Taxes on spread betting and share trading

Hi All,
I am a resident in Germany (NRW) and want to know if anyoane has any advice on how financial spreadbetting is reviewed for German tax purposes.
I also share trade and am aware of the Tax Review coming into effect on the 010109, does financial spreadbetting fall into this review as a derivative aswell?
As for profits from a result of trading, is tax calculated on the profits from each trade or on the net profit with losses offset against the total profit?
I am willing to pay for good advice in the future but for now I would at least like to have the basics.

Thanks for your time and help,

All the best, Charlieboy.

I've got no clue what "spreadbetting" is, but it sounds dirty to me.

Anyone got an idea on this one? Spread Betting is theoretically much like horse racing - it is just gambling - but is it taxed as a profit over here? It is NOT for example in the UK.

And also CFD's - Contract for Differences - how are these taxed over here? I am guessing these ones probably ARE taxable here.

Thanks gang.

Spread betting not allowed in Germany. Trade via London account which is tax free.

I am also only guessing here, but either it is considered to be income (i.e. as an occpuation or bussiness) and then taxed as such as part of your income taxation or it is considered to be profits from speculation (like buying and selling shares shortterm, i.e. holding period <1year) and than it will be taxed as capital gains with your income taxation.

Cheerio