Instruments · CFDs
CFD trading: markets, costs and margin
CFD trading with AQ Markets: the markets you can trade, the platforms to use, what it costs at a high level and how to start with a demo account. New to the idea? Read what is a CFD first.
Overview
What can you trade as CFDs with AQ Markets?
One AQ Markets account trades forex, metals, indices, commodities, energies, shares and crypto CFDs from a single login. A CFD follows an instrument’s price, and you can go long or short on margin. The full mechanics, with a worked example, are in our guide, what is a CFD.
What does it cost? The spread is paid on entry, as the difference between the buy and sell price. Positions held overnight may pay or receive a swap (overnight financing). Commission may apply on some instruments. Margin is not a fee, but it ties up part of your balance while the position is open. See trading conditions for current terms.
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. If equity falls to the margin call or stop-out level, positions can be closed automatically, and a fast or gapping market can still leave you with losses greater than your deposit.
- ✓ Margin call and stop-out levels published per account type.
Platforms
Trade CFDs on your platform of choice
Advantages
Why consider AQ Markets
No restrictions
No restrictions on scalping, hedging or EA use across supported platforms.
One account
Forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and crypto CFDs from a single account.
Tight spreads
Spreads from 0.0 pips on majors, sourced from a deep liquidity pool.
Getting started
How do you start trading CFDs with AQ Markets?
Open a demo account to practise on live prices with virtual money, then open a live account when you are ready. Choose a platform, pick a market and size the trade before you place it. The steps below show the order.
- Open a demo account and log in to a platform.
- Compare the trading platforms and the account types.
- Pick a market from the instruments list and check its trading conditions.
- Size the trade with the calculators, then place it with a stop-loss.
What moves a CFD price?
A CFD follows its underlying market, so the drivers differ by asset: central banks and interest rates for forex, inflation and defensive demand for metals, earnings and economic data for indices and shares, supply news for commodities and energies, and adoption and regulation headlines for crypto. Your costs are the spread and any overnight swap.
When can you trade CFDs?
It depends on the underlying market. Forex runs around the clock on weekdays, share CFDs follow exchange hours, and crypto trades seven days a week. Hours for each instrument are in the table above and on market hours. Margin terms are on the trading conditions page.
Costs and risk
What should you know about costs and risk before you trade?
Costs are the spread, any commission and a swap on positions held overnight. Figures on this page are sample figures, so check the trading conditions for current terms. Leverage magnifies losses as well as gains, and losses can exceed your deposit.
How do the costs work?
Our CFD guide explains each cost and when you pay it. Current terms for each account are on the trading conditions page.
Can I lose more than I deposit?
Yes. Losses can exceed your initial deposit. Read the Risk Disclosure before trading.
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.
Learn more
Related guides
Short explainers and tools that go with this page.
What is a CFD?
How contracts for difference work, with a worked example.
What is leverage?
How margin lets a small deposit control a larger position.
Margin calculator
Estimate the margin a position needs.
Trading glossary
Plain definitions of common trading terms.