CFD Trading Books

Regardless of your level of experience, there is something to be gained from reading CFD trading books. Contracts for difference are complex financial products, so making sense of key concepts and strategies is important. In this guide, we review and rank the best books about CFD trading in 2024. We also share tips for choosing the right CFD book download for your trading ability.

CFD Brokers with Education

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    IG offers a huge selection of 17,000+ CFDs, providing more trading opportunities than most CFD brokers. Traders can go long or short on popular markets like stocks, currencies, commodities and cryptos, while custom price alerts and the IG Academy continue to enhance the trading experience.

  2. XTB

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    XTB offers a huge selection of more than 2,100 CFDs spanning forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, and cryptos (location-dependant). Leverage up to 1:30 is available in the EU and UK, while global clients and pro traders can access up to 1:500. XTB stands out for its CFD trading resources and tutorials to assist traders in developing short-term trading strategies.

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    CMC lets you trade CFDs on 12,000+ assets across currencies, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs and treasuries. Spreads are relatively tight, there are no hidden fees and the industry-leading MetaTrader 4 platform is also supported for leveraged trading. Year after year, CMC shines as one of the best CFD brokers in the market.

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    AvaTrade's 1250+ leveraged CFD products span a wide range of asset classes including stocks, indices, commodities, bonds, crypto, and ETFs. You can speculate on underlying assets in the broker’s feature-rich web and mobile platforms with market-leading research tools to help discover opportunities.

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    FXCC offers a narrow range of CFDs beyond forex with a limited selection of metals, energies, indices and cryptos. However, it stands out with its high leverage up to 1:500, which will serve experienced traders looking to maximize their buying power while speculating on rising and falling prices.

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    Pepperstone maintains its position as one of the fastest and most dependable CFD brokers during our latest round of testing. With execution speeds averaging around 30ms and an outstanding fill rate of 99.90%, the broker ensures a seamless trading experience without requotes or dealing desk interference. It also provides ample trading opportunities across over 1,300 assets.

  7. XM

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    Traders can speculate on leveraged CFDs with zero commissions, spanning popular markets including currencies, equities and commodities. Additionally, the MetaTrader platforms collectively offer dozens of advanced technical indicators built for short-term strategies.

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    Eightcap offers a wide range of trading options with 800+ CFDs across stocks, indices, bonds, commodities, and cryptocurrencies (depending on location), with leverage up to 1:30/1:500. It excels in its tools, notably the AI-enabled economic calendar covering 25+ countries with impact filters (high, medium, low). However, its commodities offering, particularly in softs like cotton and wheat, as well as the limited precious metal and energy assets, is its weakest area.

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    RoboForex offers a growing suite of over 12,000 CFDs, encompassing forex, stocks, indices, commodities, futures and ETFs. With an initial deposit of $10 and micro lot trading through to very high leverage up to 1:2000, RoboForex caters to a broad range of derivative traders. On the downside, analysis reveals execution speeds of 1-3 seconds, noticeably slower than IC Markets at 0.35 seconds, and suboptimal for fast-paced strategies like scalping.

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    You can trade CFDs on over 3,000 assets and access rich market data through the integrated TradingView charts. There are also comprehensive free learning tools available for beginners via the eToro Academy, including dedicated CFD trading courses and guides.

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    With the ability to take both long and short positions on 5,500+ CFDs across forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, FOREX.com excels. Its exclusive Web Trader platform offers an excellent trading experience, equipped with over 80 technical indicators and average execution speeds of just 20 milliseconds, ensuring an optimal environment for serious traders.

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    You can trade CFDs across a range of diverse markets with flexible account types and leverage up to 1:1000. With access to both MT4 and MT5, traders can execute multiple short-term CFD trading strategies using the dozens of pre-integrated technical indicators and graphical objects.

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    You can speculate on popular financial assets covering forex, commodities, indices, metals and bonds. You can get started with $0 minimum deposit, making the broker a good pick for beginners. There’s also over 130 technical indicators available collectively in the MT4 and OANDA Trade platforms.

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    BlackBull Markets CFDs are offered on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptos with tight spreads and high leverage. The ECN accounts offer fast execution and low slippage, and the broker provides traders with plenty of extra tools and features plus 24/7 customer support.

