Discover a better way to trade CFDs
Trade on price movements with some of the most competitive spreads in the market, exceptional support and advanced technology – all within a secure, client-focused trading environment.
Why trade CFDs with Pepperstone?
Trade global CFD markets with an Aussie-made broker that understands what you need.
Tight spreads
Trade margin FX from 0.0 points, and CFDs on gold from just 0.1 points.1
Elite trading tech
Connect to MT5, MT4, TradingView and cTrader, or our native platform and app.
24-hr US share CFDs²
Act on key news as it happens. Trade CFDs on top US shares 24/5.
Dedicated support
Get 24-hr, multilingual support, Monday to Friday, and 18 hours at weekends.
Tight spreads
Trade margin FX from 0.0 points, and CFDs on gold from just 0.1 points.1
Elite trading tech
Connect to MT5, MT4, TradingView and cTrader, or our native platform and app.
24-hr US share CFDs²
Act on key news as it happens. Trade CFDs on top US shares 24/5.
Dedicated support
Get 24-hr, multilingual support, Monday to Friday, and 18 hours at weekends.
Choose an award-winning CFD broker
We've been consistently recognised by leading awarding bodies.
Best in Forex and CFD in Australia
TradingView Broker Awards 2025.
Best Overall Broker
DayTrading Broker of the Year Awards 2025
Best Forex Trading Platform
ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025
Best Overall Broker
Compare Forex Brokers 2025
Best in Forex and CFD in Australia
TradingView Broker Awards 2025.
Best Overall Broker
DayTrading Broker of the Year Awards 2025
Best Forex Trading Platform
ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025
Best Overall Broker
Compare Forex Brokers 2025
What is CFD trading?
CFD trading, or contracts for difference trading, enables you to speculate on an asset’s price movements without having to own the asset. Instead, you enter into a contract with a broker to exchange the difference in the asset’s price from the time the trade is opened to when it’s closed. You go long (buy) when you expect prices to rise or go short (sell) when you expect them to fall.
CFD trading is a form of derivative, meaning the value of the CFD is derived from the price of the underlying asset. One of its key features is leverage, which lets you open larger positions with a smaller amount of capital, amplifying both your potential gains and losses.
Why choose CFD trading?
CFD trading is your gateway to global markets while enjoying:
Leverage
Increase your market exposure with lower initial capital. Access up to 30:1 leverage on margin FX majors – magnifying both gains and losses.
Flexibility to go both directions
Trade both rising and falling markets by opening long or short positions.
Hedging opportunities
Open an opposing position to protect your existing portfolio from adverse price moves.
Leverage
Increase your market exposure with lower initial capital. Access up to 30:1 leverage on margin FX majors – magnifying both gains and losses.
Flexibility to go both directions
Trade both rising and falling markets by opening long or short positions.
Hedging opportunities
Open an opposing position to protect your existing portfolio from adverse price moves.
Leverage
Increase your market exposure with lower initial capital. Access up to 30:1 leverage on margin FX majors – magnifying both gains and losses.
Flexibility to go both directions
Trade both rising and falling markets by opening long or short positions.
Hedging opportunities
Open an opposing position to protect your existing portfolio from adverse price moves.
Leverage
Increase your market exposure with lower initial capital. Access up to 30:1 leverage on margin FX majors – magnifying both gains and losses.
Flexibility to go both directions
Trade both rising and falling markets by opening long or short positions.
Hedging opportunities
Open an opposing position to protect your existing portfolio from adverse price moves.
Risks of CFD trading
CFDs are inherently high-risk, and there are several aspects that you should take into consideration before trading.
Leverage
Using leverage can magnify both gains and losses or lead to overtrading, increasing risk and transaction costs.
Liquidity
Low market liquidity can cause slippage and make it difficult to open or close positions at your desired price.
Market volatility
Sharp market fluctuations can quickly impact your positions and increase potential losses.
Overnight funding
Overnight financing fees (swap rates) can reduce your overall returns.
Leverage
Using leverage can magnify both gains and losses or lead to overtrading, increasing risk and transaction costs.
Liquidity
Low market liquidity can cause slippage and make it difficult to open or close positions at your desired price.
Market volatility
Sharp market fluctuations can quickly impact your positions and increase potential losses.
Overnight funding
Overnight financing fees (swap rates) can reduce your overall returns.
Trade CFDs on thousands of global markets
A world of trading opportunities, all from one platform.
Transparent fees
When trading on a Standard CFD account with Pepperstone, you'll pay a tight spread (the difference between the buy and the sell price) on margin FX, commodity and index markets – and absolutely no commission. Share CFDs have a small commission instead of a spread, starting at just 0.07% per side for Australian share CFDs.
