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CFD Trading Strategies

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Written By
Jemma Grist
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Written By
Jemma Grist
Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.
» Jemma Grist Profile Page
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Edited By
Tobias Robinson
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Edited By
Tobias Robinson
Tobias is a partner at DayTrading.com, director of a UK limited company and active trader. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry and contributed via CySec to the regulatory response to digital options and CFD trading in Europe. Toby’s expertise and dedication to financial education make him a trusted voice in the industry, including a BBC investigation into digital options.
» Tobias Robinson Profile Page
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.
» William Berg Profile Page
Updated
Jul 24, 2024

Effective use of CFD trading strategies can make or break a trader’s profits. Speculating with no strategy leaves you vulnerable to losing all your capital quickly. This guide will explain what a CFD strategy is and how one works, before running through some of the best strategies and tips for traders at every level of their learning journey.

Best CFD Trading Brokers

Click a broker for details
  1. 1
    Interactive Brokers
    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    $0
    $100
    1:50
    FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
    Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
    Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
    Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF
    Go To Interactive Brokers
  2. 2
    IG
    Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.
    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
    FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
    Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    PayPal, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Visa, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
    Go To IG
  3. 3
    IQCent
    20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    2 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.1 / 5
    $250
    $0.01
    1:500
    IFMRRC
    Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
    Online Platform, TradingView
    Credit Card, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments, Visa, Mastercard
    USD, EUR
    Go To IQCent
  4. 4
    RedMars
    Ratings
    3.3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    €250
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
    CySEC, AFM
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos
    MT5
    Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Sticpay, FasaPay, Bitcoin Payments, Trustly, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Mastercard, Visa
    USD, EUR
    Go To RedMars
  5. 5
    Capitalcore
    40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500
    Ratings
    3.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    $10
    0.01 Lots
    1:2000
    IFSA
    Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices
    WebTrader, Pro
    Ethereum Payments, Mastercard, Visa, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal
    USD
    Go To Capitalcore
  6. 6
    Videforex
    20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    4.1 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    $250
    $0.01
    1:500
    Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
    TradingView
    Skrill, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB
    Go To Videforex
  7. 7
    xChief
    $100 No Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    4 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3.7 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    $10
    0.01 Lots
    1:1000
    ASIC
    CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices
    MT4, MT5
    Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Debit Card, Ethereum Payments, FasaPay, Volet
    USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF
    Go To xChief
  8. 8
    Axofa
    10% Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    2.8 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    $1
    0.01 Lots
    1:1000
    SVGFSA
    Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
    MT5
    Debit Card, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer
    USD, IDR
    Go To Axofa
  9. 9
    Sage FX
    $1,500 trading competition
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    1.8 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    $10
    0.01 Lots
    1:500
    Pending
    Forex, indices, cryptos
    TradeLocker
    Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
    Go To Sage FX
  10. 10
    Plexytrade
    120% Cash Welcome Bonus
    Ratings
    1.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    0.5 / 5
    0.5 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    $50
    0.01
    1:2000
    CFDs, Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto
    MT4, MT5
    Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR
    Go To Plexytrade

Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons

  1. Interactive Brokers - Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned day traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.
  2. IG - IG offers a huge selection of 17,000+ CFDs, providing more trading opportunities than most CFD brokers. Traders can go long or short on popular markets like stocks, currencies, commodities and cryptos, while custom price alerts and the IG Academy continue to enhance the trading experience.
  3. IQCent - CFDs are available on forex, indices, commodities and cryptos, although the range of 100+ instruments is limited compared to alternatives such as Quotex with 400+. Leverage is available up to 1:500 but the $250 minimum deposit is noticeably higher than competitors.
  4. RedMars - RedMars caters to various short-term trading styles across popular asset classes, including 7 commodities, 14 indices, and 120+ stocks. Leverage is available up to 1:30 (retail) and 1:500 (pro), amplifying results. However, there is no calculator to help with understanding margin requirements and the depth of investments is limited.
  5. Capitalcore - The range of CFDs at Capitalcore is narrow, with 6 precious metals, 6 indices, and a slim suite of stocks. Notably, there are no commodities such as oil or gas and spreads vary greatly. Tiered leverage is available depending on the account, from 1:100 to 1:2000.
  6. Videforex - Videforex CFDs are available on forex, indices, cryptocurrencies and commodities with up to 1:500 leverage and tight spreads from near zero. CFDs incur a commission fee of 1%–2.5% and up to 5% for leveraged trades.
  7. xChief - You can trade a competitive range of CFDs encompassing crypto, indices, energies and metals, with very high leverage up to 1:1000. ECN pricing is available, with spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $2.50. A Cent account is also available for those on a smaller budget.
  8. Axofa - CFDs are available on popular asset classes with a competitive $1 minimum deposit. The MT5 integration will allow serious short-term traders to utilize the vast library of technical tools, bots and indicators, but the lack of any CFD trading education puts the broker behind many alternatives.
  9. Sage FX - Trade CFDs on forex, stocks, metals, energies, indices, cryptos and dollar futures. Sage FX offers tight spreads and high leverage on all instruments from 1:100 to 1:500.
  10. Plexytrade - Plexytrade offers a modest selection of CFDs, providing opportunities to speculate on upward/downward price movements across 15 indices, 48 US stocks, 3 commodities, 4 metals, and 5 cryptos. The free margin calculator allows you to work out how much you need to put down to open and maintain leveraged positions.