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    Traders can speculate on 1000+ financial markets with high leverage up to 1:500. You can bet on rising and falling prices in currencies, commodities, indices, shares, and more without owning the underlying asset. With the comprehensive choice of CFD trading platforms, users can also switch between desktop, web and mobile for a seamless trading experience.

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    FxPro offers thousands of CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, shares and futures. The broker's analysis and charting capabilities continue to stand as some of the best in the industry, with Trading Central integration, advanced order types and access to custom indicators.

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    Plus500 presents commission-free CFDs encompassing a vast array of markets, spanning currencies, stocks, indices, and commodities. You can engage in long or short positions on popular assets, benefiting from adaptable leverage without encountering any concealed fees.

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    You can trade 275+ CFD instruments covering equities, currencies, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies. The broker offers flexible trading software and account options, plus access to the unique dealCancellation risk management tool, which is ideal for beginners.

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    Access highly leveraged CFDs across forex, commodities, indices, stocks and bonds with 24/5 customer support. Build a diverse portfolio with hundreds of CFD assets.

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    CFDs are available on forex, stocks, indices, metals, oil and cryptos, with support on MT4 and MT5. Execution speeds are also decent, averaging 0.5 seconds, though there is also a VPS service facilitating 24/7 connectivity for algo strategies.

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    Trade CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities, ETFs, bonds and cryptocurrencies with variable leverage up to 1:30. The broker provides great value to traders with six free trades per day on US, UK and European stocks, tight spreads on forex and low commissions on ETFs.

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    Markets.com offers a strong variety of CFD products, not only covering popular asset classes but also more interesting markets such as IPOs and Bonds. The low fees and educational resources will appeal to beginners, whilst seasoned CFD traders will appreciate the feature-rich charting platforms.

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    Trade CFDs on Spreadex's diverse list of instruments with leverage up to 1:30 and highly competitive spreads. While this broker's USP is spread betting, the excellent trading terms and range of markets makes it an equally good choice for CFD trading.

  24. Axi

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    Axi offers 220+ products covering forex, shares, commodities, indices and cryptos. Spreads on EUR/USD come in at around 0.2 pips in the Pro account and 1.1 pips in the Standard account. These are competitive and aligned with equivalent accounts at leading low-cost brokers like Pepperstone.

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    VT Markets offers over 1000+ CFDs spanning currencies, stocks, indices, ETFs and commodities. The MetaTrader charting platforms provide dozens of technical tools alongside integrated market analysis resources and zero restrictions on short-term trading strategies.

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    My tests uncovered around 100 CFD products covering forex, indices, commodities and cryptos. Leverage is available up to 1:400 and it’s good to see that scalping, hedging and EA strategies are permitted.

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    PrimeXBT offers CFDs across four asset classes with very high leverage up to 1:1000. Beginners can also take advantage of the broker’s useful technical analysis guides and CFD education, plus 24/7 in-platform support via live chat.

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    Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.

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    IronFX’s asset list of 300+ instruments covers forex, stocks, commodities and index CFDs. Maximum leverage from 1:30 to 1:1000 is available depending on account location. Traders can access superb technical analysis features, including 30 pre-integrated indicators and 9 charting time frames.

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    Trade CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptos with high leverage up to 1:500 on the no-commission ClassiQ account. The raw spread account options have low commissions from $4 round-turn and offer lower maximum of leverage of 1:200 or 1:400, which is still competitive.

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    You can trade hundreds of CFDs on major asset classes including currencies, shares and futures. Spreads are not overly competitive starting at 0.9 pips, although the $50 minimum deposit and zero commissions will allow active traders to keep their costs down.

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    Dukascopy offers highly leveraged CFDs with rates up to 1:200. A wide selection of asset classes are available, including currencies, equities, commodities, ETFs and cryptos. Spreads are also tight starting from 0.1 pips and traders get 24/7 support.

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    Trade CFDs on a broad range of asset classes including forex, energies, precious metals, company shares, indices and cryptos. The excellent trade execution and opportunity to trade with direct market access pricing sets this broker apart from rivals.

