Indices Trading

Indices Trading

Follow the world’s most popular indices, such as the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average to gain a more diversified and balanced exposure to the market they represent and benefit from overall market trends, rather than relying on the performance of individual CFD stocks.

Trade Indices
or try a Free Demo Account

Rollover Policy

Trading Hours

Execution Desk

WHY TRADE CFDs ON INDICES WITH HFM

Ultra-fast execution

Access global indices including USA500 and UK100

Low margin requirements

Trade on both rising and falling prices

Exposure to an entire sector at once

Portfolio diversification

Popular Indices

Go long or short on the world’s major stock indices

Swap values in margin currency Trading Hours
Symbol Description Spreads as low as Leverage (up to) Short Long Monday
Open		 Friday
Close		 Break
FRA40 France 40 1.1 1:200 0.18 -1.37 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
JPN225 Japan 225 10.0 1:500 -2.47 -3.01 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
SUI20 Switzerland 20 2.9 1:200 -0.5 -1.2 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
SPA35 Spain 35 4.9 1:200 0.28 -2.19 9:05:00 20:59:59 -
NETH25 Netherlands 25 0.23 1:200 0.02 -0.85 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
AUS200 Australian 200 1.4 1:200 0.37 -1.9 2:55:00 23:57:59 09:30:00-10:09:59
GER40 Germany 40 1.2 1:500 0.46 -3.61 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
UK100 UK 100 1.0 1:200 0.46 -2.02 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USA30 US Wall Street 30 2.9 1:500 2.42 -10.73 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USA100 US Tech 100 1.2 1:500 1.15 -5.08 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USA500.S US SPX500 0.4 1:500 0.33 -1.46 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
HK50 Hong Kong 50 6.5 1:200 0.81 -4.34 4:15:00 22:00:00 07:00:00 - 08:00:00 And 11:30:00 - 12:15:00
Swap values in margin currency Trading Hours
Symbol Description Spreads as low as Leverage (up to) Short Long Monday
Open		 Friday
Close		 Break
FRA40.F France 40 3.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
EU50.F EU STOXX 50 2.9 1:200 0.0 0.0 3:20:00 22:59:59 -
US500.F US SPX500 0.75 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
GER40.F Germany 40 3.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
US100.F US Tech 100 3.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
JP225.F Japan 225 11.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
US30.F US Wall Street 30 6.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
SUI20.F Switzerland 20 4.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
N25.F Netherlands 25 0.53 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
UK100.F UK 100 4.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USDIndex US Dollar Index 0.04 1:100 -5.5 -8.5 3:05:00 23:57:59 -
VIX.F Volatility Index SP 500 0.06 1:100 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
Swap values in margin currency Trading Hours
Symbol Description Spreads as low as Leverage (up to) Short Long Monday
Open		 Friday
Close		 Break
SPA35 Spain 35 4.9 1:200 0.28 -2.19 9:05:00 20:59:59 -
FRA40 France 40 1.1 1:200 0.18 -1.37 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
NETH25 Netherlands 25 0.23 1:200 0.02 -0.85 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
GER40 Germany 40 1.2 1:500 0.46 -3.61 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
AUS200 Australian 200 1.4 1:200 0.37 -1.9 2:55:00 23:57:59 09:30:00-10:09:59
JPN225 Japan 225 10.0 1:500 -2.47 -3.01 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
UK100 UK 100 1.0 1:200 0.46 -2.02 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USA100 US Tech 100 1.2 1:500 1.15 -5.08 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
