The Financial Ombudsman Service, in a report to the ASIC, has urged the commission to increase protection for investors in CFDs. The ombudsman has called for more stringent minimum standards that would restrict CFD providers from allowing unexperienced clients to trade in the derivative products.

LCH.Clearnet has been reported to have joined forces with Chi-X Europe, Europe’s second-largest equities market stock trading hub, to launch the world’s first contract-for-difference (CFD) clearing service) for institutional investors.

CMC Markets have sent a circular to their clients informing them of a change to their CFD terms and conditions where it makes clear that if they are a retail client, they will hold funds equal to their total equity in a segregated bank account.