CFD Trading Platforms Compared

Written by daniboy on 2 May 2012 – 7:21 am -

There are many Contract for difference providers in Australia to choose from, meaning CFD traders have a variety of alternatives, but choice can be confusing. Here we will provide you the CFD trader with an overview of the key differences of each CFD provider being their software. Regularly novice traders become overwhelmed by the variety of trading platforms to choose from and can often become confused by the huge array of financial products some providers offer on their CFD software and fail to consider whether or not the software suits their trading strategy. This evaluation will help you pick the right CFD platform that fits your trading technique without needing to download multiple demonstration trading platforms.

Deal book 360
Deal book 360 is the CFD and Forex trading platform offered by GFT, the software is a downloadable application. Once you open the software the first thing that you will notice are the graphs, this software has magnificent charting features. I tested the charts for both Forex and CFDs and found the forex graphs to be accurate and consistent with those on other CFD platforms in the group. When comparing the CFD graphs to others in the group I observed that the prices did not always mirror what the others showed, this is most likely because GFT is a market marker and their rates are not a true reflection of the underlying instrument on which the CFD is based. If you seeking for a good Forex charting package that is free GFT can offer you this in their deal book 360 platform, however I recommend that you stay away from the CFDs on the software.

Pure Deal
Pure deal is the online CFD trading software used by IG Markets, the trading platform is web based, straightforward and easy to use. I gave this trading platform a good trial run, what I liked about this software was that there were so many instruments to trade, the draw back of this however was that many of them did not suit my trading strategy and after a while the complicated instrument search tree became frustrating mainly when I wanted to get a CFD trade on quickly and the Contract for difference was not in my watch list. The charts on this trading platform are very simple and if you want more complex graphs you have to pay for them. Aside from the problem with the CFD instrument tree the platform is a first-class all round platform for the amateur trader that needs web based software. For someone that wants that little extra in their platform Pure Deal would not be a sensible option.

Web IRESS
The web IRESS platform is obtainable from Comsec and Etrade in Australia, this software was one of best in the group when it comes to trading DMA CFDs. The trading platform is web based and easy to use, it has several advanced order varieties like trailing stop loss orders which are great for CFD trading. The downside of this software are its graphs, they are simple with very not many indicators. If graphs are not imperative to you and you are looking for a CFD trading platform that will offer you DMA CFDs on ASX listed CFDs on-line this would be an exceptional selection, though it comes at a price. Both Comsec and Etrade will charge you around $55 per month to use this trading platform, this combined with $38.50 in exchange royalties makes this software an expensive proposition given there are other platforms out there can offer you the comparable and even better features free of charge.

Market Maker
The Market Maker platform is offered by CMC Markets, the trading platform is downloadable and has some good functionality like being able to back test on 10 years worth of past price data. This was the most difficult software of those reviewed to install, the download file was huge. Once I was up and running, I found the interface very user friendly and the graphs easy to use, however after being logged into the trading platform for 30 minutes the graphs froze. Once I was back up I checked the quotes of some ASX CFDs against the other platforms and observed that price updates on the trading platform lagged by about 2 seconds. My experience with the market marker trading platform was less than enjoyable and I can’t imagine that the troubles were isolated to my notebook. This is a trading platform that I suggest you stay away from, from my own experience it is plagued with technical issues, the worst nightmare for any on-line CFD trader.

Pro Deal
The Pro Deal platform is offered by International Capital Markets (IC Markets), the trading platform is downloadable but also has web and mobile versions. This was the easiest CFD trading software of the group to set up. Once the trading platform was set up the quick start videos guided me through the workspace setup. The workspace was trouble-free to navigate and not cluttered with CFDs that I would never trade. The software has both DMA CFD as well as over-the-counter (OTC) CFDs, with both types I was able to trade the ASX cash and day trade using DMA CFDs watching my orders flow onto the underlying market. The charts on the software have numerous indicators, and are not overly complex to use. The best thing about this trading platform is that it is free of charge.

So which CFD trading platform is for you?
After my assessment all 5 trading platforms it is easy to see that every trading platform has their niche. If you trade Foreign exchange Deal Book 360 would be the one for you, if you like simple web based software go for Pure Deal, if you only invest in ASX CFDs then web IRESS (although pricey) could be for you, but if you want an easy to use and reliable all round online trading platform you cannot go past IC Markets Pro Deal software.

Prior to trading CFDs you should always understand how to use the CFD trading platform you select, remember that the most suitable CFD platform for you will depend entirely on your trading strategy. You should Download a Pro Deal CFD demo account, the trading platform that I have chosen to use, and see if it is the right CFD platform for you.


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Vital Tips About Contracts For Difference

Written by daniboy on 29 July 2011 – 6:15 am -

Contract for Difference (CFDs) trading is one of the most popular kinds of trading all around the world. CFD trading is very popular in such countries as the United Kingdom and Australia. A lot of people in Canada, Germany, Switzerland also pick this variety of trading. As about, the United Statesit should be added that CFD trading is not offered there because of restrictions enforced on OTC products.

Before we go into more details lets have some historical data. So, the CFD trading sector was primarily started back at the beginning of the 1980s for large banking institutions. It was established as a way for them to hedge share positions. Later (1999) CFDs became opened up to the retail environment. This change gained high praise in the UK and Europe, and now this type of trading continues to develop.

The point is that there are a lot of persons who contrast CFD trading with a having a bet. They say so for the reason that it is possible to ‘wage’ more than you have in your account. CFD trading is considered to be a collateral financed product. For example, if a trade account has 10,000 within and the margin is 10% then it means that it is possible to trade up to 100,000 because of leveraging.

Because of the fact that CFDs usually make use of short positions, and the increasing popularity and advance of the internet and technology potential, online CFD trading is developing tremendously quickly. There is no need to mention that these days more and more folks prefer trading from the comfort of their homes. The other great benefit that can not be omitted is that you can trade almost anytime you want.

It is also useful for you to remember that the overall costs involved in CFDs trading are commonly small. A good number of the CFDs brokers charge a minimal commission fee (from.1-.10%), plus they add a service fee ($5+) for smaller trades. You will be also able to find such firms that just charge a small monthly fee for the usage of their platform.

The last but not least thing for you to take into consideration is that when you profit from CFD trading with margins, it actually means that you borrow the funds to conclude the trade. And the attractiveness of this method is predetermined by the ability for you to exit the trade the same day.

If you are looking for more information about CFD trading, visit this site.

Click here to find out everything you need to know about CFDs.


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The Fundamentals Of Speculating In CFD Trading. The Critical Points.

Written by daniboy on 26 April 2011 – 3:02 pm -

Contract for difference (the acronym is CFD) is an arrangement between the trader and the broker to exchange the difference between the opening and closing prices multiplied by the number of shares in the deal when the agreement is closed. Actually, CFDs are considered to be a very good investment tool but a lot of people avoid trading on it, as a result of the lack of product knowledge. So, as you realize, before you start trading CFDs you need to learn the fundamentals and in the information below you will find some of the basic points.

While talking with reference to CFD trading it should be added that there are strategies you can employ to boost your leverage. To go into more details there is a need to indicate that it is possible to take long or short position. The long position is taken in the case you consider that the price will raise. And you should take a short position if you consider that the price is going to drop.

You should also keep in mind that in CFD trading, you do not physically purchase or possess the physical underlying share. You will only be provided with a direct access to the price performance.

It goes without saying that CFD traders can lose or achieve success. The concluding outcome is influenced by whether he/she has properly predicted the direction of the price movement. So, as it was already mentioned you can make a profit even if the price shares falls but only if the case you have predicted this in the approved manner and gone short. In this case taking short means that you are selling stock, which you don’t hold, and buy it back later on.

To go into more details it is critical to draw attention to that there are CFD traders, who trade on news or anticipate news of some event. As a result of the fact that CFDs offer leverage and low entry cost, it is possible for traders to take steps upon news stories. There are also traders, who use arbitrage in order to profit. The central idea of this is taking advantage of the price difference by simultaneously buying into a position while shorting another.

