Economy
An In-depth Look into Best CFD Trading Platforms in South Africa by Traders Union
Recent years have witnessed a significant surge in the popularity of Contract for Difference (CFD) trading in South Africa. In light of this evolving market dynamic, Traders Union experts conducted a meticulous examination of the top CFD trading platforms catering to the South African market. Their insightful findings aim to assist novice and experienced traders in navigating through various platforms, each boasting unique offerings and services.
The experts considered numerous best CFD trading platforms in South Africa to ensure an unbiased assessment, eventually identifying a select few that demonstrated outstanding performance across all assessment criteria. A multifaceted approach, including comprehensive evaluations of regulatory compliance, asset variety, trading features, and overall user experience, underpinned the TU expert analysis.
The forthcoming sections present a detailed summary of their findings. Read and learn about the top platforms to trade CFDs in South Africa for novice and experienced traders.
Pioneering CFD Trading Platforms in South Africa
The Traders Union team, having scrutinized the market, has delineated several trading platforms. Learn about their features and tools.
RoboForex
Regulated by IFSC, RoboForex provides traders with an extensive array of 9 asset types for CFD trading, including Forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, metals, energies, and cryptocurrencies. With a low minimum deposit of $10, the platform offers multiple account types, catering to different trading styles and risk appetites. Their platform is easy to navigate, allowing traders to maximize their trading efficiency.
XM Group
XM Group stands out with its impressive regulatory portfolio, which includes ASIC and CySEC. They offer various CFDs on asset classes such as Forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Traders can enjoy competitive spreads, rapid execution of orders, and dedicated support for MT4 and MT5 trading platforms.
Tickmill MT4
Tickmill offers an assortment of CFDs, including Forex, stock indices, bonds, and commodities, on its MT4 platform. The platform, regulated by the FCA, CySEC, and FSA, requires a minimum deposit of $100. Key features include low spreads, high-speed order execution, and no requotes, contributing to a seamless trading experience.
IC Markets cTrader
IC Markets facilitates trading in Forex, indices, commodities, bonds, futures, and cryptocurrencies CFDs on its sophisticated cTrader platform. It boasts high-speed order execution, level II pricing, and detachable charts. Furthermore, it is regulated by ASIC, a globally recognized financial regulator.
Understanding CFDs
CFDs are complex financial instruments that enable traders to speculate on the price movements of various global financial markets. In CFD trading, traders do not directly own the underlying asset. Rather, they enter into a contract with the broker to exchange the difference in the price of an asset from the time the contract is opened to when it is closed. TU team discussed key steps in CFD trading:
- Checking the regulatory status of the platform.
- See the available markets.
- Verify the availability of direct share CFDs from the broker.
- Check the features and tools of the platform.
- Check commissions and fees, including spread and withdrawal costs.
- Confirm the minimum deposit amount.
- Learn about available software.
- Check the customer support service availability via email, phone or live chat.
- Sign up to start trading CFDs.
Evaluating the Legality of CFD Trading in South Africa
CFD trading is legal in South Africa and is regulated by various entities. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is South Africa’s main financial regulator, ensuring fairness and integrity in the financial markets. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) are well-recognized global regulators that oversee Forex and CFD brokers. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) are further assurances of regulatory oversight, providing robust investor protection.
Assessing Tax Implications for CFD Traders in South Africa
Traders engaging in CFD trading are subject to South African tax laws. Income from CFD trading falls under gross income as per the Income Tax Act and must be reported to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Capital Gains Tax (CGT) also applies to the profits earned from CFD trading. Traders Unions’ experts explain that traders must consider these tax implications when calculating their potential returns.
Identifying Ideal CFD Platforms for Beginners in South Africa
For novice traders, platforms that offer copy trading or PAMM accounts present an excellent starting point. Some of these platforms include XM Group and RoboForex. These features allow beginners to learn from experienced traders, gaining insights into successful trading strategies.
Conclusion
For a more exhaustive understanding of the CFD trading landscape in South Africa, readers are advised to visit the TU website. This rich repository hosts a plethora of detailed reviews, guides, and invaluable resources to equip traders with the knowledge they need for successful trading.
By Dipo Olowookere
On the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last week, investors transacted 3.648 billion shares worth N220.568 billion in 251,861 deals compared with the 3.821 billion shares valued at N154.393 billion traded in 258,567 deals a week earlier.
Analysis showed that financial stocks led the activity chart with 2.899 billion units sold for N147.360 billion in 106,603 deals, accounting for 79.48 per cent and 66.81 per cent of the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Services equities recorded a turnover of 164.914 million units valued at N3.615 billion in 16,375 deals, and the consumer goods shares exchanged 157.451 million units worth N7.777 billion in 27,950 deals.
