CFD trading overview

Capital.com brings an AI-powered mobile platform that enables you to receive hands-on financial experience and trade the world’s top companies, popular indices, commodities and forex via CFDs. The company is based in Cyprus and licensed by CySEC.

Trading a CFD means entering into a contract between a broker and an investor, who agree to exchange the difference in value of the underlying asset at the beginning of the contract and its value at the end of the contract.

Start with choosing the market of interest, be it shares, indices, commodities, or forex. Then, decide on the value prospects of the chosen financial instrument. That is, if you believe that the price of the asset is going to rise, you naturally go with buying, or going long. If the opposite is true, you prefer selling, or going short. With CFD trading, you are free to determine the size of your trade, however small or large. Note the stop loss function, which automatically closes your position if the market moves too far against you. Once you have placed your trade, you can monitor the asset quotes in real time and see if your price forecast has been correct. If so, you generate profits; if the opposite is true, you suffer losses.

CFD trading is flexible and accessible. Because a contract for difference can be written on practically any asset, a CFD trader can access multiple markets without involving numerous brokers, forex providers, and futures exchanges. In fact, an investor can speculate on numerous financial markets all from one account via a single platform. In addition, there is no stamp duty to pay on CFDs which makes CFD trading in the UK a tax-efficient investment strategy. Finally, CFD trading implies efficient use of investor’s capital. Trading on margin means you can diversify your investments because you don’t tie up all of your capital into a single transaction. Remember that magnifying your returns comes with running greater risks.

A contract for difference (CFD) can be written on a variety of assets from different financial markets such as indices, shares, forex, commodities and more. In fact, CFD trading enables you to take advantage of price swings on multiple financial markets all from one account on a single platform.

CFD trading presents a more flexible alternative to traditional share dealing. The former suggests that an investor speculate on the price swings of the underlying asset but claims no ownership right to such asset. The latter implies taking an ownership stake of the underlying asset in pursue of dividends. CFD trading in the UK offers a clear tax advantage, since investors are exempt from paying stamp duty. Unlike traditional share dealing, CFD trading is leveraged, meaning investors can significantly magnify their market position and trade on margin. Although both CFD and share trading provide an access to global markets, only with CFDs may investors trade even in volatile markets and take advantage of both rising and falling asset prices.

CFD trading is highly leveraged, which means that investors are able to magnify their market position despite a relatively small initial investment. At Capital.com, we offer up to 1:200 leverage. That is, for each deposited currency unit, you may borrow up to 200 currency units, depending on your trading experience and background. In other words, you may enlarge your market position up to 200 times and so increase your potential returns. Bear in mind that leverage influences your potential risks, too.

CFD trading is a popular choice both among trading novices and experts. CFDs attract trade newbies, as it allows to access various financial markets without risking a large starting capital. Share traders turn to CFD trading as an efficient portfolio diversification and risk hedging tool. Forex traders benefit from leverage and margin. Commodities market affiliates enjoy the possibility of speculating both on the rising and falling prices, or going long and short.

CFD trading entails a high degree of risk. Because the value of investments can both rise and fall, you may suffer losses if the market moves against your expectations. In addition, leveraged trading implies not only higher potential returns, but also greater risks.