CFD Trading Strategies Comparison

CFD Trading Strategies Comparison
Broker CFD Leverage Minimum Deposit Minimum Trade Regulators
Interactive Brokers logo
1:50 $0 $100 FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
IG logo
1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) $0 0.01 Lots FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
IQCent logo
1:500 $250 $0.01 IFMRRC
RedMars logo
1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) €250 0.01 Lots CySEC, AFM
Capitalcore logo
1:2000 $10 0.01 Lots IFSA
Videforex logo
1:500 $250 $0.01 -
xChief logo
1:1000 $10 0.01 Lots ASIC
Axofa logo
1:1000 $1 0.01 Lots SVGFSA
Sage FX logo
1:500 $10 0.01 Lots Pending
Plexytrade logo
1:2000 $50 0.01 -

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

FTSE Spread0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Stocks Spread0.003
Leverage1:50
RegulatorFCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

  • There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
  • While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.

Cons

  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
Visit Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

IG

"IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

IG Quick Facts

FTSE Spread1.0
GBPUSD Spread0.9
Stocks Spread0.02
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
PlatformsWeb, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • The IG app offers a superb mobile trading experience with a clean design that helped it secure Runner Up at our 'Best Trading App' award.
  • The proprietary web-based platform continues to caters to traders of all levels, with advanced charting tools and real-time market data useful for day trading, while IG has also added TradingView integration.
  • IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, plus recently added US-listed futures and options, providing ample diversification opportunities.

Cons

  • Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges.
  • Stock and CFD spreads still trail the cheapest brokers like CMC Markets based on tests.
  • IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders.
Visit IG
IG Review

IQCent

"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

IQCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread1.4
GBPUSD Spread0.8
Stocks SpreadN/A
Leverage1:500
RegulatorIFMRRC
PlatformsOnline Platform, TradingView
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Pros

  • CFD trading fees are competitive based on tests, including 0.7 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD
  • There's an accessible $0.01 minimum stake for new day traders with a small budget
  • The proprietary terminal offers TradingView-powered charts which deliver dozens of technical indicators and studies

Cons

  • There's no automated trading support for algo traders
  • The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts
  • IQCent trails binary brokers like Quotex with its narrow investment offering of around 100 assets with no stocks
Visit IQCent
IQCent Review

RedMars

"RedMars is the best fit for experienced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader 5 platform and based in the EU, where the broker is authorized by the CySEC. However, the threadbare education and research tools make it unsuitable for beginners."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

RedMars Quick Facts

FTSE Spread15
GBPUSD Spread0.7
Stocks SpreadVariable
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
RegulatorCySEC, AFM
PlatformsMT5
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Pros

  • The broker supports a range of flexible payment methods, including wire transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and notably cryptocurrencies
  • RedMars offers one of the best platforms for day trading, MT5, hosting 21 timeframes, dozens of analytical tools, flexible templates and algo trading
  • The broker is one of a limited number of firms to offer an account specially designed for VIPs with premium support and invites to exclusive events

Cons

  • The no-frills trading environment offers little beyond the basics, with no Islamic account, PAMM account or copy trading.
  • With just 300 instruments, RedMars offers a narrow trading environment, particularly compared to category leaders like BlackBull Markets which offers 26,000 assets
  • RedMars falls short for newer traders, with little in the way of education, no beginner-friendly platform, a steep minimum deposit, and inadequate support during testing
Visit RedMars
RedMars Review

Capitalcore

"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Capitalcore Quick Facts

Bonus Offer40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500
FTSE Spread25
GBPUSD Spread0.5
Stocks Spread1.5 (Apple)
Leverage1:2000
RegulatorIFSA
PlatformsWebTrader, Pro
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • Capitalcore is one of the only brokers to charge zero swap fees, which may appeal to Islamic traders looking to comply with Islamic Finance.
  • Unlike most brokers, Capitalcore offers an unlimited demo account that takes under 5 minutes to open.
  • The support team are available 24/7 and responded within minutes during testing with helpful responses.

