Indices trading refers to the buying and selling of financial instruments that are based on stock indices.
A stock index is a measure of the performance of a group of stocks representing a particular sector or market. Examples of well-known indices include the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the NASDAQ Composite.
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Facts
Indices
- 17 world Indices
- Spreads starting from 0.0 pips
- Leverage up to 1:1000
- Deep liquidity
- Trade 24 hours a day, Sunday to Friday (EST)
WHAT IS INDICES TRADING?
When you trade indices, you're essentially speculating on the overall performance of the market rather than on individual stocks. Traders can take positions on whether they believe the index will rise or fall in value over a certain period. This can be done through various financial instruments such as futures contracts, options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or contracts for difference (CFDs).
Indices trading can be performed by various types of traders, including individual investors, institutional investors, and speculators, and it can be conducted through traditional brokerage firms or online trading platforms. However, it's important for traders to understand the risks involved, including market volatility, leverage, and geopolitical events, and to conduct thorough research before engaging in indices trading.
Indices trading offers several advantages:
- Diversification: Trading indices allows investors to gain exposure to a broad market or sector without having to select individual stocks. This can help spread risk.
- Market sentiment: Indices often reflect the overall sentiment of the market, making them useful for gauging investor confidence and economic health.
- Leverage: Many indices trading instruments allow traders to use leverage, which means they can control larger positions with a smaller amount of capital. While leverage can amplify profits, it also increases the risk of losses.
- Liquidity: Major stock indices are highly liquid, meaning there are typically many buyers and sellers, resulting in narrow spreads and efficient execution of trades.
The Indices Market: Trading Hours
Indices trading hours can vary depending on the exchange and the financial instrument being traded. However, there are some common trading hours for major indices:
- Stock Market Indices: Follow the trading hours of the underlying stock exchanges, typically from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on regular trading days in the United States.
- Futures Indices: Have extended trading hours starting on Sunday evening and continuing until Friday afternoon with brief breaks for maintenance, varying depending on the futures exchange.
- Options on Indices: Trading hours follow the hours of the options exchange where they are listed, often coinciding with the trading hours of the underlying stock market indices.
- Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Trade throughout the day on stock exchanges, mirroring regular stock market hours.
Checkout the image below to see how the forex market sessions works out.
Note: The time shown in the image is EST TIME
You’ve probably noticed that there are overlaps between the sessions. For example, at 03:00 (EST) both the Tokyo and London sessions are open. This is what ensures that the indices market provides traders with 24-hour access to trade from Sunday Evening to Friday Evening (the market closes over the weekend).
Indices Trading Example
1. Opening the Position
The price of the S&P 500 is 5289.50/5290.25 and you decide to sell 3 standard lots (the equivalent of €300,000) at 5289.50.
2. Closing the Position
One week later the S&P 500 has fallen to 5280.50/5281.25 and so you decide to take the profit by buying back 3 standard lots at 5281.50.
3. The gross profit on your trade is calculated as follows
Opening Price
€300,000 x 1.07992 = USD $323,976
Closing Price
€300,000 x 1.05345 = USD $316,035
Gross Profit on Trade
$323,976 - $316,035 = $7,941
Stock Market Indices Contract Specifications
| Stock Market Indices | Approximate Value of 1 Lot in $ | Tick Value per Lot | Trading Hours (EST / New York Time) | Margin (per Lot, in $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 60,000 | 0.25 = $12.50 | Sunday 6:00PM - Friday 4:00PM (Closed 4:15PM - 4:30PM & 5:00PM - 6:00PM each day) | 4,050 |
| Nasdaq 100 | 34,000 | 0.10 = 2.00 | Sunday 6:00PM - Friday 4:00PM (Closed 4:15PM - 4:30PM & 5:00PM - 6:00PM each day) | 4,920 |
| Dow Jones Ind. | 110,000 | 1.0 = 5.00 | Sunday 6:00PM - Friday 4:00PM (Closed 4:15PM - 4:30PM & 5:00PM - 6:00PM each day) | 5,750 |
| Russell 2000 | 70,000 | 0.10 = 10.00 | Sunday 6:00PM - Friday 4:00PM (Closed 4:15PM - 4:30PM & 5:00PM - 6:00PM each day) | 600 |
| QQQ (Nasdaq 100 Trust) | 1,000 shares | 0.01 = 10.00 | 9:30AM - 4:00PM | 500 |
| DAX 30 | 244,900 | 0.50 = 18.75 | 2:00AM - 4:00PM | 7,875 |
| DJ Euro Stoxx 50 | 51,975 | 1.00 = 15.75 | 2:00AM - 4:00PM | 500 |
| CAC 40 | 68,800 | 0.50 = 8.00 | 2:00AM - 4:00PM | 500 |
| FTSE 100 | 108,000 | 1.00 = 20.00 | 3:00AM - 4:00PM | 1000 |
| IBEX 35 | 18,400 | 5.00 = 8.00 | 3:00AM - 11:35AM | 200 |
| Swiss Market Index | 98,000 | 1.00 = 14.00 | 2:00AM - 11:20AM | 500 |
| Nikkei 225 | 50,000 | 1.00 = 5.00 | 8:45PM - 3:25AM & 4:15AM - 3:00PM | 500 |
| SPI 200 | 120,000 | 1.00 = 24.00 | 7:50PM - 2:30AM & 3:10AM - 4:00PM | 1,000 |
| Bovespa | 33,000 | 5.00 = 3.00 | 8:00AM - 5:00PM | 1,000 |
| Hang Seng | 118,750 | 1.00 = 6.25 | 10:15PM - 1:00AM, 2:00AM - 5:30AM & 6:15AM - 4:00PM | 5,000 |
| NSE Nifty Index | 34,370 | 1.00 = 1.00 | 11:45PM - 6:00AM | 1,000 |
| BSE Sensex Index | n.a. | n.a. | 11:45PM - 6:00AM | n.a. |
Important:
- - Swap values may be adjusted daily based on market conditions and rates provided by our Price Provider(s).
- This is applicable to all open positions.
- Triple swaps are applied every Wednesday. - Server Times: Eastern Standard Time - Sunday 17:00 to Friday 16:00.
Example - Calculating Indices Margin Requirements:
| Account Leverage: | 1:400 |
| Account base currency: | USD |
| Account base currency: | Open 5 lots to BUY S&P 500 at 5290.75 |
| 1 Lot size: | 60,000 units |
| Notional value: | 5 x 60,000 x 5290.75 = $537,760 |
| Margin required: | $537,760 / 400 = $1,344.40 |