Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets, CFDs, OTC options or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
To help you understand how to trade forex, view our examples below using contracts for difference (CFD trading), which take you through both buying and selling scenarios.
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EUR/GBP is trading at 0.84950 / 0.84960.
You decide to buy €20,000 because you think the price of EUR/GBP will go up. EUR/GBP has a margin rate of 3.34%, which means that you only have to deposit 3.34% of the total position value as position margin. Therefore, in this example your position margin will be £567.50 (3.34% x [€20,000 x 0.84955]).
Remember that if the price moves against you, it is possible to lose more than your investment of £567.50.
Your prediction was correct and the price rises over the next hour to 0.85530 / 0.85540. You decide to close your long trade by selling at 0.85530 (the current sell price).
The price has moved 57 points (0.85530 – 0.84960) in your favour.
Your profit is ([€20,000 x 0.85530] – [€20,000 x 0.84960]) = £114.
Unfortunately, your prediction was wrong and the price of EUR/GBP drops over the next hour to 0.84390 / 0.84400. You feel the price is likely to continue dropping, so to limit your losses you decide to sell at 0.84390 (the current sell price) to close the trade.
The price has moved 57 points (0.84960 – 0.84390) against you.
Your loss is ([€20,000 x 0.84960] – [€20,000 x 0.84390]) = –£114.
A reverse strategy: how to short GBP (pound sterling)
EUR/USD is trading at 1.13010 / 1.13020.
Let's assume poor German manufacturing data indicates that the euro is likely to fall against the US dollar in the coming days. You decide to sell €20,000 because you think the price of EUR/USD will go down.
EUR/USD has a margin rate of 3.34%, which means that you only have to deposit 3.34% of the total position value as position margin. Therefore, in this example your position margin will be $754.94 (3.34% x [€20,000 x 1.13015]). The platform will automatically convert the position margin amount into your account currency at the prevailing CMC Markets conversion rate.
Remember that if the price moves against you, it is possible to lose more than your position margin of $754.94.
Your prediction was correct and EUR/USD drops over the next hour to 1.12510 / 1.12520. You decide to close your short trade by buying at 1.12520 (the current buy price).
The price has moved 49 points (1.13010 – 1.12520) in your favour.
Your profit is ([€20,000 x 1.13010] – [€20,000 x 1.12520]) = $98.
Unfortunately, your prediction was wrong and the price of EUR/USD rises over the next hour to 1.13800 / 1.13810. You feel the price is likely to continue rising, so to limit your losses you decide to buy at 1.13810 (the current buy price) to close the trade.
The price has moved 80 points (1.13810 – 1.13010) against you.
Your loss is ([€20,000 x 1.13810] – [€20,000 x 1.13010]) = –$160.
If you hold your position past 5pm New York time (10pm UK time), your account will be debited or credited at the prevailing holding rate. If you have bought a higher yielding currency, you may receive interest; if you have bought a lower yielding currency, you may be charged interest. For more details on our FX overnight holding rates, please refer to the 'Product Overview' section on the platform for the relevant pair.
The forex market offers some of the lowest margin rates for spread betters and CFD traders, find out more about forex leveraged trading.
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What are the four main forex markets?
There are four major trading sessions within the forex market, which are London (European session), New York (North American session), and Tokyo and Sydney (Asian session). Learn more about forex market hours.
What type of trading is best for forex?
No strategy will work well for every trader, so it’s important that you first define your goals, time that you can put into it, aversion to risk, and amount of capital you’re willing to lose. Then, you can pick your forex trading strategy, whether this be swing trading, day trading, scalping or another strategy of your choice.
Can you trade forex CFDs?
With CMC Markets, you can spread bet or trade contracts for difference on more than 330 forex pairs, with spreads starting from 0.7 points. Learn how to trade forex CFDs.
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