Cons

  • Capitalcore is not regulated by major financial authorities and has an unproven reputation, raising concerns about the safety of client funds.
  • The web platform was inconsistent during testing, with occasional technical glitches that meant the trading platform wouldn’t load.
  • Platform support is limited to proprietary software, so there's no integration with the market-leading MetaTrader or cTrader, which offer built-in economic news and support automated trading.
Visit Capitalcore
Capitalcore Review

Videforex

"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "

William Berg, Reviewer

Videforex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
FTSE SpreadFloating from 0.2
GBPUSD SpreadFloating from 0.1
Stocks SpreadNA
Leverage1:500
PlatformsTradingView
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Pros

  • Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.
  • Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
  • Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.

Cons

  • The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.
  • The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.
  • Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
Visit Videforex
Videforex Review

xChief

"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."

William Berg, Reviewer

xChief Quick Facts

Bonus Offer$100 No Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread70
GBPUSD Spread0.9
Stocks Spread50
Leverage1:1000
RegulatorASIC
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Pros

  • xChief offers STP/ECN execution with low spreads from 0.0 pips and low commission rates starting from $2.50 per side
  • The broker offers a turnover rebate scheme geared towards active investors, as well as trading credits and several other occasional bonuses
  • The low minimum deposit of $10 will appeal to beginners, as well as the beginners’ guides in the Library

Cons

  • Fees and minimums are imposed on most withdrawal methods, including a €60 minimum for SWIFT bank transfers
  • The broker trails competitors when it comes to research tools and educational resources
  • xChief is an offshore broker with weak regulatory oversight from the VFSC, so traders will receive limited safeguards
Visit xChief
xChief Review

Axofa

"Axofa could be a good option for clients looking for social trading features alongside the MT5 platform. The low entry requirements and ECN spreads are particularly promising, but the lack of transparency and respected regulatory oversight raises security concerns."

William Berg, Reviewer

Axofa Quick Facts

Bonus Offer10% Deposit Bonus
FTSE SpreadNA
GBPUSD SpreadFrom 1.6 pips
Stocks SpreadNA
Leverage1:1000
RegulatorSVGFSA
PlatformsMT5
Account CurrenciesUSD, IDR

Pros

  • Low ECN spreads are available from 0.0 pips, plus reasonable commissions at $3.50 per side
  • The $1 minimum deposit across all 3 accounts will appeal to novices and those on a budget
  • There's a proprietary social/copy trading service for beginners looking to follow successful strategies and for experienced traders looking to sell their strategies

Cons

  • There is limited verifiable information about the broker’s owners and background
  • There is a lack of transparency around pricing and account conditions, which significantly reduces the trust score
  • The offshore operations and lack of any regulatory oversight is a major concern
Visit Axofa
Axofa Review

Sage FX

"Sage FX will suit forex traders looking for high leverage and ECN spreads. The broker's prop trading service will also appeal to users looking for funded accounts with up to $200K available."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Sage FX Quick Facts

Bonus Offer$1,500 trading competition
FTSE Spread5.0
GBPUSD Spread0.9
Stocks SpreadN/A
Leverage1:500
RegulatorPending
PlatformsTradeLocker
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Pros

  • Bonus offers and trading competitions
  • Fast withdrawal processing
  • Prop trading accounts with multiple funding tiers

Cons

  • Relatively narrow range of asset classes
  • Not regulated by any reputable body
  • Lacks educational resources and other extra features
Visit Sage FX
Sage FX Review

Plexytrade

"Plexytrade is a newcomer in the brokerage scene with attention-grabbing features like 1:2000 leverage, zero spreads on select instruments and fast execution speeds of less than 46 milliseconds. However, the absence of regulation is a significant concern, while the non-existent research and educational tools place it far behind industry frontrunners."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Plexytrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer120% Cash Welcome Bonus
FTSE Spread0.8
GBPUSD Spread0.8
Stocks Spread5
Leverage1:2000
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Pros

  • Plexytrade accommodates a range of trading methods and short-term strategies, including scalping, hedging, and automated trading.
  • Plexytrade offers among the highest leverage we’ve seen, up to 1:2000, catering to advanced traders willing to forego regulatory protections.
  • US residents are accepted as clients, distinguishing Plexytrade as one of the rare offshore brokers that cater to US-based traders.

