Many British investors use CFD stock trading to derive benefit from the price movements in various companies’ values. When trading CFDs, investors do not own the underlying stocks in question and can leverage positions. This 2026 guide covers everything that you need to know about CFD stock trading, including a detailed analysis of the most popular equities in the UK market. Read on for a list of the best online brokers and tips for implementing a CFD stock trading strategy.
Top CFD Stock Trading Brokers
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Our picks at a glance
- 1 Pepperstone Top score: Platforms 4.8 Info Visit Pepperstone
- 2 XTB Top score: Trust 4.8 Info Visit XTB
- 3 Spreadex Top score: Mobile 4.5 Info Visit Spreadex
- 4 Interactive Brokers Top score: Trust 4.6 Info Visit Interactive Brokers
- 5 IG Top score: Fees 4.5 Info Visit IG
- 6 Trade Nation Top score: Support 4.4 Info Visit Trade Nation
- 7 Eightcap Top score: Mobile 4.6 Info Visit Eightcap
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Our top pick
Pepperstone offers an extensive range of share CFDs from the US, UK, Australian, and European markets. You can trade prominent companies like Tesla, Apple, or Netflix with the option to go long or short. The platform ensures deep liquidity and competitive fees. Additionally, it now supports 24-hour trading on 37 US stock CFDs, allowing traders to react swiftly to earnings announcements and sudden news events.
- Stock Exchanges
- SIX Swiss Exchange, Taiwan Stock Exchange, Euronext, Deutsche Boerse, Japan Exchange Group, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Korea Exchange, London Stock Exchange, Dow Jones, DAX GER 40 Index, FTSE UK Index, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, CAC 40 Index France, Hang Seng, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, S&P 500, Russell 2000, IBEX 35
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya)
- Stocks Spread
- 0.02
- Share Baskets
- Platforms
- Pepperstone Trading Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
CFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
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XTB provides access to 3,548 real shares and 2,042 stock CFDs, featuring well-known companies like Amazon, Barclays, and BMW, all commission-free. The xStation platform enhances the trading experience with robust analytical tools, such as stock scanners, heatmaps, and a range of fundamental data like market capitalisation and P/E ratios.
- Stock Exchanges
- SIX Swiss Exchange, Deutsche Boerse, Japan Exchange Group, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), S&P 500, CAC 40 Index France, DAX GER 40 Index, FTSE UK Index, Hang Seng, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, Dow Jones, Euronext, Russell 2000, IBEX 35
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30
- Stocks Spread
- 0.2%
- Share Baskets
- Platforms
- xStation
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
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Engage in trading of numerous global equities via spread betting and CFDs. Spreadex stands out as a rare online broker offering trading options for smaller market cap equities, including those on exchanges like AIM, a segment of the London Stock Exchange.
- Stock Exchanges
- New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, Euronext, London Stock Exchange, SIX Swiss Exchange, S&P 500
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30
- Stocks Spread
- 0.15%
- Platforms
- Spreadex Platform, TradingView, AutoChartist
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IBKR offers access to a vast range of equity products from 24 countries. You can invest directly in stocks for capital growth, dividends, or voting rights. Alternatively, engage in trading price movements with CFDs, futures, and over 13,000 ETFs. In 2024, IBKR expanded its European derivatives by including trading on CBOE Europe Derivatives (CEDX).
- Stock Exchanges
- Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, Euronext, New York Stock Exchange, Korea Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, London Stock Exchange, IBEX 35, Borsa Italiana, CAC 40 Index France, Nasdaq, Japan Exchange Group, Russell 2000, Nasdaq Nordic & Baltics, Tadawul, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Nairobi Securities Exchange, London Metal Exchange, S&P 500
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30
- Stocks Spread
- 0.003
- Share Baskets
- Platforms
- Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
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IG provides access to over 13,000 shares for trading and investment, surpassing most rivals in the number of listed firms. The broker stands out with its zero commission policy on US shares. Additionally, out-of-hours trading unlocks more than 70 shares, alongside popular ETFs and trusts, even when markets are shut. They have also introduced an AI Index, highlighting opportunities in leading US firms specialising in artificial intelligence and machine learning, like Nvidia.
- Stock Exchanges
- SIX Swiss Exchange, Taiwan Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, Tadawul, Deutsche Boerse, Japan Exchange Group, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Euronext, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange Of India, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Bombay Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, Dow Jones, S&P 500, IBEX 35, Borsa Italiana, Russell 2000, Korea Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Dubai
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
- Stocks Spread
- 0.02
- Share Baskets
- Platforms
- Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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Access shares across the UK, Europe, and Asia with a wide array of flexible deposit options. The broker offers valuable educational resources to help you craft solid strategies and enhance your stock analysis skills.
