CFDs are leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your deposits, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. CFDs are leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your deposits, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.

Leverage definition

Leverage is a concept that can enable you to multiply your exposure to a financial market without committing extra investment capital.

In investing, the amount needed to open and maintain a leveraged trade is called the margin. Trading using leverage is sometimes referred to as margin trading.

Leverage is available on several financial products, including CFDs and forex trades. When trading using leverage, the provider will only ask for a fraction of the total value of your position: the rest is effectively lent to you by the provider.

Profits and losses are based on the total size of the position, so the end result of a trade can be much larger than the initial outlay. Losses can end up exceeding deposits.

Leverage example

You want to open a position on DBS Group. With IG, you will be margined on the total consideration of the trade.

If the stock is margined at 10%, shares are valued at $15 and you want to trade 1000 shares, your margin will be $1500. This is because margin is calculated as

Number of shares x share price x margin percentage

So 1000 shares x $15 per share x 10% = $1500.

Therefore, when trading on leverage, in order to obtain an exposure equal to 1000 shares in DBS Group, you only need to hold a deposit of $1500 instead of buying $15,000 worth of shares in the underlying market.

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Disclaimer:

All forms of investments carry risks and trading CFDs may not be suitable for everyone. CFDs are leveraged instruments and can result in losses that exceed deposits, so please ensure that you fully understand, and are aware of, the risks and costs involved. Refer to the Risk Disclosure Statement and Risk Fact Sheet.

IG Asia Pte Ltd (Co.Reg.No. 200510021K) is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and holds a capital markets services licence for dealing in capital markets products that are over-the-counter derivatives contracts and is an exempt financial adviser.

IG provides an execution-only service. The information in this advertisement does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) investment advice or an investment recommendation, or an offer of or solicitation for a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. You should consider your specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs before making a commitment to trade, including seeking advice from an independent financial adviser regarding the suitability of the investment, under a separate engagement, as you deem fit.

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Leverage definition

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