Differences between CFD and common stock.

CFDs(Contracts for Difference) have been used for many years. While until recently only large institutions used CFDs, now private investors in Europe have discovered the benefits of the product, particularly the ability to easily short an equity or index, and in the UK it is estimated that 20% of equity transactions are now transacted via CFDs. Here is a table to compare the differences between common stock and CFD.

Common Stock CFD
Ongoing cost 100% of purchase cost Margin - initial margin and variation margin
Settlement date Typically T + 3 ×
Dividend A long holder will usually receive a percentage of the dividend declared. A short holder have to pay the dividend.
Exchange base Traded on the exchange Traded with a broker counterparty
Taxed ×
Voting rights √ (depend on the type of stock) ×