Cons

  • With around 100 instruments, Plexytrade restricts the flexibility of investors who prefer to trade across various assets, especially compared to Blackbull with its 26,000 securities.
  • Plexytrade lacks regulation in major jurisdictions, significantly increasing the risks of opening an account and depositing funds.
  • There are no social or copy trading features for inexperienced traders to replicate the trades of more experienced investors, trailing category leaders like eToro.
Visit Plexytrade
Plexytrade Review

What Is A CFD Trading Strategy?

Firstly, a CFD is a contract-for-difference, a financial derivative product that allows investors to speculate on the price movement of assets from a range of markets, including forex, commodities, indices and shares, without owning the underlying asset.

This means that you can easily take a position on rising and falling markets. CFDs are a leveraged product, which allows you to put down a small amount of money, known as a margin, and trade with a larger sum.

CFD trading strategies are essentially game plans. You can think of it as the instructions that the manager of your team would give out before a big match.

Strategies are designed to play to your trading strengths, as well as those of the market itself.

How CFD Trading Strategies Work

CFD trading strategies work by establishing a set of rules and procedures that you, the investor, must follow while trading. Some strategies can have loosely designed rules, while others are stricter.

Let’s take some CFD trading strategy examples. Rangebound (range) trading has a very defined set of rules that act mechanically, meaning they can even be programmed to run automatically.

With range trading, there are two rules to set for any CFD. When the value hits X, buy, and when the value hits Y, sell. This is one of the most straightforward trading strategies.

Another example is dividend CFD trading strategies. CFDs, like traditional shares, have the added benefit of dividend income. This is calculated at the close of trade the day before the stock’s ex-dividend date.

One strategy to use here is to go long on the shares on the day before they go ex-dividend and sell the contracts immediately afterwards.

Provided the price does not drop by the entire dividend amount, the investor stands to gain from this.

Top 5 CFD Trading Strategies

Here, we will run through some of the best and most popular CFD trading strategies and tips.

News Trading

One of the most popular CFD trading strategies, following the news involves simply following a comprehensive economic and financial calendar. This will keep you aware of upcoming events that could impact the value of the underlying asset.

This approach splits into two main CFD trading strategies, either investing before a statistics release or just after. The first option aims to try to understand and predict the reactions to the release.

This is the riskier of the two approaches as it can be difficult to know how the market will respond, though investors stand to make a larger profit this way.

The second option is to go with the flow and trade after the statistic or news release. This way, you can see initially which way the market moves in reaction to the release and follow it.

There are still risks with this method as prices can rapidly change direction, therefore it is important to implement stop loss and take profit orders when trading to protect your capital.

Technical Analysis Trading

Using technical analysis is the foundation of many CFD trading strategies, each with its own combination of indicators and graphical tools.

The approach involves studying available historical data and charts to make analytical predictions. The key here is to make a note of all past trends.

If you are a day trader, look at the daily and intra-day charts. If you are going to hold for longer, study 3-month to year-long charts instead.

Setting up useful indicators can be a massive help with technical analysis CFD trading strategies. Investors can set support levels that are equal to established lows and resistance levels that are equal to established highs.

Trend lines are another simple and easy indicator to use. These involve drawing a straight line between two points on your chart.

To show an increasing trend, draw a line between two lows and to show a decreasing trend, draw a line between two peaks. Once a trend line has been touched three times, it has been validated.

Another indicator to help your technical analysis CFD trading strategies is the oscillator. Oscillators indicate overbought or oversold conditions in markets. They show whether the asset has either risen or fallen too far and that a change is imminent.

Using all these indicators combined with the study of historical data is one of the most popular CFD trading strategies.

Pair Trading

Pair trading is one of the more popular CFD trading strategies for stocks, although it can also be used with currencies and commodities.

This strategy can be used with both high or low market volatility and the direction of movement is not important.

Pair trading involves investing in two CFDs that are within the same industry, one with a long position and one with a short.

Correlation is essential, measuring the relationship between the price movements of the two assets. The two assets need to be those that are usually highly correlated but have started to become less correlated.

With pair-focused CFD trading strategies, investors take advantage of the divergence of the asset’s values. The first thing is to decide which is the weaker asset and which is stronger.

Then, open a short position on the stronger asset and go long on the weaker asset. The direction of the market does not matter, as you will be winning with one position and losing with the other.