First Holdco, Zenith Bank, and Fidelity Bank were the busiest stocks for the five-day trading week, trading 1.745 billion units valued at N121.828 billion in 31,053 deals, contributing 47.85 per cent and 55.23 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Business Post reports that 60 equities appreciated during the week versus 22 equities in the previous week, 28 shares depreciated versus 57 shares of the preceding week, and 58 stocks closed flat versus 67 stocks of the previous week.
International Breweries gained 40.00 per cent to trade at N13.30, RT Briscoe expanded by 32.02 per cent to N13.40, Livestock Feeds improved by 28.47 per cent to N9.25, First Holdco chalked up 25.82 per cent to close at N69.20, and Abbey Bank rose by 23.65 per cent to N9.15.
On the flip side, McNichols lost 28.57 per cent to finish at N5.00, Thomas Wyatt gave up 11.64 per cent to quote at N2.43, Geregu Power declined by 10.00 per cent to N825.70, CAP shed 9.99 per cent to settle at N157.60, and Guinness Nigeria also slipped by 9.99 per cent to N329.00.
Customs Street was under buying pressure last week, making the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation close higher by 6.35 per cent to 243,798.76 points and N156.445 trillion, respectively.
In the same vein, all other indices finished higher apart from the growth and sovereign bond indices, which depreciated by 7.43 per cent and 0.02 per cent, respectively.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange rose by 2.30 per cent, spurring the NASD Security Index (NSI) to close higher by 96.61 points to 4,296.34 points from 4,199.73 points, and raising the market capitalisation by N57.99 billion to N2.578 trillion from N2.521 trillion.
The market was up yesterday despite a lower activity level, as the volume of securities traded slumped by 94.7 per cent to 1.3 million units from the previous 23.9 million units. The value of securities slipped by 57.2 per cent to N29.2 million from the preceding session’s N68.2 million, while the number of deals executed by market participants increased by 6.7 per cent to 32 deals from the 30 deals carried out on Thursday.
At the close of transactions, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with a turnover of 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion in trades, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 70.8 million units traded for N4.9 billion.
GNI Plc was also the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units exchanged for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
During the trading day, there were three price gainers and two price losers, led by Afriland Properties Plc, which shed N1.48 to sell at N15.17 per share compared with the previous session’s N16.65 per share, and Food Concepts Plc, which slid by 7 Kobo to close at N2.69 per unit versus N2.76 per unit.
Conversely, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc improved its value by N9.50 to trade at N150.00 per share compared with Thursday’s closing price of N140.50 per share, CSCS Plc went up by N7.95 to N89.65 per unit from N81.70 per unit, and 11 Plc soared by N6.94 to N206.95 per share from N200.01 per share.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited lost its footing by 0.07 per cent on Friday as a result of renewed profit-taking by investors.
The fall happened after Thomas Wyatt and Guinness Nigeria led other price losers group comprising 27 stocks at the market yesterday due to selling pressure.
Thomas Wyatt Nigeria shed 10.00 per cent to quote at N2.70, Guinness Nigeria drowned by 9.99 per cent to close at N329.00, Ikeja Hotel slipped by 9.96 per cent to N42.50, Zichis shed 9.94 per cent to trade at N26.37, and McNichols depreciated by 9.91 per cent to N5.00.
On the flip side, International Breweries gained 9.92 per cent to finish at N13.30, NEM Insurance appreciated by 9.61 per cent to N27.95, Jaiz Bank grew by 6.36 per cent to N9.20, UPDC expanded by 6.33 per cent to N4.20, and Livestock Feeds increased by 6.32 per cent to N9.25.
Business Post reports that investor sentiment remained bullish despite the loss recorded during the session, as there were 27 price decliners and 30 price advancers, representing a positive market breadth index.
Yesterday, market participants transacted 441.3 million equities for N19.4 billion in 44,938 deals compared with the 1.7 billion equities worth N112.0 billion traded in 44,780 deals a day earlier. This showed that the trading volume contracted by 74.04 per cent, the trading value declined by 82.68 per cent, and an uptick in the number of deals by 0.35 per cent.
Access Holdings led the activity chart on Friday after selling 40.2 million shares valued at N1.0 billion, Sterling Holdco traded 30.3 million stocks worth N228.8 million, Fidelity Bank sold 26.3 million equities for N505.6 million, Zenith Bank transacted 22.3 million shares valued at N2.5 billion, and First Holdco exchanged 19.0 million stocks worth N1.3 billion.
During the last trading session of the week, the consumer goods sector rose by 0.49 per cent, the insurance counter increased by 0.06 per cent, and the industrial goods index closed flat, while the banking and energy indices lost 0.78 per cent and 0.52 per cent, respectively.
As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) shrank by 159.97 points to 243,798.76 points from 243,958.73 points, and the market capitalisation moderated by N103 billion to N156.445 trillion from N156.548 trillion.