- Stock Exchanges
- Nasdaq, London Stock Exchange, FTSE UK Index, New York Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Euronext, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hang Seng, Japan Exchange Group, Dow Jones, CAC 40 Index France, DAX GER 40 Index, Deutsche Boerse, SIX Swiss Exchange, IBEX 35, S&P 500
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30
- Stocks Spread
- Variable
- Share Baskets
- Platforms
- TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
67.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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Eightcap provides over 590 shares from the US, Australia, and Europe alongside a select range of indices, such as the Dow Jones and FTSE. Their Labs include first-rate educational resources, especially the ‘Navigating Stock Market Volatility’ guide. However, they do not yet offer fractional shares for budget traders, unlike brokers like XTB.
- Stock Exchanges
- New York Stock Exchange, CAC 40 Index France, DAX GER 40 Index, London Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Euronext, FTSE UK Index, Japan Exchange Group, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Hang Seng, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, S&P 500, Russell 2000, Toronto Stock Exchange, SIX Swiss Exchange
- Fractional Shares
- Leverage
- 1:30
- Stocks Spread
- 0.03 (Apple Inc)
- Share Baskets
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
Services are provided subject to applicable laws and regulations. Certain products, services, instruments, platforms or payment methods may not be available to residents of certain jurisdictions.
Compare
Safety Comparison
Compare how safe the CFD Stock Trading are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
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4.6 | ||||
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4.6 | ||||
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4.0 | ||||
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4.7 | ||||
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4.4 | ||||
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4.3 | ||||
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4.3 |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the CFD Stock Trading support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
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Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the CFD Stock Trading at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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iOS & Android | 4.4 | 4.1 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.7 | 4.1 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.3 | 4.5 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.6 | 4.0 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
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iOS & Android | 4.8 | 4.4 |
Beginners Comparison
Are the CFD Stock Trading good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Support Rating | Education Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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$0 | 0.01 Lots | 4.6 | 4.0 | |
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$0 | 0.01 Lots | 4.3 | 3.8 | |
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£0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) | £0.01 | 4.3 | 4.0 | |
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$0 | $1 | 3.0 | 4.3 | |
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$0 | 0.01 Lots | 4.5 | 4.8 | |
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$0 | 0.1 Lots | 4.9 | 4.2 | |
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£100 | 0.01 Lots | 4.0 | 3.5 |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the CFD Stock Trading offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya) | |||||
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1:30 | ||||||
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TWS API | 1:30 | |||||
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | |||||
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | 1:30 | |||||
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TradingView Bots | 1:30 |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the CFD Stock Trading.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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4.6 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
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4.6 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
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4.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
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4.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
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4.4 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
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4.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
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4.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Our Take On Pepperstone
Pepperstone excels in trading with tight spreads, swift execution, and advanced charting for seasoned traders. Beginners enjoy zero minimum deposit, comprehensive educational materials, and outstanding 24/5 support, including 18-hour weekend assistance.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- Support for top-tier charting platforms such as MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader. These tools accommodate different short-term trading methods, including algorithmic trading.
- Pepperstone offers pre-IPO perpetual futures, adding Anthropic in October 2026, enabling 24/7 speculation on expected share prices through cash-settled CFDs.
- In recent years, Pepperstone has significantly enhanced the deposit and withdrawal process. By 2025, clients can use Apple Pay and Google Pay, while 2024 saw the introduction of PIX and SPEI for customers in Brazil and Mexico.
Cons
- Overnight holding fees exceed those of some Market Maker brokers (typically Benchmark + 2.5%). Pepperstone suits traders and forex scalpers well but is less ideal for swing traders who keep positions open overnight.
- Execution might not appear as dependable in rapid markets as headline speeds imply. Our tests showed swift execution at targeted prices. However, community feedback highlights concerns over slippage, stop-loss fills, and order triggers sensitive to spreads amid volatility.
- Although the market range has expanded, crypto CFD options remain somewhat restricted, especially when compared to specialised brokers like Eightcap. Additionally, there is no facility to invest in actual cryptocurrencies.
73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Our Take On XTB
XTB excels for novice traders with its superb xStation platform, minimal trading costs, no required deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are fully integrated into the platform.
