Derivatives are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 85.24% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading derivatives with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how derivative trading works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Trade CFDs with Shares.com

Access instruments across stocks, forex, indices, and commodities — all from a single platform.

 

What Is CFD Trading?

CFD, or Contract for Difference, is a financial agreement between a trader and a broker to exchange the difference in the price of an asset from the time a trade is opened to when it’s closed. Instead of buying a stock or commodity outright, you’re speculating on its future movement — upward or downward. CFDs make it possible to enter the financial markets with less capital, trade across multiple asset classes, and react quickly to market shifts. Whether it’s a stock like Tesla, a currency like EUR/USD, or gold futures — with CFDs, you're not buying the asset itself, just trading on its price dynamics.

How CFD Trading Works in Practice

CFD trading is centered around price speculation. Here’s the core idea:

1. Choose Your Market Direction

You open a position predicting the direction of the market (buy if rising, sell if falling).

2. Profit or Loss Depends on Price Movement

The difference between the opening and closing price — multiplied by position size — is your profit or loss.

3. Use Leverage to Control Larger Positions

Leverage allows you to open larger positions than your capital alone would permit.

Let’s say you expect oil prices to rise. You open a buy CFD at $75 per barrel. If the price reaches $80, you earn the difference. If it drops — you take the loss. Unlike traditional investing, there’s no ownership or delivery — just pure market exposure.

-
Sell
Spread
Chg%
Trade
go to page
-0.90%
go to page
+0.22%
go to page
+0.31%
go to page
+2.74%
go to page
-0.71%
go to page
-0.08%
go to page
+0.27%

Why Trade CFDs With Shares.com

We built our trading environment for speed, transparency, and adaptability. With us, you get:
  • A platform designed for real-time decision making
  • Tight spreads and competitive execution speed
  • Dozens of global markets in one account
  • Free demo environment with no time limit
  • Full regulatory compliance and fund protection

Most importantly, you’re never just “another account.” Our platform is supported by a real team — ready to help you grow as a trader.

Trade Global Markets — All in One Place

Stocks

From giants like Amazon and Nvidia to emerging players.

Forex

Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs.

Indices

Trade broad-market movements like the S&P 500 or DAX.

Commodities

Gold, oil, natural gas and more.

The Advantages of CFD Trading

Why do many traders choose CFDs? Here’s what makes them a flexible trading instrument:

Diversify across multiple asset classes

Trade stocks, forex, indices, and commodities from one platform and one account.

Open and close positions quickly

React to market moves in real time with fast execution and flexible trade sizing.

Diversify across multiple asset classes

Trade stocks, forex, indices, and commodities from one platform and one account.

Open and close positions quickly

React to market moves in real time with fast execution and flexible trade sizing.

No ownership required

Trade purely on price movements — no need to handle or settle the actual asset.

Start trading with low initial capital

CFD trading allows you to begin with smaller deposits compared to traditional investing.

What Are the Risks?

CFDs offer flexibility, but it's important to understand the potential downsides before you trade.

Leverage multiplies both gains and losses

Even small market moves can significantly impact your balance when trading with leverage.

Fast market moves can lead to quick losses

High volatility can trigger rapid price changes, affecting open positions unexpectedly.

Holding positions overnight may incur fees

Overnight financing costs may apply if positions remain open past trading hours.

Emotional trading leads to poor outcomes

Fear or overconfidence often causes impulsive decisions and inconsistent results.

Trade CFDs your way

laptop

Web platform

Experience our user-friendly platform and tap into advanced tools, integrated financial news, personalised watchlists and much more.
smartphone

Mobile app

Harness the power of our advanced platform wherever you are, with smart feeds, instant price alerts, and seamless navigation.

The Lesser-Known Risks of Trading CFDs

CFDs offer flexibility and access to a wide range of markets — but there are certain risks that don’t always make the headlines.

Slippage in volatile conditions

When markets move quickly, the price you see when placing an order might not be the price you get. This is known as slippage, and it can have a bigger impact than you expect, especially if you're trading short-term moves.

Costs of holding positions overnight

If you keep a CFD trade open overnight, you’ll usually be charged a fee. It’s a small cost day by day, but it can add up if you’re holding trades for more than a few days — something to factor into your planning.

Leverage magnifies emotions, not just results

Trading with leverage isn’t just about amplifying profits. It also means losses can escalate quickly. This often leads to emotional decision-making — jumping in too fast or exiting too soon — which can disrupt even the best trading plans.

Execution delays at the wrong moment

Not every trading platform is equal when it comes to speed. If your broker is slow to execute during busy market hours, it can throw off your timing. For strategies that rely on precision, even a small delay matters.

It’s easy to focus on the potential rewards of CFD trading — but understanding the less obvious risks can help you trade with more awareness and control.

Is CFD Trading Right for You?

You might benefit from CFDs if...

But it may not be the best fit if..

CFD trading suits some traders more than others. Whether it fits your style depends on how you like to engage with the markets. Knowing your goals and risk tolerance is key. CFDs offer a lot of opportunities, but they also demand a solid understanding of the tools you're using.

You enjoy short-term or medium-term trading and want to take advantage of price moves in both directions.

You’re investing for the long haul and prefer to hold positions for months or years.

You prefer a platform that lets you access multiple asset classes — like indices, commodities, or currencies — from one place.

You’re focused on earning dividends or building wealth through ownership.

You’re comfortable managing risk and understand how leverage works.

You’re uncomfortable with the idea of using leverage or trading on margin.