How to choose CFD broker

Every CFD trader knows that choosing a reliable and cheap contract for difference broker or CFD provider is vital. You don't want to spend all your profits on CFD commissions or get into a position you cannot exit if your broker's trading system fails.

Five Step for Finding the Best Contract For Difference Broker

1. Brokerage fees or commission you pay for every CFD trade

All CFD brokers charge their customers a commission for every trade. Most of the CFD providers charge commission as a percentage of a trade, usually ranging between 0.1% and 0.5%, on top of that it's a common practice for a broker to have a minimum charge, usually ranging between £10 - £20. Since different products have different commissions we calculate commission index for every CFD provider to give you a gauge of how cheap or expensive they are. Refer to our contracts for difference comparison service to find the cheapest CFD broker.

2. Margin requirement for CFDs

Contract For Difference (CFD) is a leveraged product, thus you pay only a percentage of the value of the underlying instrument (margin). Margin requirements vary between the brokers, but usually range between 10% and 20%. The margin requirement may be higher and depends on the liquidity and volatility of the market.

3. Their number of tradable contracts for difference

The list of tradable CFDs can vary between the providers, so if you're not sure if a particular CFD product is available contact you CFD provider. Please note that all CFD brokers provide contracts for difference for the major markets (US, UK, Europe, Japan).

4. Their interest charges for long positions held overnight

Since contract for difference is a margined product, you borrow the money from your broker to trade; in return your broker will charge interest for long positions and credit interest for short positions held for more than one day. The rate for long positions is typically 2% about the reference rate (usually LIBOR) and short position's is 2% below.

5. CFD trading system and broker customer service

Overall customer satisfaction rating provides you with the idea of how good or bad a particular CFD broker is. We take into account trading system usability, easiness to use, reliability and design, it also takes into account broker's customer service and promotions. The higher overall rating suggests better trading system and customer service. Compare Contract For Difference brokers by rating.

5. Reputation and Accreditation

At IndependentInvestor.co.uk we only compare and review CFD brokers that are accredited and regulated by FSA (Financial Services Authority). It is difficult to over emphasize importance of regulations and reputation, beware that if your UNREGULATED CFD broker runs into trouble it will not be able to cover positions and guarantee your returns, whereas FSA guarantees your money.