William Berg Reviewer
Pros
- In 2026, XTB expanded its asset offerings and markets. It introduced options trading in Spain and Germany, launched spot cryptocurrencies in select regions, and unveiled Investment Plans 2.0. These enhanced plans now feature more pre-built options, including sectors like Defence, a user-friendly interface, and increased flexibility to mix stocks and ETFs within individual plans.
- The xStation platform stands out with its user-friendly design and intuitive tools, such as adaptable news feeds, sentiment heatmaps, and a trader calculator. These features streamline the learning process for new traders.
- XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
Cons
- XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
- The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.
- XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
74% of accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Our Take On Spreadex
Spreadex attracts UK traders keen on spread betting in financial markets and traditional sports wagers. It offers low fees for short trades, and spread bet profits are tax-free. With a robust charting platform and no minimum deposit, it's easy to begin.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- Spreadex has integrated Autochartist-powered trading signals into its desktop platform. This offers real-time, pattern-based insights aimed at assisting active traders in spotting potential opportunities.
- During live trials near London, Spreadex exhibited 120–200ms round-trip latency across over 50 FTSE and EUR/USD trades. There were no requotes, and slippage remained largely controlled under normal market conditions.
- Over 10,000 instruments and superior access to AIM small-caps are available, including exclusive offerings not found with larger brokers. This provides UK-centric traders with enhanced opportunities in niche small-cap configurations.
Cons
- Spreadex requires real funds initially, offering no demo accounts. Few spread betting brokers neglect to accommodate new traders in this manner.
- CFDs, financial spread bets, sports, and casino activities are combined in one account balance. For serious traders, this means non-trading losses can immediately decrease the margin for trading positions.
- Execution is satisfactory, though not top-tier. Tests showed 0.2–0.4 pip slippage in stable liquid markets, but news-induced volatility increased some fills to around 1 pip. Thinner AIM stocks often experienced 2–4 point slippage.
Our Take On Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers ranks highly for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, live data, and bespoke layouts via the new IBKR Desktop app. Its competitive pricing and sophisticated order choices appeal to traders, and its wide equity options are industry-leading.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account.
- Interactive Brokers has introduced a single platform linking prediction markets on Kalshi, CME Group, and ForecastEx. Users can trade yes/no contracts on political, economic, and climate events, with fixed $1 payouts. Enjoy 24/6 market access and earn interest on eligible positions.
- The TWS platform is tailored for intermediate and advanced traders, featuring over 100 order types and a dependable real-time market data feed with exceptional uptime.
Cons
- TWS has a steep learning curve, making it difficult for newcomers to navigate and grasp its features.
- IBKR offers a variety of research tools, but their inconsistent placement across trading platforms and the 'Account Management' webpage creates a confusing experience for users.
- Support can be sluggish and frustrating. Tests reveal that you may face challenges reaching customer service quickly, which could result in delays in issue resolution.
Our Take On IG
IG offers a complete package: an easy-to-use web platform, top-tier beginner education, enhanced charting via TradingView, up-to-date data, and strong trade execution for seasoned traders.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- IG excels with its diverse instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it provides US-listed futures, options, and an AI Index, ensuring varied diversification opportunities.
- IG plans to broaden its offering with prediction markets on politics, sport and entertainment in the UK, subject to a gambling licence, with further regions potentially to follow.
- IG secured a crypto asset license from the FCA, enabling its return to the UK market. It now offers buying, selling, and storage services for over 55 digital tokens with fees starting at 1.49%, all under FCA regulation.
Cons
- Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
- IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
- IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 to $18 after two years, discouraging occasional investors.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Our Take On Trade Nation
Trade Nation caters to discretionary traders aiming to speculate on major indices like the US 500 or liquid FX pairs, with the certainty of fixed spreads. Our tests revealed the TN Trader's fixed spreads to be advantageous, especially during economic announcements, thanks to its dependable charting and capped spreads.
Tobias Robinson Reviewer
Pros
- Trade Nation's 2026 alliance with Volt has streamlined payments for Australian traders, enabling instant deposits and withdrawals via PayID. Faster payout features are also anticipated for UK and EU clients.
- The broker expanded into Europe after receiving CMVM approval in Portugal, enhancing protections for European clients.
- During tests of the TN Trader account in standard market conditions, fixed spreads remained stable. Major forex pairs experienced prompt order fills, albeit with slight entry level drift as prices fluctuated between click and execution.
Cons
- Offshore SCB and FSA firms offer retail investors leverage up to 1:200 and 1:500. In contrast, regions like the UK, Europe, and Australia cap leverage at 1:30. Thus, an FSA client can access 16 times more exposure than a UK retail client on identical trades. However, this comes with reduced oversight and no compensation schemes.