Our Razor CFD account is designed for high-volume margin FX traders, offering raw spreads from 0.0 points with commission from $2.96 per standard lot, per side.3
If you keep a position open overnight, you will be charged a swap (or rollover) fee.
To learn more about our fees and charges, click here.
How to start trading CFDs with Pepperstone?
Create account
Open a Standard or Razor CFD account following our online application process.
Find your market
Explore opportunities and research your market.
Trade
Open a position via your chosen platform, setting your risk management tools as you go.
Monitor
Manage your trades manually or using automation tools, responding to changing market conditions.
CFD forwards
Unlike spot CFDs that are based on current market prices, CFD forwards let you take positions on the future price of an asset. They are a more flexible alternative to traditional futures contracts, allowing you to tailor your trades to specific timeframes and market expectations.
Why trade CFD forwards?
No fixed expiry
You can hold positions without worrying about expiry dates, as long as you have enough margin in your account.
Automatic rollover
Your position rolls into the next contract before expiry, so you can stay in the trade without interruption or manual action.
Leverage
Trade larger positions with less capital but be aware that leverage can amplify both potential profits and losses.
Flexibility
You can open positions in sizes that suit your strategy, not limited to standard lot sizes like in futures contracts.
No fixed expiry
You can hold positions without worrying about expiry dates, as long as you have enough margin in your account.
Automatic rollover
Your position rolls into the next contract before expiry, so you can stay in the trade without interruption or manual action.
Leverage
Trade larger positions with less capital but be aware that leverage can amplify both potential profits and losses.
Flexibility
You can open positions in sizes that suit your strategy, not limited to standard lot sizes like in futures contracts.
Trade CFD forwards with Pepperstone
- Choose from CFD forwards on popular indices and commodities, including AUS200, GER40, US500, NAS100, gold and crude oil.
- Find them on MT5 and cTrader platforms.
- Do not pay any overnight charges - these are factored into the price of the forward contract.
FAQs
A CFD (contract for difference) is a financial derivative that allows you to speculate on the price movements of an asset like forex, shares, indices, or commodities without owning the actual assets. Your profit or loss is determined by the difference between the opening and closing prices of the CFD.
When trading CFDs, the main costs are the spreads (the difference between the buy and sell price), commission (depending on the asset traded and the account type), and possible overnight/swap fees, which are industry-standard fees that reflect the cost of keeping your position open after the trading day ends. To find out more about the costs of trading with us, visit our pricing page.
To start trading CFDs with us, you can apply online to open a live trading account. We’ll ask you a few questions about your financial background and trading experience and require you to share some documentation to verify your identity.
Once your account is approved, you can log in to your secure client area and get started.
- Select your preferred trading platform and choose the market you want to trade.
- Tap ‘add funds’ to fund your account. You can deposit as little as $10 or account currency equivalent using our secure payment methods.
- Review the relevant fees and charges and set your risk management orders.
- Once everything is in place, you’re ready to start trading.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money quickly due to leverage, which can increase both potential gains and losses. In accordance with regulatory rules, Pepperstone provides negative balance protection to retail clients, ensuring you cannot lose more than your account balance. We also offer a range of risk-management tools, such as stop orders, which can close your position automatically if the market turns against you.
CFDs can be suitable only if you understand the risks involved and have a clear trading plan. We offer educational resources, expert insights, and dedicated customer support to help you throughout your trading journey.
It depends on your goals. If you’re looking for long-term growth, investing in assets like shares allows you to own them and benefit from their potential appreciation. On the other hand, CFDs let you speculate on the price movements of assets without owning them. This gives you greater flexibility and access to leverage, but also comes with a higher risk. At Pepperstone, you can trade a wide range of global markets through CFD instruments, backed by advanced tools and dedicated support.
You might also be interested in
What is CFD trading and how does it work?
CFDs offer a flexible way to speculate on financial markets or hedge an existing portfolio.
What is leverage in trading?
Leverage is a powerful tool for traders to amplify their exposure to financial markets.
What is range trading and how do I use it in my strategy?
Range trading is a popular strategy that capitalises on price fluctuations within a defined range
Ready to trade better?
Switch to Pepperstone now and join our global community of over 900,000 traders.4 Apply in minutes with our online application process.
Register
Sign up with your email address or social account.
Answer
We'll check your suitability for our products.
Verify
Your safety is our top priority.
Fund
That's it! You're ready to trade.
Ready to trade with Pepperstone?
1Available on our Razor CFD account. Commission fee applies to margin FX.
224-hour trading, 5 days a week on select US share CFDs. For exact timings, please refer to the instrument specifications in your trading platform.
3If you trade 0.01 lots on our Razor account, please note that the commission will round up to $0.030 per 0.01 lot. MetaTrader 4 commission is calculated for both sides of the transaction upfront and then charged upon opening the trade.
4Data for the Pepperstone Group, correct as of 1 March 2026.