4 Main types of Assets used in CFD trading
1. Currency pairs: The Majors, Minors & Exotics
2. Commodities
3. Stocks
4. Indices

Currency Pairs: Specifically Major Currency Pairs

Parties exchanging currencies on the vibrant global marketplace derive profit from volatile rates. All currencies are valued, bought, and sold in pairs. The latter may belong to the ‘major’, ‘minor’, or ‘exotic’ class. For instance, the popular EUR/USD combo indicates how many US dollars a single Euro is worth. In any pair, the base currency and the counter currency are separated with a slash sign.

What Are the Major Currency Pairs?

There is no consensus as to which pairs fit into the “FX Majors” class. Most commonly, the term comprises seven combinations. First, ‘the big four”: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, and GBP/USD. Secondly, most of the so-called ‘commodity’ types: are USD/CAD, AUD/USD, and NZD/USD. As you see, this group has a valuation against the US Dollar.

Different traders include various additional combos. These feature other counter currencies, and they are also referred to as ‘cross currencies. Such combinations as GBP/EUR, EUR/CHF, and EUR/JPY may also qualify as majors for some brokers.

It is important to understand that Forex majors do not always have the most impressive circulation volumes. Instead, they are regarded as the more conventional choices for the exchange. For instance, the AUD/USD pair does not qualify as ‘major’, but it is among the most traded pairs worldwide.

Specifics of EUR/USD

Due to being the most popular choice, it has the highest liquidity overall. FX brokers also tend to keep their spreads tight. On the other hand, since both currencies have the largest global economies behind them, they are relatively stable. If the current Ask price for the combo is 1.2600, this means 1 Euro will cost its buyer 1.26 US Dollars.

However, if volatility did not exist, traders would have no way of profiting from the activity. For instance, fluctuations tied to the Brexit controversy and the trade war between the United States and China were obvious. As a trader, you can view charts detailing recent movements in these currency values on your digital trading platform.

Specifics of GBP/USD

The price shows how many US dollars one pound is currently worth. The nickname ‘cable’ refers to the cables once used for transmitting price data between New York and the UK capital. Interestingly, the name ‘Fiber’ for EUR/USD is merely an ‘upgrade’ from the old-school ‘Cable’! The combo is most liquid at 2 p.m. (UK time). This is when trading in both cities overlaps the most.

Other Majors

Here are the other eight pairs commonly viewed as ‘majors’.

1. British pound as base currency: GBP/EUR (Chunnel): against the Euro
2. Euro as base currency:

EUR/CHF (Euro-Swisse): against the Swiss franc   

EUR/JPY (Yuppy): against the Japanese yen

3. US dollar as base currency:

USD/CAD (Loonie): against the Canadian dollar     

USD/CHF (Swissie): against the Swiss franc

4. Other pairings:

USD/JPY (Gopher): against the Japanese yen          

AUD/USD (Aussie): Australian dollar/US dollar     

NZD/USD (Kiwi): US dollar/Canadian dollar          

Exotic Currency Pairs

All pairs of national currencies are split into three categories based on their liquidity and other factors. The least common choice is the class of so-called FX exotics. These are traded most thinly, and they are rarely seen in international monetary transactions. This is explained by association with emerging and relatively unstable economies which are often only gaining strength.

Traders must understand the risks when deciding to deal with exotics. Due to the instability of the respective economies, the values are highly susceptible to political changes. Value rises and falls are often dramatic and abrupt. 

What is Exotic Currency?

At first glance, the disadvantages of these combinations outweigh any pros. Here are the most obvious negative features of such combos as the Thai baht, the Iraqi dinar, or the Uruguay peso. Their limited circulation on the forex marketplace is perfectly logical if you consider the following:

• illiquidity,
• insufficient market depth,
• the higher cost of trading,
• extreme volatility,
• low trading volumes,
• restricted convertibility due to exchange controls.

Profitability is generally considered harder to obtain owing to the nature of spreads. The differences between the ‘bid’ and ‘ask’ prices, however, are normally broad enough to make up for the insufficient liquidity.

Do not expect to gain access to such pairs using a standard trader account. As they are closely tied to less reliable economies with modest trade relationships, they cannot compete with such giants as the USD or the GBP.

What Sways the Values

Any trader should be aware of the host of factors moving currency prices. For instance, the British pound has been clearly affected by all the Brexit controversies. From geopolitics to monetary policies of respective countries, there are both micro- and macroeconomic indicators at play.

