Online Forex Trading | FX CFDs trades (2024)

Trade the most popular forex pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD and EUR/GBP at Plus500. Use our advanced trading tools to protect your profits and limit losses.

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Plus500AU Pty Ltd, AFSL#417727, is an Authorised Financial Services Provider#47546 in South Africa.

Based in Sydney

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Trade on 60+ Forex Pairs With Leverage

Trade forex with up to 1:30 leverage. With as little as R750 you can gain the effect of R22500 capital!

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Use our trading tools such as Stop Loss, Stop Limit and Guaranteed Stop to limit losses and lock in profits. Get FREE real-time forex quotes and set indicators to easily analyse charts.

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Apply for an account in a few minutes, practice trading with our FREE unlimited Demo Account until you're ready to move to the next level.

List of Forex - click here

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Protected & secure

Your data is safe and your funds are kept in segregated bank accounts, in accordance with regulatory requirements.

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Get around-the-clock dedicated customer service in multiple languages.

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Reliable

Plus500 Ltd is a FTSE 250 company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market for Listed Companies.

What is Forex trading?

Trading Forex or ‘FX’ CFDs involves the buying, selling, and exchanging of Forex Contracts for Difference based on the currencies’ fluctuating currency exchange rates. Forex (Foreign Exchange) is a global market where traders aim to profit from rate changes by predicting how one currency will perform against another. This market operates from Sunday evening until Friday evening and relies on analyzing factors that affect currency values to make informed trading decisions.

How do I trade Forex?

Start trading Forex in 5 simple steps:

  1. Choose your Forex trading method
  2. Learn about the Forex market
  3. Open and verify your Plus500 account
  4. Plan your Forex trading strategy
  5. Start trading!

Learn More About Forex Trading

  • What Is Forex?
  • Popular Forex Terms You Should Know
  • Forex CFDs Explained
  • Basic Forex Trading Strategies and Indicators
  • What Events Impact Forex Trading?
  • Most Popular Forex Pairs
  • Forex Trading Alerts
  • Crypto and Forex

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Online Forex Trading | FX CFDs trades (11)

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Apr 03 2023

BRICS Countries Embark On a De-dollarisation Trade

Former Goldman Sachs chief economist, Jim O'Neil, has been calling for countries to challenge the US dollar. Brazil and China agreed to trade in their own currencies in a move seen as a step towards rivaling US global economic dominance.

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Online Forex Trading | FX CFDs trades (12)

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November’s Market Recap

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FAQ

Forex trading (also commonly known as Foreign Exchange, currency or FX trading) is a global market for trading one country’s currency in exchange for another country's currency. It serves as the backbone of international trade and investment: imports and exports of goods and services; financial transactions by governments, economic institutions or individuals; global tourism and travel – all these require the use of capital in the form of swapping one currency for a certain amount of another currency.

When trading Forex CFDs, you are essentially speculating on the price changes in their exchange rate. For example, in the EUR/USD pair the value of one Euro (EUR) is determined in comparison to the US dollar (USD), and in the GBP/JPY pair the value of one British pound sterling (GBP) is quoted against the Japanese yen (JPY).

If you think the exchange rate will rise you can open a ‘Buy’ position. Conversely, if you think the exchange rate will fall you can open a ‘Sell’ position.

To learn more about Forex trading, read our article on "What Is Forex" and to see a full list of currency pairs offered by Plus500, click here.

Forex rates are impacted by an array of political and economic factors relating to the difference in value of a currency or economic region in comparison to another country's currency, such as the US dollar (USD) versus the Offshore Chinese yuan (CNH) – these are the currencies of the two largest economies in the world.

Among the factors that might influence Forex rates are the terms of trade, political relations and overall economic performance between the two countries or economic regions. This also includes their economic stability (for example GDP growth rate), interest and inflation rates, production of goods and services, and balance of payments.

To learn more, check out our article on "What Events Impact Forex Trading" and use our Economic Calendar to find real-time data on a wide range of events and releases that affect the Forex market.

The 4 main differences between trading Forex and shares are:

  • Trading volume – the Forex market has a larger trading volume than the stock market.
  • Instrument diversity – there are thousands of stocks to choose from, as opposed to several dozen currency pairs.
  • Market volatility – stock prices can fluctuate wildly from one day to the next, and their fluctuations are generally sharper than the ones found in Forex markets.
  • Leverage ratios – the available leverage for Forex CFDs on the Plus500 platform is 1:30, while the leverage for shares CFDs is 1:5.

Please note that when trading Forex or shares CFDs you do not actually own the underlying instrument, but are rather trading on their anticipated price change.

Foreign Exchange trading has a number of risks that you should be aware of before opening a position. These include:

  • Risks related to leverage – in volatile market conditions, leveraged trading can result in greater losses (as well as greater capital gains).
  • Risks related to the issuing country – the political and economic stability of a country can affect its currency strength. In general, currencies from major economies have greater liquidity and generally lower volatility than those of developing countries.
  • Risks related to interest rates – countries’ interest rate policy has a major effect on their exchange rates. When a country raises or lowers interest rates, its currency will usually rise or fall as a result.

