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Trading Glossary

Take a look at our list of the financial terms associated with trading and the markets. From beginners starting their trading journey to experts with decades of experience, all traders need to clearly understand a huge number of terms.

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CFD Trading

What is CFD Trading?

A CFD is a derivative financial instrument based on the price movements of an underlying asset. CFDs enable traders to trade shares, Forex, indices, bonds, or commodities without actually owning the assets being traded.

A CFD (Contract for Difference) is made between two parties, typically described as "buyer" and "seller", stating that the buyer will pay the seller the difference between the current value of an asset and its value when the contract was initially made. If the closing trade price is higher than the opening price, then the seller (the broker) will pay the buyer (the trader) the difference, and that will be the buyer’s profit. The opposite is also true. That is, if the current asset price is lower at the exit price than the value at the contract’s opening, then the seller, rather than the buyer, will benefit from the difference.

What is the difference between CFD trading and share trading?
While both “regular stock trading” and CFD Share trading are executed via trading platforms and applications, there are key differences between them. As indicated above, the main difference between stock share and CFD trading is that when you trade a CFD you are speculating on an asset’s price without actually owning the underlying asset. While regular stock trading requires the parties to have ownership of the underlying stocks.

Financial Derivatives

What are Financial Derivatives?

Financial Derivatives are financial products that derive their value from the price of an underlying asset. These derivatives are often used by traders as a device to speculate on the future price movements of an asset, whether that be up or down, without having to buy the asset itself.

What are the four financial derivatives?
The four most common types of financial derivatives are futures contracts, options contracts, swaps and forward contracts.

What are the advantages of financial derivatives?
Financial derivatives can provide several benefits such as hedging, leveraging and portfolio diversification. These financial instruments help in managing risk by protecting investors from price volatility, enable high leverage to increase profits and also allow for better portfolio diversification through a wider range of investments.

Financial Derivatives examples
The most common underlying assets for derivatives are:
• Stocks
Bonds
Commodities
• Currencies
• Interest Rates
Market Indexes (Indices)


Note: In CFD Trading traders get access to all the above Financial Derivatives as well as additional ones more suitable for trading CFDs. As such, CFDs enable traders to buy a prediction on a stock (up or down) without owning the stock itself.
 

ETFs

What are ETFs?

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a type of security that tracks a basket of underlying assets, like stocks, bonds, or commodities. They can provide diversification and lower costs compared to other investment types. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges and offer more liquidity than traditional investments.

How do ETFs work?
In trading, Exchange-Traded Funds or ETFs, combine the features of funds and equities into one instrument. Like other investment funds, they group together various assets, such as stocks or commodities. This helps the ETF track the value of its underlying market as closely as possible.

ETFs can be useful in diversifying trading portfolios, or for active trader, they can be used to make use of price movements. ETFs are traded on an exchange like shares or stocks, traders can also take "short" or "long" positions. CFD trading on ETFs enables traders to sell or buy an ETF they don't actually own to make use of price movements, and not a lot of money is needed to start trading in ETFs.

How much money do you need to start trading ETFs?
The minimum amount you need to start trading ETFs depends on the brokerage you are using, the minimum amount to deposit for markets.com is the equivalent of 100 in the following currencies: USD, EUR and GBP.

 

Cryptocurrency

What is cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency supported by decentralised cryptographic technology. It does not rely on any central authority such as a central bank or government like a traditional currency. Instead, transactions are verified by multiple independent computers along a network. This creates several benefits including speed and general transparency. 

Cryptocurrency ownership is recorded in a digital ledger. This ledger then uses strong cryptography to maintain the integrity of transaction records. This controls the creation of more digital currency within the network and to verifies the transfer of coin ownership. Cryptocurrencies are generally viewed as a distinct asset class, yet do not exist in physical form.  
 
What is an example of a cryptocurrency? 
Some examples of popular cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

What is cryptocurrency CFD trading?
Cryptocurrency CFD trading is using CFDs to trade crypto. This enables traders to take a position on whether a cryptocurrency rises or falls. Cryptocurrency CFD trading opens up more trading opportunities as it allows traders to buy or sell the asset without physically owning it.

