It is possible to operate with CFDs providing just a small percentage of their nominal value as a margin

The nominal value of each Contract for Difference (CFD) instrument, in the case of currencies, is 100 000 units of the base currency (first from the pair). In other words, for the EURUSD market, the nominal value of one contract will be 100 000 EUR.

Some other examples:

• for the USDCHF – 1 contract has a nominal value of 100 000 USD
• for the GBPUSD – 0,1 contract has a nominal value of 10 000 GBP
• for the EURCHF – 0,4 contract has a nominal value of 40 000 EUR
• for the USDJPY – 2,4 contracts has a nominal value of 240 000 USD

On the MetaTrader 4 platform provided by Silver Stone FX, the transaction can have a minimum value of 0,1 contract (with 0,2; 0,3; 0,4 as the next steps). One can also make a transaction with a size such as 2,4; 2,5 and so on.

For other instruments, like commodities, the nominal value can be calculated based on the data from the Table of Financial Instruments. Typically the values of most instruments are similar in size to those of the currencies.

Example
Let us assume that the nominal value of a GOLD contract is given as 100 ounces times the current price, then assume that the current price is 1600 USD:

• 1 contract of GOLD has a nominal value of 1*1600 USD * 100 ounces = 160 000 USD.
• 0,1 contract of GOLD has a nominal value of 0,1*1600 USD * 100 ounces = 16 000 USD.

Now, how is it possible to operate with such a large amount on a daily basis? The answer is provided by the financial leverage – the mechanism that allows the trade to be made upon the basis of a margin, being just a percentage of the nominal value of a transaction. Read more about the financial leverage here.