HK50 Hong Kong 50 6.5 1:200 0.81 -4.34 4:15:00 22:00:00 07:00:00 - 08:00:00 And 11:30:00 - 12:15:00
USA30 US Wall Street 30 2.9 1:500 2.42 -10.73 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USA500.S US SPX500 0.4 1:500 0.33 -1.46 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
SUI20 Switzerland 20 2.9 1:200 -0.5 -1.2 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
Swap values in margin currency Trading Hours
Symbol Description Spreads as low as Leverage (up to) Short Long Monday
Open		 Friday
Close		 Break
EU50.F EU STOXX 50 2.9 1:200 0.0 0.0 3:20:00 22:59:59 -
FRA40.F France 40 3.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
GER40.F Germany 40 3.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
US30.F US Wall Street 30 6.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
US100.F US Tech 100 3.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
SUI20.F Switzerland 20 4.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
JP225.F Japan 225 11.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
N25.F Netherlands 25 0.53 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
UK100.F UK 100 4.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
VIX.F Volatility Index SP 500 0.06 1:100 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
US500.F US SPX500 0.75 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USDIndex US Dollar Index 0.04 1:100 -5.5 -8.5 3:05:00 23:57:59 -
Swap values in margin currency Trading Hours
Symbol Description Spreads as low as Leverage (up to) Short Long Monday
Open		 Friday
Close		 Break
AUS200 Australian 200 1.4 1:200 0.37 -1.9 2:55:00 23:57:59 09:30:00-10:09:59
NETH25 Netherlands 25 0.23 1:200 0.02 -0.85 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
FRA40 France 40 1.1 1:200 0.18 -1.37 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
SPA35 Spain 35 4.9 1:200 0.28 -2.19 9:05:00 20:59:59 -
JPN225 Japan 225 10.0 1:500 -2.47 -3.01 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
GER40 Germany 40 1.2 1:500 0.46 -3.61 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
SUI20 Switzerland 20 2.9 1:200 -0.5 -1.2 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
USA30 US Wall Street 30 2.9 1:500 2.42 -10.73 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
HK50 Hong Kong 50 6.5 1:200 0.81 -4.34 4:15:00 22:00:00 07:00:00 - 08:00:00 And 11:30:00 - 12:15:00
USA100 US Tech 100 1.2 1:500 1.15 -5.08 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
UK100 UK 100 1.0 1:200 0.46 -2.02 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
USA500.S US SPX500 0.4 1:500 0.33 -1.46 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
Swap values in margin currency Trading Hours
Symbol Description Spreads as low as Leverage (up to) Short Long Monday
Open		 Friday
Close		 Break
EU50.F EU STOXX 50 2.9 1:200 0.0 0.0 3:20:00 22:59:59 -
FRA40.F France 40 3.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
US30.F US Wall Street 30 6.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
US100.F US Tech 100 3.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
GER40.F Germany 40 3.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
JP225.F Japan 225 11.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
N25.F Netherlands 25 0.53 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
UK100.F UK 100 4.2 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
US500.F US SPX500 0.75 1:200 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -
SUI20.F Switzerland 20 4.0 1:200 0.0 0.0 9:05:00 22:58:59 -
USDIndex US Dollar Index 0.04 1:100 -5.5 -8.5 3:05:00 23:57:59 -
VIX.F Volatility Index SP 500 0.06 1:100 0.0 0.0 1:05:00 23:57:59 -

