Indices trading

Whether it’s the Dow Jones, DAX or FTSE 100, get exposure to global markets without relying on the performance of a single company.
Indices explained
 
What are indices?
Discover everything you need to know about stock indices, including how to trade them and which markets are available to you.
Why trade indices?
Trading indices enables you to get exposure to an entire economy or sector with one single position, instead of opening multiple trades across several companies.
How to trade indices
Want to know how to trade an index using CFDs? This section breaks down every aspect of your first trade.

Market-leading pricing

Market-leading pricing

Trading tools

We offer sophisticated trading tools, competitive spreads and exceptional execution quality on over 80 currency pairs.
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Currency Converter

Calculate the foreign exchange rates of major FX currency pairs using our free currency converter.
Margin pip calculator by FOREX.com
Margin pip calculator by FOREX.com

Margin PIP calculator

Use our free pip value calculator to estimate your potential profits or losses before you start trading a currency pair.

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Designed for instant control wherever you are, enjoy quick-trading, intelligent buy/sell signals and a customisable layout to suit your trading style.
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Frequently asked questions

What are the 7-Day index markets?

The 7-Day US SP 500 and 7-Day US Tech 100 are standalone index cash CFD products that are available during standard weekday trading hours and remain open most of Saturday and Sunday, allowing you to react to geopolitical, economic, and market-moving events outside traditional exchange market hours. Trading pauses for a short period on Sunday before weekday market pricing resumes.

When can I trade the 7-Day index markets?

You can trade the 7-Day US SP 500 and 7-Day US Tech 100 CFDs 23 hours a day from Sunday night to Friday night, with a break from 10pm to 11pm UTC. Full trading hours, including over the weekend, are available on the platform under Market Information.

How does pricing work?

During standard market hours, pricing follows our standard index pricing methodology, which references the underlying markets. When the traditional index futures market is closed during the weekend, pricing is derived from alternative index reference markets and other relevant market information available to FOREX.com. Pricing adjustments may be applied to reflect differences between weekend reference markets and the traditional index market. When the traditional index futures market reopens, pricing returns to the standard pricing methodology.

Weekend spreads may be wider than during standard market hours. In exceptional circumstances, trading may be restricted, paused, or made close-only.

How do positions work for the 7-Day indices?

The 7-Day US SP 500 and 7-Day US Tech 100 are separate markets from the standard US SP 500 and US Tech 100 CFDs. Positions, margin requirements, and profit and loss are managed independently, and positions in one market will not offset, transfer to, or roll into the other.

Why might weekend prices differ from standard weekday prices?

The traditional index futures market is closed during portions of the weekend. As a result, weekend prices are derived from alternative index reference markets, which may not move in the same way as the traditional market. The 7-Day index price may therefore differ from the final weekday price or from the price available when the traditional index futures market reopens. Trading during the weekend may allow clients to respond to market developments before the traditional index futures market reopens, but it does not eliminate the risk that prices may gap when the traditional markets reopen.

What events can affect the 7-Day index prices during the weekend?

Index prices can respond rapidly to developments affecting investor sentiment and expectations for economic growth, interest rates, corporate earnings, and broader financial markets. These may include major economic data releases, central bank announcements, geopolitical events, earnings results from large-cap companies, and other significant market-moving events. These may occur while the underlying futures market is closed and can result in significant price movements.

Will financing charges apply?

Yes. Financing is applied to the 7-Day index positions on a daily basis, including weekends. Positions held through the applicable financing cut-off may therefore be subject to a financing adjustment. Please refer to the Market Information Sheet for current financing information.

Can stop-loss orders be triggered during the weekend?

Yes. If a stop level is reached based on the price quoted for the 7-Day indices, the order will be triggered as usual. Execution will occur based on available prices in the 7-Day markets at that time. Orders associated with the separate standard US SP 500 and US Tech 100 markets will not be triggered by movements in the 7-Day markets.

Can trading be restricted or suspended?

Yes. In exceptional circumstances, including significant market disruption, problems with available reference prices, or other conditions where reliable pricing cannot be maintained, FOREX.com may restrict trading, make the market close-only or one-sided, temporarily suspending trading or withdrawing pricing. In extreme circumstances, you may be unable to close a position until reliable price formation resumes.

 

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What is the index CFD nightly finance charge and how is it calculated?

With most CFDs, financing is debited for long positions or credited for short positions daily if you are in a position at 5pm ET.

These charges are typically calculated as follows:

F=(S x P x R)/D

  • F - Daily Financing Charge
  • S - Number of CFDs (2500)
  • P - Closing Price
  • R - Relevant 1-month LIBOR rate, +250 basis points for long positions or -250 basis points for short positions, e.g. (4.50% + 2.50%) = 7.00%
  • D - Day basis for currency (365 for GBP, HKD, PLN, SGD and ZAR, 360 for all the other currencies)
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What are the major indices?

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What moves an index?

A stock index's price is determined by the movements of the shares it tracks. Here are a few factors to watch out for when deciding what might move stock markets: 

  • The political climate
  • Company announcements
  • Economic data
  • Industry news
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Why trade indices with FOREX.com?
A lot can happen in 20 years. But throughout that time we’ve remained steadfast, providing traders with the stability and opportunities they need to make their mark on the financial markets.
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Reliable, consistent trade execution 
Peace of mind that your trades are executed swiftly, with a 99.99%* execution rate of less than a second.
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Exceptionally capable trading platforms 
Enjoy a suite of powerful platforms and get the popular charting program TradingView for free. 
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Global market leader
We have over 21 years’ experience helping traders achieve their goals.
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As part of a NASDAQ-listed company, we’ve got financial strength and security you can depend on.

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