Instruments · CFDs
One contract. Every market. Here’s how it works.
A plain-language guide to Contracts for Difference — what they are, how leverage and margin work, and how one account trades every asset class we offer.
Overview
What is a CFD, and how does it work?
A Contract for Difference (CFD) is an agreement to exchange the difference in an instrument’s price between when a position is opened and when it’s closed — without ever owning the underlying asset. That’s what lets one AQ Markets account trade forex, metals, indices, commodities, energies, shares and crypto, long or short, on margin, from a single login.
Why CFDs
Why trade CFDs with AQ Markets
Trade rising or falling markets
Go long if you expect a price to rise, or short if you expect it to fall — the contract itself is direction-agnostic.
One account, every market
Forex, metals, indices, commodities, energies, shares and crypto — all tradable as CFDs from a single account.
Leverage & margin efficiency
Open a position by depositing a fraction of its full value as margin — capital efficiency comes with amplified risk both ways.
No ownership, no expiry hassle
CFDs settle in cash — there’s no physical delivery, share registration or futures-style expiry to manage.
Quick stats
CFDs at a glance
Spec table
A cross-asset sample
One representative CFD from each asset class we offer — a taste of the breadth available from a single account. The full instrument list is available inside the platform.
| Symbol | Description | Min Spread | Swap Long | Swap Short | Contract Size | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD | Forex — Euro / US Dollar | 0.0 | -0.8 | 0.2 | 100,000 | 24/5 |
| XAUUSD | Metals — Gold / US Dollar | 0.20 | -6.5 | 1.8 | 100 oz | 23/5 |
| US30 | Indices — Wall Street 30 | 1.6 | -3.5 | 0.8 | $1 / point | 23/5 |
| USOIL | Energies — WTI Crude Oil | 0.03 | -1.8 | 0.5 | 1,000 barrels | 23/5 |
| AAPL | Shares — Apple Inc. | 0.02 | -0.03 | 0.01 | 1 share | Exchange hours |
| BTCUSD | Crypto — Bitcoin / US Dollar | 25 | -12 | -8 | 1 coin | 24/7 |
Illustrative sample data — pending finalized trading conditions.
Trading conditions
Leverage & margin, explained
- ✓ Market execution — no dealing-desk intervention, no requotes.
- ✓ Margin required = (contract size × price) ÷ leverage — a worked example is shown inside the platform.
- ✓ Leverage varies by asset class and jurisdiction — see Trading Conditions (eligibility applies).
- ✓ Positions are marked to market continuously; margin call and stop-out levels are designed to reduce the risk of a negative balance, though gapping markets can still produce one.
- ✓ Margin call and stop-out levels published per account type.
Platforms
Trade CFDs on your platform of choice
Advantages
Why traders choose AQ Markets
No restrictions
No restrictions on scalping, hedging or EA use across supported platforms.
100+ instruments
One account across forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and crypto CFDs.
Tight spreads
Spreads from 0.0 pips on majors, sourced from a deep liquidity pool.
Security of funds
Client funds intended to be held separately from company operating funds. [Banking and custody arrangements to be confirmed.]
Risk warning. Forex and CFD trading is leveraged and carries a high level of risk to your capital. Prices can move quickly against you, and losses can exceed your initial deposit. Please read our Risk Disclosure before trading.