When it comes to financial trading, there is always an element of risk involved. It is especially true for CFD trading, a high-risk investment activity. However, this does not mean that CFDs are entirely off-limits to traders in Australia. In fact, to begin right away, you can open a live account with Saxo.
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What are the risks of trading CFDs, and how can you avoid them?
Not understanding what you’re trading
One of the biggest dangers of CFD trading is that many people do not fully understand what they are trading. It can lead to costly mistakes, as traders may enter positions without fully understanding the risks involved.
To avoid this, you must take the time to learn about CFDs before you start trading. Ensure you understand how they work, and the risks associated with them. Only then should you consider investing your own money in a CFD position.
Not using stop-losses
Another common mistake made by CFD traders is not using stop-losses when trading. A stop-loss is an order you place with your broker to sell your position if it reaches a specific price. This price is usually set at a level where you would start to make a loss on your investment.
Stop-losses are vital in CFD trading, as they can help you limit your losses. Without a stop-loss, you could lose a lot of money if the market moves against you. Make sure you always use a stop-loss when trading CFDs.
Not managing your leverage
Leverage is a feature of CFD trading that allows you to trade with more money than you have in your account. For example, if you have $1,000 in your account and you’re using 50:1 leverage, you can trade up to $50,000 worth of CFDs.
While leverage can help you make more profits, it can also amplify your losses. Therefore, it’s important to use leverage responsibly and never trade with more money than you can afford to lose.
Holding losing positions for too long
Many CFD traders hold on to losing positions for too long, hoping the market will eventually turn in their favour. However, this is often a mistake, as the longer, you hold a losing position, the more money you stand to lose.
If you find yourself losing, you must cut your losses and exit the trade as soon as possible, as holding on is one of the most common mistakes made by CFD traders.
Not having a trading plan
Another mistake made by many CFD traders is not having a trading plan. A trading plan should outline your investment goals, risk tolerance and the strategies you will use to achieve your goals. Making impulsive decisions that can easily lead to significant losses without a trading plan is easy.
When creating a trading plan, be realistic about your goals and always consider the risks involved. Stand by your trading plan, and don’t let emotions get in the way of your trades.
Trading with too much money
Many beginner CFD traders make the mistake of trading with too much money. They may see CFDs as a way to make quick and easy profits, so they invest a large amount of money in their trades. However, this is a risky strategy, as you could quickly lose all your money if the market moves against you.
You must only trade with money you can afford to lose. Never risk more than you are comfortable with, and always consider the potential losses before entering a trade.
Not diversifying your portfolio
Investing all your money in CFDs is risky, as you could lose everything if the market moves against you. To reduce this risk, you should diversify your portfolio by investing in other asset classes such as stocks, bonds or commodities.
If you diversify your portfolio, it will help to protect you from losses if the CFD market goes against you. Remember, every investment has a risk, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Not using a demo account
A demo account is an imitated trading environment where you can practice trading without risking real money. Many beginner CFD traders make the mistake of not using a demo account, which can lead to significant losses when they start trading with real money.
Using a demo account to test your strategies and get comfortable with the CFD platform before you start trading with real money is essential. Demo accounts are free and easy to set up, so there’s no excuse not to use one.