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    PU Prime offers CFD trading on hundreds of shares, as well as indices, commodities, bonds and cryptocurrencies. The leverage available varies by asset, and spreads also vary greatly between instruments and account types with the tightest near zero and the widest in the hundreds of pips. Stock, index, commodity and bond CFDs are traded on the leading MT4 platform.

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    Access thousands of CFDs with competitive pricing and leverage up to 1:500. A range of asset classes are available, including currencies, shares, indices, metals and commodities. CFDs can be traded on the market-leading MetaTrader platforms.

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    CFDs are available on hundreds of markets including forex, indices, shares and commodities. Traders can go long or short with reliable trading tools, excellent market research and transparent pricing.

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    Fortrade's list of leveraged CFDs covers a wide range of asset classes including forex, stocks, bonds, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Traders can access leverage up to 1:30 and will trade with zero commission, fast execution and low latency on MetaTrader 4 or the bespoke platform.

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    FP Markets offers CFD trading on a first-rate selection of financial markets, spanning stocks, major global indices, commodities, metals, cryptocurrencies, and bonds. With tight spreads, fast execution speeds, leverage up to 1:500 and top-tier liquidity, short-term traders get an efficient and seamless trading experience.

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    Trade CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, energies and metals with fast execution and variable leverage. Spreads are tight and commission-free trading is available on some assets.

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    FXTM’s CFD offering spans 250+ forex, stocks, commodities and indices, plus crypto CFDs at the global entity. Leverage up to 1:30 is available from the CySEC-regulated branch, though highly seasoned traders can also access massive 1:2000 rates from the global entity.

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    Trade CFDs on an array of assets with ultra-low spreads

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    Trade leveraged CFDs in a range of financial markets.

About CFD Trading Books

Books about CFD trading are designed to up-skill beginners and help investors trade successfully. A good book will break down key principles and investing setups. The top publications are also backed by statistics and draw on real-world examples and the experience of successful CFD traders.

Today, most CFD trading books focus on broad strategy advice and risk management tips. But some authors also explore UK-specific assets, such as FTSE-listed stocks. Both can be beneficial, and what you choose should ultimately align with your financial goals and current level of understanding.

Importantly, many aspiring traders turn to books as their source of knowledge because they offer in-depth accounts and perspectives on contracts for difference. With that said, free pdf downloads and eBooks can also be supplemented by training materials and videos offered by the top online brokers.

Another useful tip is to test out your learnings from CFD trading books on a free demo account.

Format

When selecting a CFD trading book, you have four primary options: paper books, ebooks, audiobooks and pdfs. You should choose a format that compliments your learning style and also your schedule. An increasing number of new traders, for example, are turning to audiobooks to learn about CFDs while on their commute to work. If you are mostly going to be reading at home, on the other hand, and you want to be able to annotate your book and add notes, then a paper copy is probably best.

The most important thing, however, is the content of the book. Choose a publication from a reputable author with good trader reviews and ratings. Fortunately, we have collated the top CFD trading books in 2024 below.

Top CFD Trading Books

Contracts for Difference: Master the Trading Revolution by Catherine Davey

This book is perfect for beginner traders and is one of the best-reviewed and most popular books about CFD trading. If you want to learn the basics about the financial markets and how to trade CFDs, then this book will cover everything you need to know.

The publication covers what CFDs are, how they operate, and how they work differently from other common trading products. It also provides insights that are unique in comparison to other popular books.

Best CFD trading books

Making Money from CFD Trading by Catherine Davey

From the same author, this is aimed at more experienced traders who are already proficient in the basics of CFDs. This book goes a step further than the previous publication, focusing on the specifics of how to use particular CFD trading strategies.

This book is suitably concise while still detailing all of the important information. So while the subject matter is more complex, readers can still digest the content in a user-friendly format. The CFD trading book also breaks down a number of useful examples and money management tips.

Top CFD books

Trade Like a Pro: 15 High-Profit Trading Strategies by Noble Drakoln

This book focuses on risk management and is aimed at intermediate to advanced traders. The book starts with a comprehensive overview of basic trading strategies, before moving on to complex setups and techniques.