Profit is based on the relative movement of the assets, so the more they diverge, the more you win.

Hedging

Hedging is slightly different from other CFD trading strategies, it is more like a form of insurance.

This strategy works best when you already have a diverse portfolio of stocks or CFDs that you are holding for the long term. Investors often use hedging to protect against short term drops in value.

Let’s say an investor owns Pfizer stocks. They believe that the sector is weakening and the value of the stocks is going to fall. They do not want to sell their Pfizer stocks to protect against this, as they believe in them for the longer term.

Instead, the investor opens a short position on a CFD for Pfizer stocks. This way, you will benefit from the short-term decrease in the stock value without losing the asset.

Hedging is often used in conjunction with other, primary CFD trading strategies.

Check your broker allows hedging prior to trading.

Swing Trading

The CFD swing trading strategy is all about finding markets that are trending. Focus on markets that are trending in a specific direction. This allows investors to find assets that have the potential to move by large amounts in a short space of time.

These CFD trading strategies combine well with technical analysis. The indicators described earlier can be used to indicate strong trends.

Additionally, resistance levels can show the right time to get out of a trade and take your profit. Oscillators could indicate the peak has been reached and that the trend is about to reverse, allowing you to get ahead of the game.

CFD Trading Strategies For Specific Assets

Oil

CFD trading strategies for oil are numerous but a relatively simple one is a combination of the RSI and CCI indicators. The former will help suggest when an asset is overbought or oversold, while the latter aims to find cyclical trends.

One approach with these is to wait until the RSI demonstrates an overbought condition for a prolonged period, indicating a bullish market.

The next step is slightly counterintuitive and involves waiting for a reset, where the RSI drops down and shows an oversold condition.

To confirm the bullish sentiment, though, ensure that the CCI indicator remains above zero, preferably above 100. When this all comes together, go long on the CFD.

As with all robust CFD trading strategies, you need to place protective measures, in this case in the form of stop losses.

Check the asset value at the last time it was shown to be oversold and place a stop loss here. You should exit the position either at the end of the day or if the CCI drops below zero, demonstrating a new cycle.

Indices

Popular among indices CFD trading strategies is momentum trading, which involves identifying a trend and jumping on the bandwagon. Indices are great for this strategy as it lends itself best to liquid assets, those with a high trading volume.

Momentum trading can be similar to news trading the latter is a great way to inform the beginning of a trend for the former. When a major news announcement is released, it can cause short-term volatility and a persisting longer-term trend, which momentum traders would identify and follow.

Gold

With gold CFD trading strategies, historical data is key. Gold value follows a strong yearly trend, the price tends to rally in January, February, August, September, November and December. Therefore, it is often best to purchase gold CFDs during these periods.

If the price of gold is trading at support in January (the previous low), go long. If the price has rallied, wait until it breaks above resistance to go long. Following this, place stop-loss orders just below the last low swing. Now, hold until the end of February or until you are ready to take your profit. Move the stop-loss up to the most recent low each time.

CFD trading strategies for beginners

Stocks

Almost any CFD trading strategies can be applied to stocks. If you hold a diverse portfolio, hedging could benefit you the most. Otherwise, pair trading might be an effective way to trade with less risk, as the direction of movement is not important. Check out our trading strategies page for more.

Final Word On CFD Trading Strategies

CFD trading strategies are the foundation of a successful day trader, all the self-proclaimed forex and CFD millionaires will have strict ones they follow. A good strategy will not only provide good predictions for entering positions, but it will also carefully manage the position’s risk and inform trailing stop or exit positions.

FAQs

What Is A CFD?

A CFD is a contract-for-difference. It is a derivative product that allows you to speculate on the price movement of an asset without having to own the underlying asset.

What Are The Top CFD Trading Strategies For Beginners?

There is no clear answer to this question, each strategy depends on the trader and asset being speculated upon. However, it is often best to start with those that are easier to understand and pick up, like news trading or swing trading.

Do You Own The Underlying Asset When Buying CFDs?

No, you do not. With CFDs, you only speculate on the price movement of an asset and earn profit based on this.

What Are The Best CFD Trading Strategies?

There is no simple answer to this. Each strategy has different benefits and suits different styles and assets, read through them all to figure out which is best for you and trial a few out using demo accounts.

Where Can I Learn More About CFD Trading Strategies?

There are CFD trading strategies books available to help you learn further information about strategies. Equally, the internet is filled with PDFs, videos and more to teach you. We also have a dedicated strategies page for more information on other approaches not specific to CFDs.