Indices Trading
Take a view on an entire market in a single position, across major global benchmarks.
Market Overview
An index tracks the combined performance of a group of listed companies, so trading one gives you exposure to a whole market or sector rather than the fortunes of a single business. Index CFDs let you take that position in either direction, without buying every underlying share and without the capital that would require. They are widely used to express a view on macroeconomic conditions, to hedge existing equity exposure, or to trade the volatility around scheduled events such as central bank decisions. Different indices carry different personalities. Technology weighted benchmarks tend to be more volatile and more sensitive to interest rate expectations, while broader benchmarks move more slowly and reflect a wider spread of sectors.
Key Features
Available Instruments
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| Symbol | Index | Region | Spread from | Trading hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US500 | S&P 500 CFD | 0.6 | US | 23/5 |
| NAS100 | Nasdaq 100 CFD | 1.2 | US | 23/5 |
Understanding indices pricing
Index prices respond to interest rate policy and expectations, corporate earnings season, growth, employment and inflation data, sector concentration, currency effects, scheduled index rebalancing and broad risk sentiment. Knowing the composition of what you are trading matters more than most traders assume.
Why trade indices with us
How to Start
Risk Information
Trading indices through leveraged contracts for difference carries a high level of risk. Prices can move quickly, liquidity can change, and losses can exceed expectations when a position is oversized. Review the current contract specifications, margin requirement, trading schedule, swap treatment and applicable client agreement before trading. The figures and availability shown in the instruments table are editable placeholders until confirmed by the relevant product and compliance owners.
FAQ
An index measures the aggregate performance of a defined group of listed companies. Most are weighted by market capitalisation, meaning larger companies exert more influence, though some use price weighting or equal weighting instead.
Many index CFDs trade well beyond the underlying exchange session, which allows you to react to overnight developments before the cash market opens.
When constituents go ex dividend, an adjustment is applied to open positions to reflect the effect on the index. Long positions receive it, short positions pay it.
Cash indices track the spot value and are subject to overnight financing. Futures based indices track a dated contract and roll on a schedule instead.
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