The situation with exotics is very peculiar. Since they come from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific region, they are most affected by political changes. If the system of state governance is unstable, the currency is likely to collapse, rather than experience moderate drops. Fluctuations are often abrupt, which complicates market analysis.

At the same time, the fragility of such national economies causes the rates to be notably volatile. As the probability of negative changes in value is high, traders need more sizeable margins in their accounts.

For instance, consider the Russian Ruble. The value of this national currency is closely linked with global prices for crude oil. Whenever the price for the Brent barrel collapses, so does the Ruble. The stronger the demand for crude — the stronger the currency. Although it is affected by other factors as well, this correlation is the most salient.

List of Exotics

Here are the currencies used in exotics trading.

1. CNY — the Yuan (China)
2. HKD — the Dollar (Hong Kong)
3. INR — the Rupee (India)
4. KRW — the Won (South Korea)
5. MXN — the Peso (Mexico)
6. RUB — the Ruble (Russian Federation)
7. SGD — the Dollar (Singapore)
8. ZAR — the Rand (South Africa)

Broker	Regulators	Max. Leverage	Spreads	Trading Acc.	Instruments	Connect
FP Markets	ASIC, CySEC	Up to 1:500*	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN | DMA 2 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, ETFs Crypto, Bonds	Visit  Site   Review
Eightcap	ASIC, VFSC	Up to 1:500	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN  2 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
IC Markets	AFSL, ASIC, CySEC, FSA	Up to 1:500	From 0 pips	Broker Type: ECN 6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
Axi	ASIC, FCA, DFSA, FSC	Up to 1:500	From 0 - 0.4 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN  3 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
InstaForex	BVI FSC	Up to 1:1000	From 0 pips	Broker Type: MM | Binary  6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
NordFX	VFSC	Up to 1:1000	Floating spread from 0.9 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN 4 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
FXOpen	ASIC, FCA	Up to 1:500*	Floating spread from 0 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN  6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
Vantagemarkets	CIMA, ASIC, FCA	Up to 1:500*	From 0.4 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN 4 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
RoboForex	FSC	Up to 1:2000	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: MM | STP | ECN 5 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, ETFs, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
Fxview	CySEC, FSCA  and FSC	Up to 1:500	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: ECN | Islamic   2 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
FBS	CySEC, FSC, FSCA, ASIC	Up to 1:3000	From 1 pip	Broker Type: STP | ECN  6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
Blackbull Markets	FMA, FSA	Up to 1:500	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN 6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
Blueberry Markets	ASIC, SCB	Up to 1:500	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: ECN | MM 2 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
VALUTRADES	FCA, VFSC CIMA, ASIC	Up to 1:500	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: ECN | MM 4 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
FXGT	SFSA, FSCA, CySec*	Up to 1:500	From 0.0 pips	Broker Type: STP | ECN 6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review
				Broker Type:
Exness	FCA, CySEC, FSA, CBCS, FSC, FSCA	Up to 1:3000	From 0.4 pip	Broker Type: STP | ECN  6 Accounts	Forex, Indices, Commodities,  Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto	Visit  Site   Review

Spot Metals: Trading Precious

Today, spot precious metals trading is accessible to anyone. With attractive leverage provided by local brokers, you can easily maximize your returns.

Humans have been investing in precious metals for centuries. Such assets as gold and silver are defined as commodities. This means their price on the market does not depend on the manufacturer.

Like oil or wheat, these goods may be traded through an array of securities, and their liquidity is high. Investors may profit from spot trading, options, futures, or funds, including ETF — exchange-traded funds. This article will explain the basics of the first financial tool.

What Spot Trading Means as a Commodity

When you participate in spot metal trading, you exchange a so-called “spot metal” (silver or gold) — for a currency. Some possible arrangements include Gold against the US dollar (XAU USD) and Silver against the US dollar (XAG USD).

Precious metal markets are much less volatile than currencies or stocks. The liquidity of these assets is international, and they are safeguarded against inflation. Moreover, the values of metals are rarely susceptible to political or economic changes that can send currencies tumbling down.

Why Trade Precious Metals Online?

1.   Benefits of good leverage

You can maximize profit by using a portion of the broker’s funds. This means you boost your buying power easily, especially if your provider is offering beneficial conditions of leverage. However, it is crucial to remember that larger volumes are associated with larger losses, as well as larger profits.