We offer risk management tools that can help you minimise your trading risks.

If you're ready to start trading Forex with Plus500, click here.

Start Trading Now Try Free Demo

Online Forex Trading | FX CFDs trades (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to trade forex through CFDs? ›

Both forex spot trading and forex options are traded using CFDs. There are many pros and cons to trading with CFDs – not least of all that CFDs are leveraged. As mentioned, this means that you only need to put up a deposit (called margin) to open a larger position – which can stretch your capital further.

Why is CFD trading illegal in the US? ›

Why Are CFDs Illegal in the U.S.? Part of the reason why a CFD is illegal in the U.S. is that it is an over-the-counter (OTC) product, which means that it doesn't pass through regulated exchanges. Using leverage also allows for the possibility of larger losses and is a concern for regulators.

Why is CFD trading so hard? ›

This requires constant vigilance of the market and price movements. As well as the use of effective risk management to safeguard funds. Some of the most popular risk management tools used in CFD trading are stop-loss and take-profit orders.

Has anyone made money in CFD trading? ›

It's possible to make money trading CFDs with experience and a thorough understanding of how the financial markets work. But, it's well known that around 75% of retail traders (private investors) lose money when trading CFDs.

Do professional traders use CFDs? ›

Speculators And Day Traders

Speculators tend to be more professional traders who make a living from playing the markets, and can take significant benefits in trading CFDs over other, less potent instruments.

Is CFD trading real or fake? ›

Many individuals have found trading with CFDs one of the more appealing methods when compared to traditional investing. It is as real as any form of traditional investing or trading but has some unique aspects that set it apart from other forms of investing or trading.

What happens if I trade CFD in USA? ›

CFD trading is illegal for US citizens and residents. Additionally, most CFD brokers don't accept US citizens or US residents as clients. CFDs are illegal in the US because they are an over-the-counter (OTC) trading product.

Is CFD just gambling? ›

CFD trading and gambling are two distinct activities. Whilst commonalities may exist as far as speculation is concerned, the one is not the same as the other. But to understand the differences requires having a fundamental understanding of both concept.

Which countries are CFD banned? ›

CFDs are illegal in the US and Hong Kong but in other countries, they can be traded under strict regulations. In such countries as Austria, Cyprus, France, and Australia, CFD trading is legal but certain regulations are in place to protect the parties involved.

Why do so many people lose money trading CFDs? ›

2. CFD Traders Reducing risk exposure. One of the main reasons many traders fail is the lack of risk management strategies. By failing to adopt certain risk management techniques and simply opening trades without protecting their trades with take-profit and stop-loss orders, they risk losing all their trading funds.

Why do people lose money trading CFDs? ›

CFDs can be quite risky due to low industry regulation, potential lack of liquidity, and the need to maintain an adequate margin due to leveraged losses.

What is the success rate of CFD trading? ›

CFDs are a highly risky way to trade. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) analysis has revealed 82% of CFD customers lose money. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51%-81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

How much money can you make from CFD? ›

So, even if you are a great trader, if you don't have enough funds in your account then you won't make a lot of money. Profitable CFD traders who pursue trading on a professional level aim to make around 10% to 20% of their annual salary.

How to trade CFD for beginners? ›

If you're ready to embark on your CFD trading journey, follow this step-by-step guide to get started:
  1. Choosing a CFD Broker. The first step is to select a reputable CFD broker to open an account with. ...
  2. Opening and Funding a Trading Account. ...
  3. Choosing a CFD Market. ...
  4. Develop a Trading Plan. ...
  5. Placing a Trade.

How much do CFD traders earn? ›

Large Account, Significant Profits:

A trader with a $50,000 account who consistently achieves a 15% return on their trades would earn an average of $7,500 per month. This could be enough to support a comfortable lifestyle or provide substantial financial freedom.

Is it possible to hold forex pairs through CFDs for months? ›

CFD Position Trading

CFDs can be utilized for a broad array of underlying instruments, including stocks, commodities, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrencies. These traders can be executed and held for months or even years, as position trading concentrates on long-term trends and the overall movement of the investment.

Are CFDs better than forex? ›

Unlike forex which limits you to currency pairs only, CFDs allow you to trade a wider range of assets, including forex. There isn't much diversity in the forex markets. For example, most forex brokers offer the major eight currency pairs, but also allow you to trade up to 70 other minor currencies.

Is forex not a CFD? ›

No, Forex doesn't use CFDs, as they are different markets. There are various options to trade in the forex market without CFDs, including futures contracts, currency ETFs, and currency options.

What is an example of a CFD in forex? ›

CFD forex example: Going long on EUR/USD

You believe the euro is going to strengthen against the dollar due. So, you decide to buy (go long) on 10,000 units of EUR/USD at 1.06600. For every pip the price moved in your favour, you'd make $1, and for every pip it moved against you, you'd lose $1.

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