Important

  1. Swaps values may be adjusted daily based on market conditions and rates provided by our Price Provider applicable to all open positions. Triple swaps are applied every Friday.
  2. Server Times: Winter: GMT+2 and Summer: GMT+3 (DST) (last Sunday of March and ends last Sunday of October).
  3. During the time period from 23:55 to 00:05 server time increased spreads and decreased liquidity can take place due to daily bank rollover. In case of inadequate liquidity/spreads during bank rollover, widened spreads and excessive slippage may occur. Therefore orders may not be executed during these times.

Calculating Indices Margin Requirements - Example

Account base currency: USD
Position: Open 5 lots BUY EU50.F at 3,451.95
1 Lot size: 1 contract
Margin requirement: 0.5% of Notional value
Notional value is: 5 * 1 * 3,451.95 = 17,260 EUR
17,260 * 1.20887 (EURUSD rate) = 20,865 USD
Margin required is: 20,865 USD * 0.005 = 104.325 USD

Contract Expiration Dates

Symbol January February March April May June July August September October November December
US500.F 13/03/2024 19/06/2024 18/09/2024 18/12/2024
US100.F 13/03/2024 19/06/2024 18/09/2024 18/12/2024
JP225.F 06/03/2024 12/06/2024 11/09/2024 11/12/2024
N25.F 18/01/2024 15/02/2024 14/03/2024 18/04/2024 16/05/2024 20/06/2024 18/07/2024 15/08/2024 19/09/2024 17/10/2024 14/11/2024 19/12/2024
USDIndex 14/03/2024 13/06/2024 12/09/2024 12/12/2024
US30.F 13/03/2024 19/06/2024 18/09/2024 18/12/2024
UK100.F 14/03/2024 20/06/2024 19/09/2024 19/12/2024
GER40.F 14/03/2024 20/06/2024 19/09/2024 19/12/2024
FRA40.F 18/01/2024 15/02/2024 14/03/2024 18/04/2024 16/05/2024 20/06/2024 18/07/2024 15/08/2024 19/09/2024 17/10/2024 14/11/2024 19/12/2024
SUI20.F 14/03/2024 20/06/2024 19/09/2024 19/12/2024
VIX.F 16/01/2024 13/02/2024 19/03/2024 16/04/2024 21/05/2024 18/06/2024 16/07/2024 20/08/2024 17/09/2024 15/10/2024 19/11/2024 17/12/2024
EU50.F 14/03/2024 20/06/2024 19/09/2024 19/12/2024

WHAT IS INDICES TRADING?

Indices trading refers to buying and selling financial instruments that track the performance of a group of stocks or other financial assets, rather than individual securities.

An index is essentially a measurement of the performance of a particular market, and indices trading involves trading on the direction of that market by buying or selling derivatives based on the index.

For example, the S&P 500 index tracks the performance of the top 500 publicly traded companies in the United States.

By trading S&P 500 futures contracts, traders can trade on whether they believe the overall value of those companies will go up or down.

Indices trading can be done through a variety of financial instruments, including contracts for difference (CFDs) which allows for leveraged trading. At HFM, you can trade CFDs on major Indices, such as UK 100 and GER 40, with leverage and ultra-fast execution.

You can choose between the MT4 and MT5 platforms and the HFM App to start trading CFDs on Indices.

HOW TO START TRADING CFDs ON INDICES

  • 1. Open an HFM Live Account or try Demo
  • 2. Determine your trading strategy
  • 3. Choose your trading platform
  • 4. Find an index you want to trade
  • 5. Open and monitor your position

Ready to learn more about online trading?
Visit our online Trading Education Center for more.

CHOOSE YOUR CFD INDICES TRADING PLATFORM

Access a wide range of desktop, web and mobile Trading Platforms including the HFM platform, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

MetaTrader 4

Enter and exit trades at specific price levels and manage their risk effectively.
MetaTrader 5

Use the platform's advanced trading tools to open, manage, and close your positions.

Start analyzing the markets, placing trades, and managing your positions on the go.
Trading Platforms Comparison

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FAQs

If you are interested in indices trading, start by learning the basics of indices trading, including how it works, the risks involved, and the different trading strategies. Then, open an HFM live or demo trading account, choose your index and open your position.

There are several factors that can influence the value of the assets in an index and therefore impact the price of the index itself. Some of these factors include:

  1. Economic data and indicators: Economic indicators such as inflation, GDP growth, employment figures, and consumer spending can have a significant impact on the value of assets and the price of the index.
  2. Company earnings: The earnings reports of the companies that comprise the index can have a major impact on the index's price. Positive earnings reports from companies within the index can lead to increased investor confidence and a rise in the index price, while negative earnings reports can cause the index to decline.
  3. Interest rates: Changes in interest rates can also impact the price of an index. Higher interest rates tend to make borrowing more expensive and can reduce corporate earnings, which can lead to a decline in the index price.
  4. Political events: Political events such as elections, policy changes, and geopolitical tensions can also impact the price of an index. These events can cause investor uncertainty and lead to increased volatility in the market.
  5. Investor sentiment: Finally, investor sentiment and market psychology can also play a role in the price of an index. Positive investor sentiment can lead to increased buying and a rise in the index price, while negative sentiment can lead to selling and a decline in the price.

