One of the best tools available for traders is CFDs or contracts for difference. With these, you can speculate on whether a share price will go up or down without ever actually owning the underlying security. This makes it easier for beginners to start investing because they don’t have to pay as much money upfront when making speculative investments–they only need the funds necessary to open the trade.

CFDs offer traders a flexible and accessible trading method in the financial markets. Using leverage, traders can take on more significant positions with smaller amounts of their own money, and they do not need to pay for trades if they make a loss. Many CFD brokers also offer very competitive rates, so it is important to compare all the available options before opening an account.

Going long or short

It is important to remember that you are taking on two positions when trading CFDs. The first is the position of the underlying asset, and the second is the CFD’s position. As such, when opening a CFD position, you will need to decide whether you want to go long (buy) or short (sell)

When going long, you will make money if the price of the underlying asset increases. Conversely, you will make money if the price decreases when going short. Keep in mind that you may have to cover your short position at some point, which can result in losses if the market moves against you.

Benefits of CFDs in trading

There are several benefits of using CFDs for trading stocks.

Flexibility

The first is that they can be much more flexible than other forms of trading because you aren’t limited to contracts with expiry dates. You can buy or sell at any point you want, which allows for more flexibility when the price starts moving in your direction.

Leverage

Secondly, CFDs are highly leveraged, meaning that you can trade much smaller amounts than if you were purchasing shares outright. This allows you to make money quickly without waiting for a big investment to pay off. Leverage lets you control large amounts of investment funds while only putting down a small amount yourself. Many traders use leverage because of the potential increase in returns when trading CFDs.

For instance, if you had $1,000 on your account and wanted to trade AUD/USD at 1:20 (this means one Australian dollar buys 20 US dollars), you would be able to purchase $5,000 worth of currency with your$1,000. However, leverage can work against you if the market moves against your position. For example, if the market moved by 1%, your loss would be 20% of your investment funds.

Consistent returns

CFDs can help you generate consistent returns if used correctly. You can protect yourself from significant losses by using stop losses and limits while still allowing your positions to run profitably. It is also important to trade with money you can afford to lose. If you are new to CFDs, it is recommended that you start out by trading smaller volumes until you become more comfortable with the product. CFDs can be an excellent way to generate income while trading in the financial markets with a bit of practice.

Low fees

Finally, the cost of opening the position is relatively small. The fee is often about 2% or less of whether you’re buying or selling. The premiums on stock prices also tend to be lower than what’s available on exchanges like NASDAQ and the London Stock Exchange.

Conclusion

These factors make CFDs an attractive option for traders in Singapore and worldwide. If you’re looking to get started in the stock market or looking for a more flexible way to trade, then CFDs may be right for you. Talk to your broker from Saxo Bank today to learn more about this exciting investment tool; read more here.