Equity markets offer salvation as FX volatility dies out

Historical figures. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Equities offer logical step for FX traders 
With equities displaying higher volatility and strong performance in recent years, you could conclude that they offer a more attractive trading environment than FX. And while switching from pure FX trading to incorporate equities may seem like a sea change, it’s actually not as cumbersome as you might think. 

In fact, an easy transition for any FX trader would be to start trading equity index CFDs.

What are equity index CFDs?
An equity index CFD is a derivative product that enables you to speculate on the performance of an entire stock market index, rather than buying individual shares. For example, with just one CFD trade, you can gain exposure to the performance of the whole S&P 500, or any other index of your choice.

When you trade an index CFD, you’re essentially agreeing to exchange the difference in price of an index from one time period to another. And as a CFD is a derivative, you can go both long and short – presenting you with an opportunity to take advantage of an index whether it is rising or falling in value. 

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Similarities between FX trading and index CFDs
Transitioning from FX to index CFDs with Saxo should be relatively straightforward, as the two products share many similarities. For example:

• Both are traded on leverage
• You’re able to go long and short
• The trading conditions are similar: low initial margins, over-the-counter execution, all-inclusive spreads and no expiration dates. 
• You can trade FX and CFDs via the same Saxo platform, using the same trading tools and charting analysis. 

Beyond that, if you rely on technical analysis to trade FX, you should find similarities trading index CFDs. You’ll be looking for similar chart patterns and be able to apply the same technical principles to find trade opportunities. More fundamental-focused traders will be pleased to hear that macroeconomic factors, such as interest rate moves, affect both products, which again highlight the similarities between the products. 

Furthermore, you needn’t worry about liquidity should you move away from FX. Saxo derives all its index-tracking CFDs from the volume in the futures market, meaning they’re also highly liquid products. The table below provides a more detailed comparison of the two instruments when trading them with Saxo.