your favour, or make a loss should the market move against you.
CFDs are a leveraged product, which means that you only need to deposit a small percentage of the full value of the trade in order to open a position. This is called ‘trading on margin’. While trading on margin allows you to magnify your returns, losses will also be magnified as they are based on the full value of the position, meaning you could lose all of your capital.
How to trade CFDs
1. Choose the instrument you wish to trade
You can trade CFDs on thousands of instruments, including currencies, indices, commodities, shares and treasuries.
2. Decide whether you want to buy or sell
Go long (place a buy trade) or short (place a sell trade) based on whether you expect prices to rise or fall.
3. Choose your trade size
Your profit or loss depends on the number of points the market moves in your favour or against you, multiplied by the number of CFD units you have chosen to trade.
4. Place your trade
Manage your risk by adding any stop-loss or guaranteed stop-loss orders and then confirm your trade.
5. Monitor your position
Follow your CFD trade from the position screen. If you wish, you can close out or partially close a position at any time.
Ready to start trading?
Open a CFD account
Or, try now with a demo account.
Trade CFDs on thousands of instruments
Our award-winning CFD trading platform provides access to thousands of global instruments, at competitive spreads and margin rates. Trade CFDs on major forex pairs from 0.7 points and popular indices from 1 point.
| Asset class | Number of instruments View our range of markets> | Minimum spreads View our spreads> | Margin rates from View our margin rates> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex | 330+ | 0.7 points | 3.3% |
| Indices | 90+ | 0.3 points | 5% |
| Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 1.4 points | 50% |
| Commodities | 110+ | 0.3 points | 5% |
| Shares | 9,000+ | 0.10%1 | 20% |
| Treasuries | 50+ | 1 point | 20% |
1When trading share CFDs a commission is charged upon execution of any order. Comissions start from 0.10%, or 2 cents per share for US- and Canadian-listed shares.
Risk management
Our extensive range of risk management tools include regular, trailing and guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs). These tools enable you to manage risk, helping to secure potential profits and minimise losses. Unlike other stop-loss order types, GSLOs offer 100% certainty that a trade will close at an exact price, for a premium. If the GSLO is not triggered, the premium is refunded in full.
Potential CFD trading costs
Your approach to risk management and how long you hold a position for can affect your potential CFD trading costs. There's a charge to hold a position overnight and for placing a GSLO. For share CFD trading, there is also a market data fee and commission charge.
Switch to CMC Markets
Change your provider to CMC Markets for:
- An award-winning trading platform and native apps†
- Professional charting, powerful tools and innovative platform navigation
- 100% automated execution without dealer intervention
- Robust risk management functions including guaranteed stop-loss orders
Award-winning platform†
We were awarded Best Platform Features and Best Mobile/Tablet Platform in the Investment Trends UK Leverage Trading Report 2017.
Our platform combines innovative trading tools with an intuitive interface, and our native mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android™ mean you can trade CFDs wherever you are.
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†Awarded Best Platform Features, Best Mobile Phone/Tablet App, ranked highest for Charting and Spreads, based on highest user satisfaction among spread betters, CFD and FX traders, Investment Trends 2018 UK Leverage Trading Report.
*Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and can change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK