A cfd provider is a company that offers trading in the contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are a form of leveraged trading, which allows traders to speculate on the price movement of an asset without actually owning the underlying asset. CFDs are traded on margin and therefore can lead to losses in addition to profits.
Different cfd providers will compete on several factors such as the cost of trading (spread, bid-offer spread and commissions) and selection of products covered (shares, commodities, forex pairs). They may also offer features that enhance the trading environment. Traders can also look at the reputation of the broker and whether they are regulated.
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CFDs are a popular tool for speculation on the price of shares, equities, bonds and commodities. They can be traded on any exchange, and you can open a position by choosing to buy or sell CFDs of an instrument in real time. For every point that the price of the instrument moves in your favour, you will gain multiples of the number of CFDs you have bought or sold. The opposite is true for every point that the price moves against you.
The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) requires that brokers offering CFDs must provide a risk warning to their clients, which is displayed on advertising and web sites as well as when new accounts are opened. This is to ensure that investors are aware of the potential risks associated with CFD trading.