General FAQs
FXCM is making exciting new updates to our CFD offering.
Most CFD instruments on FXCM accounts will be enabled to trade in smaller sizes after February 28. Now you will be able to trade indices and commodities in 1/10th the size as was previously used. This means you can trade these instruments in smaller amounts, freeing up your available margin and allowing you greater flexibility in your trading. Watch Video
1. How will CFD lot sizes change?
You will now be able to trade indices and commodities in 1/10th the size as was previously used. For example:
If you open a US30 position today:
Currently, the minimum trade size is “1” which equates to a $1 profit/loss for each price tick. On a USD denominated account, FXCM requires a $90 margin deposit for each 1 lot traded. Margin rates will vary for accounts denominated in other currencies.
If you open a US30 position after February 28:
The minimum trade size will remain “1”, however because the pip cost is being reduced by 1/10th, the profit/loss for each price tick will be 10 cents USD. The required margin will subsequently be $9 USD.
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2. How will open positions and orders be affected?
Historical and open positions/orders will also be reduced by 1/10th. The lot size of these positions will be multiplied by 10 so that the profit/loss & rollover posted to your account remains the same. For example:
2 lots of NAS100 are opened on 1 January, which has a 100 point profit equating to a profit of $200 USD. Margin requirements are set at $25 per lot ($50 for 2 lots). How will existing positions appear after February 28?
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Essentially, your position will remain exactly the same, only it will now appear as a 20 lot position as opposed to a 2 lot position.
NOTE: Positions and orders include: open positions, pending/resting orders, closed trades, deleted/cancelled/rejected historical orders, & execution orders that resulted in closed/open trades.
3. Why is FXCM changing the value of the lot size on its CFD instruments?
FXCM is making this change so that you can trade CFDs in smaller amounts. This will allow you to free up your available margin and allow you greater flexibility in your trading.
4. Which CFD instruments will be affected?
CFD Instruments that will have the value of a lot reduced by 1/10th:
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CFD instruments that will have the minimum trade size reduced:
The minimum trade size for most CFD instruments is 1. This will remain unchanged for all but two CFD instruments, the HKG33 and the JPN22. For these instruments, instead of reducing the value of each lot by 1/10th, the minimum trade size will simply be reduced by 1/10th. This will have the same effect as allowing you to trade in smaller sizes.
1. HKG33: The minimum trade size for the HKG33 is currently 10. This will be reduced to 1.
2. JPN225: The minimum trade size for the JPN225 is currently 100. This will be reduced to 10.
CFD instruments not affected:
Spot metals are unaffected as they already have very small per pip values