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Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing exchanges raised minimum financing requirements for new margin trades, signalling a push to curb speculative activity and stabilise equity markets. China’s three major stock exchanges raised minimum margin requirements for investor financing purchases to 100% from 80%, tightening leverage conditions as regulators seek to steer trading activity toward more sustainable market behaviour. The rule change, announced Jan. 14 by the Shanghai, Shenzhen

Understand how ownership, leverage, settlement, and risk differ across three of the world’s most common trading instruments. Spot trading, futures contracts, and contracts for difference (CFDs) all provide exposure to financial markets — but they operate in very different ways. Although each can track the same underlying asset, differences in ownership, settlement, leverage, expiry, and trading venue can significantly affect risk and suitability. Understanding these distincti

Learn how CFDs work, why they are popular with active traders, and the key risks, costs, and opportunities involved. A Contract for Difference (CFD) is a financial derivative that allows traders to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset. CFDs are commonly used across markets including: Indices Forex Gold and silver Commodities Equities Cryptocurrencies (where available) Instead of buying the asset itself, traders enter a contract based on the differe