Forex CFD Trading

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Tobias Robinson

Tobias is a UK director and partner at Investing.co.uk. He provides commentary on the financial markets in the UK and supports the testing team with first-hand observations from over two decades of active trading.

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William Berg

William is an experienced investment writer with a history in forex trading software localization and IPO consultancy. He contributes as an author and fact-checker for established financial websites.

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Forex CFD trading allows investors to speculate on price movements of foreign currencies without physically exchanging money. Traders, therefore, do not own the actual currency and are simply betting on whether the price of one currency will go up or down against another. Although CFDs cover a wide range of financial instruments, this guide will focus on the forex market, providing an overview of how it works and discussing various strategies and approaches, as well as exploring the differences and similarities with spread betting.

How Forex CFD Trading Works

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are a derivatives product that allows speculation upon the variation in the values of two different global currencies. Forex CFD trading assets are given as currency pairs, such as GBP/USD, and each contract purchased will rely on the change in the exchange rate between these two currencies. CFDs are effectively contracts with a seller whereby both parties agree to exchange the difference in the value of the exchange rate between the open and close positions of the contract.

Forex trading through CFDs, rather than straight purchasing a large quantity of another currency to sell on later, makes it possible to profit from both an increase and decrease in the exchange rate, called going long or going short. For example, if you believe the exchange rate of GBP/USD will decrease (the GBP weakening against the USD), you would go short and, if the exchange rate does decrease by the time you close the position, you will have earned the difference as profit. Forex CFDs do not have expiry dates, so positions can be closed whenever you wish.

CFDs, including forex CFDs, are traded over-the-counter (OTC) in the same way that non-CFD forex trading is, which means they are not traded on a regulated exchange. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has therefore sought to impose some protections for retail clients, which are explained further down in this guide.

Size Of The CFD Market

In 2020, we saw a 32% year-over-year increase in investors trading CFD products. This growth is being driven by more online brokers offering these products to retail investors (rather than just professional clients).

Videforex, XTB (which uses the xStation platform), and Forex.com offer traders access to other diverse product ranges online and through mobile apps (such as via an Android Package Kit (APK)).

However, forex traders should always verify the legitimacy and security of the platform they use as there have been serious concerns around some platforms like QProfit System, an automated trading robot in the CFD trading market.

Another reason for the growth in forex CFD trading is that the range of markets clients can access is always expanding, now often including cryptocurrencies (where legal), which has seen massive growth. There has also been more market volatility in recent years, which lends itself to CFD trading as it is designed for speculative trading of shorter-term trends with no need to take ownership of the underlying asset.

Leverage

Forex CFD trading, along with all types of CFD trading, can be leveraged, which means that brokers only require a proportion of the total value of the trade size to be given as collateral. This amount will be determined by the margin requirements. By way of an example, a particular CFD may have a margin requirement of 5%. This would mean the trader would only need to put down £5 for every £100 they are exposed to.

Leveraged financial products can increase returns, as the trader is trading with a value larger than their capital investment. However, for the same reasons, this means losses can also be more significant. Therefore forex CFD trading with leverage should only be undertaken by those who fully understand how CFDs work and the risks involved. Traders should only speculate upon currencies with leverage and margin requirements that are appropriate for their circumstances.

Forex CFD Trading Strategies

Long

When traders ‘go long’, this means they are buying an asset that they expect will rise in value, so they can sell it at a later date to make a profit from this rise. Knowing whether a particular currency pair is going to rise in value depends on several factors, for example, central bank interest rate decisions, the value of key commodities, political events and macroeconomic data releases. Traders should be aware of these factors and which upcoming events are likely to influence the value of a currency. Most brokers will give traders access to live economic news and data.

Short

‘Going short’ in forex CFD trading is when you ‘sell’ the CFD first, expecting the value of the asset to fall so that you can then buy the asset back and make a profit. Not all financial markets allow traders to ‘go short’ and so this is a popular strategy used by traders in the CFD markets. As with long positions, it requires strong knowledge of factors influencing the market.

Hedging

Forex CFD trading often forms part of sophisticated hedging strategies. For example, if an investor holds a large amount of one currency and believes its value may drop temporarily, they may wish to short it with a CFD to profit from its drop, offsetting the loss incurred by the held currency.

Day Trading

Forex CFD trading speculators may choose to buy and then sell their assets all within the same day. The success of this approach depends on the currency pair being traded and the time of day. For example, a forex pair may be more volatile and liquid on the day of a central bank interest rate meeting and could provide an opportunity for day traders. Day traders will also avoid overnight fees charged by many brokers.

