CFDs vs Spot vs Futures

Spot ownership (shares, physical-ish ETFs) means you hold an asset. CFDs are pure price exposure via the broker. Futures are exchange-traded contracts with expiry and different margin regimes.

CFDs often win for accessibility: lower minimums, easy shorting, multi-asset one login (TradeLocker). Futures win for transparent exchange liquidity and no broker “price book” debates — but need different accounts and often more capital.

Pricing: CFD quotes can differ slightly from futures or cash indices. Your edge is on *your* chart and *your* fills — do not mix signals from three platforms without knowing which feed you trade.

For prop firms offering TradeLocker CFDs, optimize for that environment: same sessions, same product specs, same risk rules as your challenge.

Structure (BOS, levels, sessions) transfers across vehicles. Product rules (swap, margin, halt) do not — always re-learn the instrument.