Financial watchdog warns on CFDs

Three quarters of customers of spread betting firms had lost money when taking a punt on CFDs

CFDs allow investors to gamble on the price of shares without owning them

Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said there are “areas of serious concern” in the contracts for difference (CFD) market, and that some spread betting firms' employment policies may lead to mis-selling to customers.

CFDs allow investors to gamble on the price of shares without owning them.

After a year-long review, the FCA found that 76 per cent of customers of spread betting firms had lost money when taking a punt on CFDs, ...