金融市場的CFD（差價合約）表示買賣雙方締結的關於未來價格差價的一種合約。如果未來合約的價格升高，賣方需要支付買方差價；反之，買方需要支付給賣方差價。
交易者可以利用價格上升或者下降的機會進行交易。如果價格上升，它們可以開立多頭頭寸。相似地，如果價格下降，他們也可以隨時進行做空的投機行為。
交易CFD是在個人交易者以及CFD提供者之間實現的。因為不存在標準的合約，所以CFD合約提供者會制定自己的合約。當交易者通過特定的交易工具與差價合約提供者進行交易時，合約即成立。
當關閉頭寸時，利潤或者損失便會根據買賣價格呈現出來。如果CFD合約沒有到期之前沒有平倉，那麼它將被順延到下一個合約週期。
由於CFD是保證金交易，所以，交易者始終都應該持倉的最低保證金要求。如果賬戶資金低於最近保證金時，交易者將會被要求追加保證金，他需要再次入金。如果沒有迅速增加保證金，那麼交易者的倉位就會被清算。
CFDs給你一個開立多頭或者空頭的機會。做多的 時候，你希望從CFD的價格增長中獲利；做空的時候，你希望以後能夠以較低的價格重新買入。在一個普通的股票市場，做空是幾乎不可能的。然而，CFD可以讓你像做多一樣容易地做空。雖然價格下降，但是如果你做對了方向，CFD也提供了讓你盈利的可能性。
交易CFDD合約的優勢。
• 可以使用保證金交易，這有助於提高你的交易本金。
• 可以從價格的上升和下降中同時獲利。
• 沒有稅收或者隐性的佣金，這相當於減少交易成本。
• 至少可以交易80種股票，主要指數以及商品合約
• 有獨特的交易工具。
• 提供有益的過夜利息。
交易CFD合約的風險。
• 保證金交易不僅可以提供你的盈利，同時也會讓你損失更多。因此，如果市場走勢與你頭寸方向相反，你應該設置止損以防止爆倉。
• 對於長線交易者來說，他的風險更大；持倉時間過長的話，CFD的交易成本會大大增加。長線交易者更適合買基礎資產。
CFD交易的整個邏輯非常的簡單，它與傳統的外匯交易有許多相似之處。你可以在股票市場上找到CFDs合約，股票指數以及商品CFDs，它有上百種交易工具。
The Advantages and Disadvantages of CFD Trading
2013.12 Anahit Stepanyan
In the financial market CFD (Contract for Difference) represents the contract between the buyer and seller where the seller pays the buyer the difference between the opening and closing prices of the contract. In case the difference turns out to be negative it’s the buyer who pays and not the seller.
Traders have a chance to take an advantage from price moving up and down. In case of prices moving up they can open long positions and while the price moves down similarly they are free to open short position speculating on the market.
CFD trading is realized by individual traders and CFD providers. As there do not exist standard contract conditions each CFD provider specifies his own. It is opened when starting to trade on a specific instrument with the CFD provider.
When closing the position the difference between the opening trade and the closing trade turns out to be loss or profit. In case the CFD does not expire those positions that are remained open overnight will be rolled over.
Since CFDs are traded on margin the trader should keep the minimum margin level all the time to keep the position open. In case the sum of money deposited falls below the minimum margin level the trader will get a margin call and he will have to pay additional money into account. In case of not quickly covering these margins, the positions will be liquidated.
CFDs give you an opportunity to open long and short position. You choose Long Trade when buying an asset and expecting its further rising. In case of Short Trade you sell an asset expecting the price falling as you will be able to buy it back at a cheaper price. In the ordinary share market shorting is hardly possible, however CFDs let you go short as easily as you go long. It provides you with the ability to make profit even if the asset price drops but you trade in the right way.
Advantages of Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
• Availability to trade on margin which will help you enhance your trading capital
• Making profit from market rising and falling
• Lack of taxes and hidden commissions which results in cost reduction
• Availability of at least 80 stock CFDs, major Equity Indices and commodity CFDs
• Availability of unique Golden Instruments
• Providing favorable and beneficial Swap conditions
Risks of Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
• Availability of trading on margin not only increases the extent of profit but also losses. Therefore you should place stop loss order to escape large losses in case your position moves against you.
• It is more risky for long term investors; by holding a CFD open over a considerably long time the costs may increase and it would be more beneficial to have bought the underlying asset.
The whole logic of CFD trading is quite simple and has much in common with traditional currency trading. You can find Equity CFDs on Equities, Stock Indices and Commodity CFDs, containing more than one hundred trading tools
本文翻譯由兄弟財經提供
文章來源：http://www.fxstreet.com/education/markets-regulation/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cfd-trading/2013/11/28/