- The FCA, CMVM, and ASIC clients are ineligible for the 2–20% rebate scheme. Consequently, active traders in these areas cannot receive transaction rebates.
- There is no raw or ECN pricing tier, often favoured by traders. Regardless of your deposit or trading volume, you receive the same fixed (or variable on MT4) pricing as novices, rendering it particularly unsuitable for scalpers.
67.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Our Take On Eightcap
Eightcap excels for traders, offering diverse charting platforms, educational Labs, and AI tools. With over 120 crypto CFDs, it stands out in crypto trading and has won our 'Best Crypto Broker' award twice consecutively.
William Berg Reviewer
Pros
- Eightcap has excelled in all essential trading areas, surpassing all rivals to clinch our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024. It also earned the titles of 'Best Crypto Broker' and 'Best TradingView Broker' for 2025.
- In 2026, Eightcap integrated TradeLocker in select areas, establishing itself as the premier regulated broker for this platform. It continues to offer ultra-fast execution and competitive fees for active traders using the charting software.
- Eightcap has launched GOLD247, offering 24/7 gold/USD CFD trading with up to 1:20 leverage, 0.01-lot minimums and zero commission for weekend gold traders.
Cons
- Despite the growing range of tools available, Eightcap lacks popular industry resources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. These provide advanced charting analytics, live news, and essential market insights for traders focused on short-term strategies.
- Eightcap must enhance its range of over 800 instruments to rival top competitors like Blackbull Markets, which offers 26,000+ assets, especially improving its limited commodities selection.
- The demo account is available for 30 days, after which it requires a request for extension. This is less convenient than XM's offering, which provides an unlimited demo mode.
71.28% of retail traders lose money when trading CFDs
CFD Stock Trading Explained
A Contract for Difference or ‘CFD’ is a product that stipulates that the buyer will either pay or be paid the difference between the original price of the asset at the time of purchase, and the price at the time the contract is closed. With CFD stock trading, traders can go long or short. This means that they can make a profit based on whether they think the value of the stock in question will rise or fall.
When trading CFDs, investors do not own the underlying asset. For example, if you purchase a CFD relating to the value of National Grid shares, you do not actually own any of the stock: the CFD merely tracks and mimics its value. This means that the trader can speculate on short-term price movements of an asset without the hassle of having to hold or sell the actual stocks later on.
When a CFD is purchased and closed, the profit or loss is calculated from the difference between the value of the stock at the time of purchase and closing. Some brokers also choose to add a spread. This means that if a trader were to buy and close a CFD straight away, they would make a net loss. Moreover, most CFD brokers charge some form of commission when both opening and closing the contract, which is usually around 0.1%.
Trade Example
CFD stock trading is best explained through an example…
In this scenario, a trader is looking at the Vodafone Group which has stock currently trading at a sell/buy price of £1.19/1.20. They believe that the price is going to rise in the short term and therefore they decide to invest in CFDs. As they think the price is going to rise, they purchase 10,000 units going long on the Vodafone Group. The broker offers a 5% margin rate, so the trader must put down a deposit of £600 (5% x (10,000 units x £1.20)).
When the trader checks the value four hours later, they notice that Vodafone Group is now trading at a sell/buy price of £1.25/1.26. The trader makes a quick decision to close the trade at this point and lock in some profit. This is calculated by taking the difference between the price at purchase and closing, in this case, £0.05 (£1.25 – £1.20) and multiplying it by the number of units, 10,000, to give a gross profit of £500.00.
However, like most online brokers in the UK, there is a commission charge of 0.1% for each CFD contract opened and closed. To open the contract, the trader is charged a commission of £12.00 (0.1% x (10,000 units x £1.20 buy price at purchase)), while to close it they are charged a commission of £12.50 (0.1% x (10,000 units x £1.25 sell price at close), giving a total commission of £24.50. This leaves the investor with a net profit of £475.50.
CFD Trading VS Share Trading
CFD stock trading and spot share trading may seem similar, but there are some fundamental differences between the two. When you spot trade stocks, you directly purchase shares in a company, which means that you own a part of that company. If the company performs well, you will receive a range of benefits such as dividends. The downside of spot trading is that if the value of the company drops, you will lose money.
Spot trading is best used for long-term trading when you believe the value of a company is going to increase over a long period. If you are interested in short-term price movements, CFD stock trading is worth considering. With a CFD, you can decide whether to go long if you think the price will rise, or go short if you believe it will fall.