The most traded indices in the world are:

  1. S&P 500: The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index of 500 large publicly traded companies in the United States. It is widely regarded as the best indicator of the U.S. equities market and is one of the most widely traded indices in the world.
  2. NASDAQ Composite: The NASDAQ Composite is an index of more than 3,000 companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. It includes many tech and growth-oriented companies, and is popular with investors who are interested in those sectors.
  3. Dow Jones Industrial Average: The Dow Jones Industrial Average, often referred to simply as "the Dow," is a price-weighted index of 30 large U.S. companies. It is one of the oldest and most widely recognized stock market indices in the world.
  4. FTSE 100: The FTSE 100 is a market-cap weighted index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is the most widely used benchmark for the UK equity market.
  5. Nikkei 225: The Nikkei 225 is a price-weighted index of 225 blue-chip companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is the most widely used benchmark for the Japanese equity market.
  6. DAX: The DAX is a market-cap weighted index of the 30 largest companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany. It is the most widely used benchmark for the German equity market.

These indices are popular with investors because they provide a broad representation of the stock market and can be used to track the performance of different sectors and industries.

Going long on an index means buying the index in the expectation that its value will increase over time. Essentially, an investor buys the index with the hope of selling it at a higher price in the future and making a profit. Going long on an index is a bullish strategy, as the investor is expecting that the market will rise.

On the other hand, going short on an index means selling the index in the expectation that its value will decrease over time. Essentially, an investor borrows the index, sells it at the current market price, and buys it back later at a lower price to return it to the lender, thereby making a profit. Going short on an index is a bearish strategy, as the investor is expecting that the market will decline.

Short selling can be riskier than going long, as there is theoretically no limit to how high a market can go, while it is limited how low it can go. This means that a short seller may be forced to buy back the index at a higher price than they sold it, resulting in a loss.

Both long and short strategies can be used by investors to achieve their investment goals and manage their risk exposure. It is important to note that trading in indices can be complex, and investors should carefully consider their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation before engaging in these types of trades.

You can start Indices trading with HFM in less than 2 minutes! Open a live trading account by completing a simple online form and providing your profile information, fund your trading account using any one of our fast, simple and secure methods, and access any of our many asset classes to get started!

HFM offers account types with no minimum deposit. We also offer a maximum leverage of 1:500 on our Indices as well as low spreads, negative balance protection and ultra-fast execution. Please check our Trading Accounts Page for more information.

The best time to trade Indices depends on your trading strategy. Some traders look to embrace volatility and make the most of strong moves in the markets. Others prefer much more stable markets where risk is less apparent, and they can make the most of smaller market moves.
There are also other factors like liquidity and correlation with other markets to consider when trying to identify the optimum time to trade your index market.

Indices can be traded on all our platforms! Trade CFD Indices on our MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, and the HFM Platform on the HFM App. These popular and powerful platforms ensure that every trader can trade in their preferred style, in their favourite location and on the device of their choice.

The most traded Indices in the world are:

  1. S&P 500: The S&P 500 is a free float cap weighted index of 500 large publicly traded companies in the United States. It is widely regarded as the best indicator of the U.S. equities market and is one of the most widely traded Indices in the world.
  2. NASDAQ: The NASDAQ (US100 OR NASDAQ 100) is an index of 101 companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. It includes many tech and growth-oriented companies, and is popular with investors who are interested in those sectors.
  3. Dow Jones Industrial Average: The Dow Jones Industrial Average, often referred to simply as "the Dow," is a price-weighted index of 30 large US companies. It is one of the oldest and most widely recognized stock market Indices in the world.
  4. FTSE 100: The FTSE 100 is a market-cap weighted index of the 100 highly capitalised blue chip companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is the most widely used benchmark for the UK equity market.
  5. Nikkei 225: The Nikkei 225 is a price-weighted index of 225 companies from a wide array of industry sectors listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is the most widely used benchmark for the Japanese equity market.
  6. DAX: The DAX is a market-cap weighted index of the 40 major blue chip companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany. It is the most widely used benchmark for the German equity market.

These Indices are popular with investors because they provide a broad representation of the stock market and can be used to track the performance of different sectors and industries.

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