Strategies to succeed in short term CFD trading

Like traditional forms of asset-based investments, CFD trading accommodates different aims, plans and risk/reward ratios.

However, CFDs are a derivative-based market – you’re buying and selling contracts between yourself and the CFD provider.

 

What are CFDs?

Purchasing shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) involves submitting a request to a share dealing broker specifying the company of interest and number of shares. In doing so, you’re buying a share of the company’s assets and profits – a part owner of the company.

A CFD, or contract for difference, on the other hand, is a financial derivative enabling market participants to speculate on rising or falling market moves without taking ownership of the underlying asset.

Trading CFDs involves purchasing/selling contracts whereby you’ll pay/receive the difference between the executed price and liquidation price. The asset, in this case, never changes hands.

CFDs are also leveraged products. This makes it possible to increase market exposure while only laying out a percentage of the full notional value of the financial instrument.

CFD brokers supply clients with a broad range of CFD products, including individual share CFDs, Index CFDs, Forex CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Cryptocurrency CFDs and more.

 

Short-Term Trading

A short-term trading strategy aims to exploit minor price movements in the market. Depending on the trading strategy employed, a short-term position varies between a few minutes (in some case seconds) to several days. Conversely, the objective of long-term trading, or position trading, is targeting long-term trends, lasting anywhere from a month to several months, or even years.

Irrespective of whether you employ a long or short-term trading plan, risk management remains a key component to successful trading.

As a whole, there are three types of short-term trading styles used to trade CFDs: scalpers, day traders and some would say, swing traders.

 

Scalping

Scalping involves placing multiple trades throughout the trading session with a short-term intraday focus. The aim of scalping is to frequently skim small profits from small price movements. Trades are often exited shortly after becoming profitable.

Many trades are placed throughout the trading day/session, with signals predominantly derived from technical analysis. However, its still practical to keep an eye on the economic calendar as news releases can drastically affect a scalp trade.

A popular method to scalp markets is using a combination of moving averages and the stochastics oscillator on the M5 chart, which can be used on most major currency pairs. It involves applying a 200-period EMA (exponential moving average) and the stochastics oscillator using standard settings. The whole point of the 200-period EMA is to define if a market is trending. When market price is below the EMA value, traders look for a short position (sell), and vice versa when price trades above the 200-period EMA.

Traders look for a stochastics overbought signal when price trades beneath the EMA. This alerts a possible selling opportunity. As shown in figure 1.A on WTI Crude Oil, several opportunities to enter short are seen, according to the stochastics. It is worth pointing out, though, most traders adapt this method to suit their trading approach, usually by way of combining other forms of technical indicators to justify a position.

FIGURE 1.A

 

Day Trading

Day trading typically involves liquidating positions before the close of trade. However, some hold on to a position overnight if market conditions are favourable.

Similar to scalping, day traders tend to shine the spotlight on technical analysis to base trading decisions, while also factoring in the day’s upcoming news schedule.

While trader dependent, timeframe selection for day trading strategies tend to be higher than a scalping approach. Some lean towards the M15 timeframe; others prefer the slower M30 and H1 timeframes.

Although countless day trading strategies are available, simple price-action based methods tend to perform well over the long term.

Figure 1B, the WTI Crude Oil M15 chart, illustrates a simple trendline-based strategy, with potential trading opportunities denoted by green arrows. Note, once a trendline is consumed it often offers support/resistance on a retest (the central green arrow represents such an example).

Of course, traders can add weight by applying additional technical tools, such as a support/resistance area, a Japanese candlestick pattern or Fibonacci studies. However, do bear in mind it is the simple trading strategies that generate returns. Complexity generally clouds the view and leads to a concept known as analysis paralysis.

FIGURE 1.B

 

Swing Trading

Swing Trading focuses on exploiting gains in short-term swings. A swing trader is concerned with capturing price movements between defined highs and lows.

Swing Trading positions are usually active between a few days to a couple of weeks. The difference between swing trading and day trading is time and, for some, the approach. Swing traders tend to lean towards the H1 timeframes and higher; traders in this category may also include fundamental analysis in their trading approach.

Trend trading is a popular swing trading style, with the aim of capturing a portion of the trend.

Figure 1.C shows the WTI Crude Oil H4 chart offering a number of successful swing trades (green arrows). Generally, traders buy (enter a long position) the dip at Fibonacci levels, the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement ratio is popular, and position protective stop-loss orders beneath the prior swing low. To add additional confirmation, some traders also seek converging price-action based structures.

FIGURE 1.C

 

Trading Style

Several methods of engaging with the market exist.

While short-term trading is a trading style by and of itself, subcategories, such as scalping, day trading and swing trading are in place.

Are you a trader who prefers to be in and out of the market in a few minutes to an hour, and only has 1-2 hours screen time per day? In this case, scalping could be an option. On the other hand, a trader who likes the idea of perhaps holding a position overnight and targeting swings might favour a swing-based trading approach.

It’s important you decide which trading style fits your personality before committing. Successful CFD traders know which category they fit in and exploit this.