It is much easier to execute trades quickly when trading stock CFDs, making it perfect for anyone who is interested in day trading. CFDs also allow you to trade with leverage, so that you can borrow money from the broker and potentially boost your profits. However, as you do not own the stocks, you will not receive any dividends or voting rights.
UK Stock Market Key Players
The United Kingdom is home to some of the largest companies in the world, with many of them listed and traded on the London Stock Exchange. Here are the top ten companies on the FTSE 100 index along with their 2022 market cap in GBP:
- AstraZeneca – 170.50 billion
- Shell – 149.37 billion
- HSBC Holdings – 107.35 billion
- Unilever Group – 97.57 billion
- GlaxoSmithKline – 91.07 billion
- Diageo – 80.22 billion
- British American Tobacco – 76.27 billion
- BP – 73.76 billion
- Rio Tinto Group – 61.03 billion
- Glencore – 56.79 billion
Benefits Of CFD Stock Trading
- You can use CFDs to hedge against standard stock holdings
- You can trade CFDs with leverage
- You can go long or short
- Fast execution speeds
Drawbacks Of CFD Stock Trading
- You do not own the stocks and therefore you will not have any voting rights
- You will not receive dividends if the stock performs well
- Leverage can lead to large losses
Getting Started With Trading Stock CFDs
- Select a broker: Before you can start, you need to choose which CFD stock trading broker to use. There are a few different things to consider before you make your decision. Check out the various fees, spreads and commissions charged by each brokerage to find the best deal. Also try to find an online broker that offers a CFD stock trading demo account, which will allow you to practise and get used to trading contracts for difference before you enter the live markets. Other things to consider include customer service hours, brand reputation and the stock markets they offer access to.
- Research the market: Most UK brokers will offer access to stocks listed on the FTSE as well as other popular markets from around the world. There is no perfect fit, you simply have to find an asset that suits you and that you have researched sufficiently. If you are a new trader, it could be worth opting for one of the larger companies listed in the top ten UK stocks section. Experienced traders may prefer to trade smaller but more volatile companies.
- Choose the direction of your trade: One of the main benefits of CFD stock trading is the ability to go long or short. This means that you can make a profit based on whether you believe the value of a stock will rise or fall. If you think it is going to increase, you should go long and purchase a buying CFD. If you believe that it will drop, purchase a selling CFD.
- Select the number of units: Choose the number of units you would like to purchase. If you are trading with leverage, more units will require a larger deposit. Leverage also runs the risk of building up large losses.
- Utilise risk management tools: To protect yourself, you should implement risk management tools. Add a stop-loss order to limit losses, as well as a take-profit order to guarantee closure at a target price.
- Monitor and close: Once you have placed your trade with risk management tools set up, you can monitor the price. Either close the deal when you are happy with the price, or wait for it to hit a target price and close automatically through your take-profit order.
Bottom Line On CFD Stock Trading
CFD stock trading is used by many investors as a way of speculating on and benefiting from the price movement of a company’s shares. Investors can use CFD stock trading to hedge against their stock portfolio, or they can simply use it in a bid to earn a profit. CFD stock trading can also be combined with leverage to boost earnings, but remember that leverage trading can also lead to large losses.
If you are interested in getting started with trading stock CFDs, check out our list of top brokers and follow this guide.
FAQs
What Is CFD Share Trading?
A Contract for Difference (CFD) is a derivative product that allows traders to speculate on the price movements of a stock. The investor does not own the underlying stock, and can go long or short depending on the direction they believe the price will move.
Does CFD Trading Affect Stock Price?
No, CFD trading does not typically affect the stock price. CFDs are a derivative product, where the trader does not own the underlying asset or stock. Therefore, trading this asset class will not impact the price of the actual stocks.
Is CFD Share Trading Only Available On MT5?
CFD stock trading is not only available on MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A host of other investing platforms support CFD stock trading, including cTrader and MetaTrader 4 (MT4). See our respective guides for brokers that offer each trading platform.
Which Is Better: CFD Trading Vs Spot Share Trading?
CFD trading and spot stock trading each have distinct advantages. Those wishing to benefit from price movements of stocks in either direction should opt for CFDs. Those who are seeking long-term gains should opt for spot stock trading where dividends could be earned.
Do You Own The Stock When Trading CFDs?
When trading equity CFDs, you do not own the underlying stock. CFDs are derivative products that allow traders to profit from the price movements of a stock.