Pros Of Forex CFD Trading

• CFDs are a leveraged asset so traders can gain more exposure to the market and therefore earn greater profits (although they are at risk of greater losses for the same reason)
• Allows for long and short positions, which means traders with a diverse portfolio can engage in hedging strategies
• CFDs are not subject to stamp duty in the UK (though they will usually be subject to capital gains tax (CGT))
• The CFD market has seen strong growth, which means higher liquidity and volume

Cons Of Forex CFD Trading

• All types of CFDs are banned in the US, including forex CFDs
• Spreads can reduce the profitability of forex CFD trading, especially with exotic currency pairs
• In the UK, CFDs are generally subject to CGT
• Leverage can make investing in forex CFDs high risk – 67% of retail investor accounts on CMC Markets lose money when trading CFDs

How To Start Forex CFD Trading

Choose A Broker

Many online brokers offer forex CFD trading, including IG and Plus500. Make sure that the broker is regulated and offers competitive spreads, with minimal additional fees.

Traders will usually be able to begin forex CFD trading on the broker’s trading platform through their website or on their app using a mobile or tablet device. Forex & CFD trading platforms – like XTB (running on the xStation platform) – can often also be downloaded through an APK. Most brokers will have demo accounts, which are recommended for less-experienced traders, given the complexity and risk of the CFD market.

Getting access to a live account will usually require the completion of an application form with personal details and other information, such as a preference of account type.

Open A Position

The range of currency pairs available for forex CFD trading will depend on the broker, though most will offer the major currency pairs (e.g EUR/USD, GBP/USD etc.), with many supplementing these with minor and exotic pairs. Traders can easily see the spread for a particular currency pair and then choose whether to go long (buy) or short (sell) on that pair.

Monitor Position

Be aware of key financial and macroeconomic events that impact currency values. Make use of any economic calendars or live data and news available on the broker’s platform. You should also keep an eye on other markets that may indirectly impact the forex market.

Close Position

The forex CFD trading position is closed when the investor decides, with the difference between the initial contract price and the final price being appropriately distributed between the trader and the broker.

Brokers will usually have advanced order types available, including a stop-loss order. A stop-loss order helps reduce risk by setting a limit on the amount by which a currency can depreciate before the position is automatically closed.

Fees

Fees in forex CFD trading are usually generated from spreads (as opposed to commissions). Spreads tend to be tighter when investing in major currency pairs (e.g EUR/USD). With exotics, traders can easily encounter spreads over 20 pips.

Overnight rates will usually apply and vary depending on whether the trader has gone long or short. Some brokers will also charge fees for currency conversion, advanced order types and account inactivity. Deposit and withdrawal fees may also apply.

Forex CFD Trading Tips

Manage Risk Using Advanced Orders

Most brokers will have tools to enable traders to set limits on their losses and also allow them to close positions once profits reach a certain level. For any financial product, this is a useful tool to manage risk. However, for leveraged forex CFD trading, ensuring that limits on losses are implemented is important.

Do Not Hold Positions for Too Long

Overnight fees are usually charged by brokers on all CFDs. Although some traders may deliberately implement a longer strategy (swing traders and position traders), large trades kept open for a prolonged period can cause these fees to add up. Intraday forex CFD trading is not subject to overnight fees.

Start Small

Forex CFD trading was traditionally only available to professional investors and veterans. Although this market has opened up in recent years to retail investors, those with less experience should be fully aware of the fees they are liable for and the risk they are exposed to through leverage and market volatility. Make use of the demo accounts and any educational resources available on the broker’s website. If you are then satisfied that forex CFD trading is right for you, start with major currency pairs and small deposits.

Regulation

All types of CFD trading, including forex CFD trading, is regulated by the FCA in the UK. This regulation protects retail investors, for example, by limiting the maximum leverage rates to 1:30 for major pairs and ensuring traders cannot lose more money than they deposited in their accounts.

Some regulators in other jurisdictions have also implemented their restrictions on CFD trading. Like the FCA, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has adopted leverage limits for retail clients.

Forex CFD Trading Promotions

The FCA has banned brokers from offering retail traders cash or other inducements to encourage them to trade. This is part of a string of measures taken by the FCA to protect retail clients from any financial product that has significant risk and is often traded without enough understanding and knowledge of the dangers involved. Other regulators, such as the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), have adopted similar measures.

Final Word On Forex CFD Trading

Forex CFD trading allows investors to speculate on the value of a range of currency pairs and potentially benefit from market volatility and the performance of different national economies. The assets are provided OTC and traders should be fully aware of the risks of investing in this leveraged financial product, preferably making use of advanced order types to limit losses. While spot forex trading may be less risky, with none of the leverage dangers, forex CFD trading allows for increased market exposure and the ability to earn a profit from bullish and bearish trends.

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