But the best CFD trading strategy known nowadays is checking out a CFD provider. This way you will know what your options would be and operate on that option. That is the reason why it is critical to find a really good CFD provider, who can direct you in your money-making venture.

The last but not least thing for you to remember is that it will be really hard for you to deal with CFDs if you do not have any trading strategy.


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CFD Trading – Pros And Cons You Should Be Familiar With.

Written by daniboy on 24 April 2011 – 4:15 pm -

To start with it should be pointed out that Contract for Difference (CFD) is considered to be great example of a speculative product in today’s market. While dealing with CFDs an investor has the benefit of making an agreement on market products movements. To go into more details it should be mentioned that the speculation represents the practice where traders do not have actually to purchase shares, but they should only make an agreement to pay or make a profit on the difference of the price of share today and its price at the end of the deal. Basically speaking investors are speculating on the market changes.

The traders do not pay the full sum. In actual fact, they pay just a part of what the real share cost, by trading on margin. This way it is possible to afford to acquire many times.

CFD trading is also characterized by the next feature: in the case the market moves in a favorable way, the buyer can get a lot more profits than a buyer, who is dealing with a regular stock purchase. But, you should not forget that there is a certain degree of risk involved as well. To be more exact, there is a need to point out that if a buyer’s speculation is not correct, he/ she might lose even more that was initially invested.

So, before an individual starts dealing with CFD trading, it is extremely vital to comprehend that the market movement is based upon many factors, for example, customer preferences, economic conditions and so on. To put it differently a trader needs to be able to analyze all factors and make correct decisions.

You should also take into consideration that one of the major CFD trading pluses is that only small capital is considered necessary. Actually, investors can use this leverage and if their predictions are correct, they can easily earn.

It should be pointed out that CFD trading promotes liquidity, for the reason that the assets do not need to be physically present.

And what about the downsides of CFD trading? Are there any? Surely, as any sort of venture dealing with CFDs has some drawbacks as well. And the most critical one is that CFD trading is considered to be really risky and if dealt with imperfectly, it may lead to financial ruin. So, before you get engaged in trading CFDs – you need to learn as more as possible.


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The Main Efficient Strategies In CFDs

Written by daniboy on 14 March 2011 – 8:17 pm -

For sure, most of us wish to receive some good results when spending some time and affords doing something. Yes, this is true. In fact all people who try trading CFDs are success oriented. This means that they are eager to receive some impressing with the help of this type of trading. Perhaps you want to know more about CFD trading and techniques, that can help you to get good profits.

The first thing you should keep in mind is that over-trading can affect your CFD profits and turn them into losses in a short period of time. It can happened that the new traders, who are not experienced enough yet try to get conceited over their big profits and overdo it. It’s not a good thing to do as this can lead to serious financial problems and even can put a person in heavy debts.

The next tip is not to become too confident and always aware of risks. The cause is that each trader goes through certain risk in his and it’s really important to know the risks you will face regarding your capital. For sure, risk management is one of the most important parts of a successful CFD strategy. Don’t forget that it’s vital to take the time to fully learn the ins and outs of this derivative, to become successful. I want you to know that not all the traders who work with CFD become successful, some of them fail. And to not to loose but get good profits, it’s necessary to understand all the pros and cons of the process beforehand.

Additionally, it’s important to know some information about trading equities. Actually, over the years trading equities has become much easier. And the thing is that an online trading platforms and other trading instruments were introduced. Do you know that in the past times you could trade equities only by speaking to your broker over phone? One more way was to be physically present at the stock exchange. that’s the cause why CFD trading and other similar trading instruments were not popular because of such limitations.

And finally, it should be mentioned that due to the development of financial market, presently we have an opportunity to enjoy trading CFDs in the most comfortable surrounding. For sure, the CFD trading instrument however has revolutionized trading volumes in most markets. Thanks to the changing situation now we have an opportunity to use a larger quantity of shares by just paying a percentage or margin money during the trading process.


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