This book lays out many different strategies and objectively states the pros and cons of each, allowing the reader to find a system that aligns with their financial goals. Readers can also test out the strategies shared in a free demo account before risking real funds.

Best CFD trading books 2024

CFD Trading Books for Beginners

If you are a beginner, CFD books can help build a solid foundation of core trading concepts, risk and money management, plus popular financial markets, like forex pairs with the GBP.

Importantly, when starting out, books that are too advanced can lead newbies to give up early so make sure you choose a publication that aligns with your experience. Below are some of our top picks.

CFDs Made Simple by Peter Temple

This guide is both straightforward and in-depth in teaching the basics of CFDs. It begins with a background of retail trading and works up to the key principles of CFDs, providing a detailed description of how they work, as well as some of the potential risks.

The author of the book draws from his own extensive experience in trading, making it a reliable source of information. Overall, this is a great tool to help kickstart your CFD trading journey.

List of best CFD trading books

CFDs Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Contracts for Difference Success by Jeff Cartridge

Another perfect book for beginners, Cartridge provides all of the basics that traders need to know to get started with trading CFDs. It goes over how to place orders, how to trade with leverage and how to implement various technical strategies. It then details which contract providers are the best and why.

This book keeps things simple and to the point, so if you are looking for no-nonsense, it’s a good choice.

CFD book downloads

How to Choose the Best CFD Trading Book

It’s important that you select a book that matches your experience level; a book that is too advanced won’t make sense if you’re still learning the basics, while a book that is too simplistic will waste your time, as you may know the material already.

Here are some more of the key things to consider when selecting a book about CFD trading:

Target Audience

The most important thing to keep in mind when you are selecting your CFD trading book is the audience it is aimed at. It’s best to be honest and self-aware about your own skill level so that you can accurately assess which book will benefit you the most. You will be able to tell if you have selected a book at the right level by whether you can understand and process the content.

Reviews

As with anything you buy, you want to make sure that it’s a quality product before you spend money on it. The same goes for CFD trading books. The best way to do this is to check the reviews on the platform you are buying the book from.

For an even more reliable review, look up recommendation lists from reputable sources as well, such as trading blogs and brokers. Alternatively, choose from our top picks above.

Cost

There is a lot of great free content out there when it comes to learning about CFD trading, so if you are going to spend money on a book you should make sure it will offer you something that free material can’t.

To minimise the cost of buying books, you can also look into second-hand options for a more budget-friendly solution. Furthermore, there are lots of options for free downloads for CFD trading books, which can be found online.

Bottom Line on CFD Trading Books

There is a lot to be said for the free information that is available online, and there is certainly enough out there to accumulate a wealth of knowledge on CFD trading. However, if you are looking to get all of the best information in one place, then CFD trading books could be a good place to start. This guide gives an overview of the best CFD books on the market, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced investor.

To put your new knowledge to the test, open an account with one of our top-rated CFD brokers.

FAQ

What Is A CFD Trading Book?

A CFD trading book is a way of accessing information on the popular financial instrument, and often they offer insights and strategies that aren’t available when looking at free online sources. Books are also a much easier way to access all of the information you need at once, rather than having to continuously search for it.

How Do I Choose A CFD Trading Book?

The best place to start with choosing a CFD trading book is with the target audience. Be honest about your level in trading. Next, check the reviews and ratings for the book you are considering buying to ensure that it has been helpful to other investors.

Can I Get A CFD eBook?

CFD trading books are available in all formats, including physical books, audiobooks and eBooks. This gives readers greater flexibility in terms of what they are looking for from their publication, and importantly allows traders to take their books on the go.

What Is The Best Advanced CFD Trading Book?

The two books we recommend for advanced CFD traders are Trade Like a Pro: 15 High-Profit Trading Strategies by Noble Drakoln and Making Money from CFD Trading by Catherine Davey. Both of these books go beyond the basics and into a more in-depth analysis of method, strategy and risk management.

What Is The Best CFD Trading Book For Beginners?

If you are a beginner, then it is better to go for a more basic overview of CFDs so that you can get useful background information on the subject. If you are a novice, then we recommend starting with Jeff Cartridge’s CFDs Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Contracts for Difference Success.