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CFD Trading

What is CFD Trading?

A CFD is a derivative financial instrument based on the price movements of an underlying asset. CFDs enable traders to trade shares, Forex, indices, bonds, or commodities without actually owning the assets being traded.

A CFD (Contract for Difference) is made between two parties, typically described as "buyer" and "seller", stating that the buyer will pay the seller the difference between the current value of an asset and its value when the contract was initially made. If the closing trade price is higher than the opening price, then the seller (the broker) will pay the buyer (the trader) the difference, and that will be the buyer’s profit. The opposite is also true. That is, if the current asset price is lower at the exit price than the value at the contract’s opening, then the seller, rather than the buyer, will benefit from the difference.

What is the difference between CFD trading and share trading?
While both “regular stock trading” and CFD Share trading are executed via trading platforms and applications, there are key differences between them. As indicated above, the main difference between stock share and CFD trading is that when you trade a CFD you are speculating on an asset’s price without actually owning the underlying asset. While regular stock trading requires the parties to have ownership of the underlying stocks.

Cryptocurrency

What is cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency supported by decentralised cryptographic technology. It does not rely on any central authority such as a central bank or government like a traditional currency. Instead, transactions are verified by multiple independent computers along a network. This creates several benefits including speed and general transparency. 

Cryptocurrency ownership is recorded in a digital ledger. This ledger then uses strong cryptography to maintain the integrity of transaction records. This controls the creation of more digital currency within the network and to verifies the transfer of coin ownership. Cryptocurrencies are generally viewed as a distinct asset class, yet do not exist in physical form.  
 
What is an example of a cryptocurrency? 
Some examples of popular cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

What is cryptocurrency CFD trading?
Cryptocurrency CFD trading is using CFDs to trade crypto. This enables traders to take a position on whether a cryptocurrency rises or falls. Cryptocurrency CFD trading opens up more trading opportunities as it allows traders to buy or sell the asset without physically owning it.

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Financial Derivatives

What are Financial Derivatives?

Financial Derivatives are financial products that derive their value from the price of an underlying asset. These derivatives are often used by traders as a device to speculate on the future price movements of an asset, whether that be up or down, without having to buy the asset itself.

What are the four financial derivatives?
The four most common types of financial derivatives are futures contracts, options contracts, swaps and forward contracts.

What are the advantages of financial derivatives?
Financial derivatives can provide several benefits such as hedging, leveraging and portfolio diversification. These financial instruments help in managing risk by protecting investors from price volatility, enable high leverage to increase profits and also allow for better portfolio diversification through a wider range of investments.

Financial Derivatives examples
The most common underlying assets for derivatives are:
• Stocks
Bonds
Commodities
• Currencies
• Interest Rates
Market Indexes (Indices)


Note: In CFD Trading traders get access to all the above Financial Derivatives as well as additional ones more suitable for trading CFDs. As such, CFDs enable traders to buy a prediction on a stock (up or down) without owning the stock itself.
 

ETFs

What are ETFs?

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a type of security that tracks a basket of underlying assets, like stocks, bonds, or commodities. They can provide diversification and lower costs compared to other investment types. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges and offer more liquidity than traditional investments.

How do ETFs work?
In trading, Exchange-Traded Funds or ETFs, combine the features of funds and equities into one instrument. Like other investment funds, they group together various assets, such as stocks or commodities. This helps the ETF track the value of its underlying market as closely as possible.

ETFs can be useful in diversifying trading portfolios, or for active trader, they can be used to make use of price movements. ETFs are traded on an exchange like shares or stocks, traders can also take "short" or "long" positions. CFD trading on ETFs enables traders to sell or buy an ETF they don't actually own to make use of price movements, and not a lot of money is needed to start trading in ETFs.

How much money do you need to start trading ETFs?
The minimum amount you need to start trading ETFs depends on the brokerage you are using, the minimum amount to deposit for markets.com is the equivalent of 100 in the following currencies: USD, EUR and GBP.

 

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