2.   Attractive spreads on the asset

Make sure your broker offers competitively tight spreads. These could start from 0.1 – 0.5 on different types of accounts. Pay attention to pricing, as well as limit/stop levels, aside from the individual minimum spreads.

3.   Convenient trading hours

Spot metals may be traded at any time of day. Whenever the marketplace is open, it is possible to participate in the activity. This means access around the clock every weekday.

4.   No expiry date

For both metals, there are no expiry dates. As long as the margin is maintained, the position is open until the trader chooses to close it. One similarity with foreign currency trading is the automatic rolling of the positions forward to the value date on the next day.

5.   Benefits of diversification

A prudent investor makes sure their portfolio is varied. Rather than focusing on a single asset, it is wiser to spread your risks over a set of tools. This way, if your currency exchanges are disappointing, returns from spot metals could compensate for the losses.

How to Analyze Trends

To master the art of spot metal trading, it is necessary to use relevant price charts depicting both short-term and long-term changes. For instance, as a trader of Gold or Silver, you would be keeping track of corresponding market dynamics.

Hence, as a trader of Gold or Silver on a spot basis, you may open a long-term position if you expect noticeable short-term volatility. Luckily, the software used to the exchange is packed with useful forecasting aids. Your local broker should also be able to provide ample learning material on the subject.

Trading Stock Shares as a CFD

Profits made on the stock market are common knowledge. However, you do not have to own physical shares to profit. With Contracts for Difference known as CFDs, anyone can benefit from market changes, managing long-term and short-term trades from the comfort of their home.

The Concept of CFD Share Trading       

CFDs are widely used in the realms of indices and commodity trading. In any case, the arrangement is based on a contract between a buyer and a seller. Its subject is price movement, with no actual ownership involved. Upward and downward trends in the market allow you to speculate on the dynamics and monetize your foresight.

To gain profit from the global stock market, learn to trade share CFDs. The tool has a lot of benefits over conventional share trading.

Zero Physical Assets as a CFD

To trade CFDs, one does not have to be a shareholder. No physical exchange is involved. Positions are opened and closed via a digital platform, and all operations are conducted remotely. While CFDs on currencies involve no actual cash, CFDs on shares do not require you to purchase actual stocks. Price dynamics are all you need to be knowledgeable about.

Different Positions

Traders open short or long positions relying on the same logic that applies to currencies. For example, if you expect the price to collapse, you should sell the asset quickly through going “short”. This will allow you to buy back more of the same asset once the price rebounds.

On the other hand, a player expecting the instrument to gain value will do the opposite. A long position enables you to wait for the most favorable trading conditions.

CFDs vs. Physical Shares

Businesses attract investor capital by selling their shares on the global stock market. These are bought as physical assets, giving the buyer ownership of a percentage of the corporation. The profit is then derived from the dividends and sale of the stock following a hike in its value.

However, with modern brokers, the need for ownership is no longer there. Speculation on share price alone translates into actual monetary gain. The system is thus simplified. It requires special software and internet access.

The Advantage of Leverage

The purpose of the tool is to boost your buying power. It is widely used in currency exchange, as well as trading of CFDs on commodities and indices. In essence, a trader has access to larger trading volumes, as they can use a portion of their broker’s funds. While maximizing potential gains, the option may also cause more dramatic losses, which should be remembered.

No Shorting Restrictions

In some markets, you may not go short unless you borrow the financial asset. The margin rules for long and short positions may also differ. However, when shares are traded as CFDs, shorting is allowed at any time with no borrowing costs incurred. After all, the assets are not owned by the price speculators.

Other Benefits to Consider Trading Shares as a CFD

• Convenient trading time: as long as the market is open (i.e. around the clock 5 days a week).
• Trading volumes: lot sizes are determined by you.

Trading Indices as a CFD

Today, brokers offer a wide range of profit-making instruments. Aside from the conventional currency exchange, you may also benefit from changes in the dynamics of global indices, such as FTSE100 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. What was previously accessible to large institutions, may now be used by individuals acting as retail traders.

Rather than investing in physical stocks and shares, you may speculate on prices with no actual ownership involved. Each index reflects the performance of a certain stock market, rather than a separate company like Facebook. This explains the lower risks associated with the arrangement. Instead of relying on individual stocks, you gain profit from the success of a stock cluster.

Definition of the Tool

The purpose of Contracts For Difference (CFD) is to enable traders to monitor and sell or buy a certain index. The levels used could differ from the current index levels, but they mirror the real quotes. The source of estimates is the corresponding futures contracts.

