IQ Option is a trading platform that is mainly famous for binary and digital options. However, other financial instruments are also available on the platform. Today we will show what is a CFD. We are convinced that you will enjoy this form of trading no less than options trading. CFDs are more like trading on traditional stock exchanges. It allows you to speculate on different markets and make money on both rising and falling prices. Are you interested? Here we go!
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What is a CFD?
CFD stands for a contract for difference. The trader and the broker agree to exchange the difference in price of an asset. At the beginning of the contract and at the end of it.
Basically using CFD traders buy or sell assets without actually owning them. Essentially the trader predicts the asset price direction and if the forecast is right the trader earns a profit. If the forecast is wrong. The contract will result in loss for the trader. Note that it is up to the trader to decide when the position should be closed.
CFD trading example
Let's take an example. Mario would like to buy 1000 stocks of company A that currently cost 20 dollars each. Forecasting that they will grow in price in the future Mario pays twenty thousand dollars to the broker for 1000 stocks.
After a period of time as Mario predicted the price of stocks increases. Now they cost twenty five dollars so Mario closes the contract and sells the stocks. As Mario's forecast is correct he receives the price difference in the amount of 5000 dollars from the broker.
But what if Mario's forecast is wrong and the stocks drop in price? In this case, Mario will have to pay the difference to the broker at the end of the contract.
How to calculate profit with CFD trading on IQ Option
Saying what is a CFD, it is necessary to mention how profits and losses from transactions are counted. The profit in CFD trading at IQ Option is calculated depending on which position you open (buy or sell).
How to calculate profit for IQ Option CFD long position with
If you are intending to buy an asset expecting it will grow in value your position is called Long.
For long positions the profit is calculated according to the formula: closing price / (opening price – 1) x leverage x investment.
For example, Stephen invested 1000 dollars in buying stocks of company A at the opening price of 12 dollars. He applied a leverage of one to five. When Stephen closed the position the stock cost fifteen dollars. Let's calculate his profit from the transaction.
Stephen made a profit of 12 hundred and fifty dollars.
Calculate profit for IQ Option CFD short position
When you are intending to sell an asset you don't own expecting that it will decrease in value your position is called short.
For a short position, the profit is calculated according to the formula (1 – closing price) / opening price x leverage x investment.
Have a look at the next example. John used 5000 dollars to sell stocks of company A. The price of stocks when the position was opened was thirteen dollars. When John closed the position the price was 11 dollars. John traded with a leverage of one to three.
Following the calculations, John's profit resulted in two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
Is CFD a good investment?
You already know what is a CFD and you may wonder whether to use this instrument. It all depends here on the time frame in which you are trading. CFDs are always compared to trading on stock exchanges, where you buy a real share of the company. When it comes to day trading, scalping or even swing trading, CFDs are a great solution. You have access to many markets. You also have an easy interface to trade. Finally, you get large leverage which allows you to make large trades without having to put a large deposit in your account.
But if you want to invest long-term and, for example, hold Tesla shares for a year or several years, CFDs are not the way to go here. With CFDs your broker will charge you an overnight fee. This is a percentage fee charged overnight on the total value of the position including leverage. For this reason, if you are a long-term investor, a large part of your profit could be eaten up by these fees.
CFDs at IQ Option are available for almost any asset: oil, gas, gold, stocks, currency pairs, cryptocurrencies etc.
Also read: CFDs On IQ Option Made Simpler.
We wish you a pleasant trading experience.