Contracts for difference (CFDs) are speculative financial products that enable investors to speculate on the price movement of a specific asset without actually owning it. With CFDs, you are not buying or selling the underlying; instead, you are entering into a contract with your CFD broker that specifies how much you will gain or lose depending on whether the market moves up or down. You can trade CFDs in rising and falling markets because you are not taking possession of the actual asset.

A CFD broker is a company that offers online trading services. They provide investors to buy and sell shares, indices, and currencies via contracts for difference (CFDs).

Advantages of using a CFD broker

There are several advantages to using a CFD broker in Singapore. Here are some of them:

Low commissions

One major perk about CFD brokers is that they usually charge relatively low commissions compared to other stockbrokers. In addition, most CFD brokers charge a fee only when you make a profit in your investments. If you end up losing all of your money, you won’t have to pay anything at all.

Ability to short sell an asset

Another feature offered by some CFD brokers is the ability to short sell an asset. A short sale refers to selling an asset that has been borrowed from someone else with the hope of repurchasing it at a lower price in the future and thus gaining a capital profit. However, if the stock being sold rises instead of going down, you will have to bear a loss because this will result in a larger amount being owed than what was initially borrowed.

Regulated

If Singaporeans are looking to start trading CFDs, they need to look for a CFD broker regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The MAS is the central bank of Singapore and is responsible for regulating all financial institutions in the country.

Convenience

A CFD broker provides you with an easy and convenient way to trade CFDs. With a CFD broker, you can trade CFDs without having to go through the hassle of setting up an account with a CFD provider.

Low spreads

A good CFD broker will offer you low spreads on the contracts that you trade. You will save money on the costs of trading.

Wide range of assets

A good CFD broker will offer you a wide range of assets to trade. It gives you the flexibility to trade the assets that best suit your trading strategy.

24/7 customer support

A good CFD broker will offer you 24/7 customer support so that you can get help when you need it.

Low margin requirements

A good CFD broker will offer you low margin requirements to give you more leverage. It allows you to take more prominent positions in the market without putting down a lot of capital.

Broker features and services

When choosing a CFD broker, investors should compare the features and services offered by each broker. Some factors that you may want to consider are the following:

  • The minimum deposit required to open an account
  • The type of account(s) offered
  • The spreads (the difference between the buy and sell price) on different assets
  • The leverage ratio (the amount of money that you can borrow from the broker to invest in a CFD)
  • The commission or fees charged for each trade
  • The type of trading platform offered
  • The quality of customer support
  • The availability of educational materials and tools
  • The regulatory compliance of the broker
  • Any promotional offers or bonuses that are available
  • The ability to short sell assets.

Finally

The world of CFDs is a fascinating one, full of chances for clever investors looking to gain exposure to a wide range of investment instruments without having to worry about the underlying asset. Before spending any hard-earned money, do your research and you’ll be on your way to taking advantage of it. Before investing their money, new investors should try out their trading techniques on a demo account with Saxo Bank, a respectable online CFD broker.