Wherever you are, access to global markets may be gained through a local broker. Aside from the largest marketplaces in the USA and the UK, the tool covers the Aussie 200, as well as far Eastern and German indices.

Trading Cryptocurrency as a CFD

The advent of virtual currencies has transformed the underlying principles of finance markets. Not only is this internet-based technology an alternative to conventional money systems. It ensures quick and anonymous payments across national borders.

Bitcoin has been in circulation since 2009. The global interest in this and other cryptocurrencies — known as altcoins — is still strong. Not surprisingly, these assets are attractive to many investors.

A distinctive feature of these markets is their price shifts, which are often abrupt. The resulting high volatility makes it possible for a trader to profit from the rises and falls. For instance, while a wider spread of the currency may cause its value to surge, the opposite result is observed following news of tighter state controls or security issues.

How to Trade Cryptocurrencies Online

Through a local broker, you may trade digital currency in the form of CFDs, or Contracts for Difference. These are priced against the US dollar. Users of the tool benefit from ups and downs in the value of the respective cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin, the most famous system to date, has already brought sizeable profits to shrewd investors. The rapid skyrocketing of its value was making headlines in the global media for quite a while. The decentralized, public ledger blockchain scheme is attractive to millions.

However, it is not the only choice accessible to retail traders today. At present, the most popular digital coins are these:

1. Bitcoin
2. Ethereum
3. Solana
4. Litecoin

Benefits of Bitcoin CFD Trading     

1.   More secure investment

As a CFD trader, you will not own the actual asset. Instead, profit is purely speculation-based. All you need is to analyze price dynamics and manage positions accordingly. Besides, this ensures protection from possible scams linked to actual sales of crypto.

2.   Flexible leverage

The logic of the service means your buying power is boosted using a portion of the broker’s funds. The higher the leverage — the more attractive it is. However, it is crucial to remember that larger trading volumes are associated with bigger potential losses, as well as more impressive profits. The outcome depends on your own skills and foresight.

3.   High volatility

In the case of dramatic price changes, traders may reap sizeable benefits. Monetary gains are possible in both bear and bull markets. Just think of the famous price hike in 2017. Back then, the value of Bitcoin reached almost $20,000!

4.   Convenient hours

Cryptocurrencies may be traded all day every weekday. The exact hours may vary, but breaks are extremely short.

5.   Convenient lot sizes

The term is defined as the number of units that you can sell or buy at once. The sizes vary depending on the type of account and the currency traded.

Advantages of Trading with a CFDs

CFDs enable traders to obtain all the benefits and hazards of ownership of a security without actually owning the security or taking physical delivery of the asset, as is the case when purchasing stocks or bonds.

CFDs are traded on margin, which allows investors to borrow funds from their broker in order to increase leverage or the size of their positions in order to earn more money. Before traders can engage in this type of transaction, brokers will require a minimum balance in their accounts.

CFDs typically offer greater leverage than traditional trading, which allows traders to trade on margin. On the CFD market, the margin requirement can range anywhere between 2% and 20%. Less stringent margin requirements imply that the trader will incur fewer expenses and earn more over time.

Typically, there are fewer laws and regulations on the CFD market than on the stock market. Individuals who wish to trade CFDs do not need to have a substantial amount of capital in their brokerage accounts. Typically, traders can establish a brokerage account for as little as $1,000. CFD owners can also receive monetary dividends, which increases the trader’s return on investment. The vast majority of CFD brokers provide products on all of the world’s main markets. From the broker’s platform, it is simple for traders to access any open market.

CFDs make it simple for investors to take long or short positions, as well as purchase and sell a stock simultaneously. On the CFD market, short-selling regulations do not exist the majority of the time. Any instrument can be terminated at any time. There is no cost associated with borrowing or shorting an asset because there is no ownership of the fundamental asset. CFD trading is also relatively inexpensive. Brokers earn commissions when a trader pays the spread, which means the trader pays the offer price when buying and the bid price when selling or shorting. The dispersion refers to this. In each offer, brokers receive a piece or spread. In addition, they demand the quoted price.

Key Notes

• There is a Variety of Trading Opportunities & Access to World Markets
• Professional Execution With No Fees
• No Shorting Rules
• Higher Leverage
• People can trade the price movement of things like ETFs, stock indices, and commodity futures with CFDs.
• A CFD is a way for investors to get all the benefits and risks of owning a security without owning it.
• CFDs use leverage, which means that investors only have to put up a small amount of the money they want to trade with a broker.
• CFDs make it easy for investors to take a long or short position, or to buy and sell a stock at the same time.

Disadvantages of Trading with a CFDs

If the price of the fundamental asset fluctuates significantly, the bid-ask spread can be substantial. Paying a lot of money to enter and exit CFDs prevents people from profiting from minor market movements, reducing the number of winning trades and increasing the number of losing trades.

Due to the lack of regulation on the CFD market, the broker’s credibility is based on its reputation and financial stability. CFDs are therefore unavailable in the United States.

Because CFDs are traded with leverage, investors who lose money may receive a margin call from their broker, which requires them to deposit additional funds to cover their losses.

Key Notes

• Traders Pay the Spread
• Weak Industry Regulation
• Risk as CFDs are fast-moving they require close monitoring.
• Even though leverage can help you make more money with CFDs, it can also help you lose more money.
• There can be wide gaps between the bid (buy) and ask (sell) prices from a broker when the price of something changes a lot.
• Investors who are in a losing position can get a margin call from their broker, which means they need to deposit more money.

Margin: Trading on Margin

Leveraged trading is sometimes called “trading on margin” because the funds needed to open and keep a position – the “margin” – are only a small part of its total value.

When you trade CFDs, there are two types of margins: long and short. When you open a position, you need a deposit margin. If your trade loses more money than your deposit margin can cover, you may need a maintenance margin to keep your account safe.

Make sure you’ve got enough money in your account by getting a margin call from your provider. If you don’t add enough money, the position may be closed and any losses will be paid.

FAQs

How Do CFDs Work?

To find out how CFDs work, read on.
A contract for difference (CFD) lets people bet on how an underlying asset will do in the future without owning or taking physical possession of the asset itself. People can buy and sell CFDs on a wide range of assets, like stocks and commodities. A CFD is made up of two trades. There is an open position after the first trade, which is then closed out by the CFD provider at a different price.

If the first trade is a buy or long position, the second trade is a sell. It doesn’t matter what the opening trade was. If it was a sell or short, the ending trade is a buy.

Trader’s profit is the difference in prices between their first trade and their last one (less any commission or interest).

Can CFDs be traded without leverage?

Some providers let you trade CFDs without having to use a lot of money. With IG, however, all CFD trades are backed by money. The amount of leverage you can get depends on things like the volatility and liquidity of the market you’re trading in, as well as the law in the country where you’re trading.

How to use CFDs for hedging

When you use CFDs for hedging, you can open a position that will make money if one of your other positions starts to lose money. There are many ways to do this, but one example is to buy short on a market that tracks the price of an asset you own.
This means that if the value of your asset drops, the profit from your CFD trade would cover the loss. There are a lot of Tesla shares in your portfolio, for example.
You own a lot, but you think they might lose value in the future. You could short your Tesla share through a share CFD. If you are right and Tesla shares fall in value, your short CFD trade will make up for this loss.

Is Trading CFDs Safe?

People who trade CFDs can face a lot of risks, but their benefits of them can sometimes outweigh the risks they face. These risks include counterparty risk, market risk, client money risk, and liquidity risk. CFD trading can also be risky because of other factors, such as poor industry regulation, possible lack of liquidity, and the need to keep an adequate margin because of leveraged losses.

Can You Make Money With CFDs?

You can make money with CFDs. However, trading CFDs is riskier than other types of trading. Most successful CFD traders are veteran traders who have a lot of experience and know how to make smart moves.

What is the difference between CFDs and futures?

To trade CFDs (contracts for difference), you buy and sell a certain number of contracts on a market that you think will rise or fall. The value of your position changes because of changes in the underlying market.
The best thing about CFDs is that you can close your position any time the market is open.

Futures, on the other hand, are contracts that say you have to trade a financial instrument in the future, but they don’t say when.

Unlike CFDs, they set a fixed date and price for this transaction, which can involve taking physical ownership of the underlying asset on this date. They must be bought on an exchange.

This is not the case with CFDs. The value of a futures contract depends as much on how the market thinks the asset will be worth in the future as it does on how the market moves right now.

It’s important to keep in mind that with a CFD trading account, you can speculate on the price of futures contracts without having to buy the futures contracts.

Cory Mitchell

+ posts

Cory has been a professional trader since 2005, and holds a Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designation. He has been widely published, writing for Technical Analysis of Stock & Commodities magazine, Investopedia, Forbes, Benzinga, and others.

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