What are stock indices
A stock index is a group of stocks that can be bought or sold as a single tradable instrument. Some traders focus on individual companies, while others choose to trade stock indices, which can indicate the health of an entire industry or even a country.
Classifying stock indices can be more nuanced than it first appears. Some indices, like the DAX 40, group the 40 top-performing companies in Germany. As a national stock index, it can give an indication of the German market’s overall direction.
Other indices are defined less by geography and more by sector. For example, the US Tech 100 tracks companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange, offering a snapshot of performance across a tech-heavy segment of the US market.
Why trade stock indices with Tickmill?
Our aim is to help traders succeed by providing an exceptional trading experience.
Spreads from 0.0 pips
Experience tight spreads across popular instruments
20+ global indices
Trade popular indices and diversify your portfolio
0.15s average execution speed
Enjoy fast and reliable execution
All trading strategies enabled
You can use scalping, hedging, and EAs
Flexible leverage
Adjust leverage depending on instrument and regulatory entity
Stock indices trading conditions
Access 20+ global indices with transparent pricing designed for active traders. Our instrument data shows you exactly what you'll pay before you trade.
For a full list of our Stock Indices and their spreads click here.
Spreads that respect your edge
From 0.39 points on the US500 to competitive pricing across all major European and Asian markets, our spreads are built to support your strategy, not work against it.
What ''Typical Spread'' means
The typical spread represents the median spread observed during primary trading hours over the last 30 days. This gives you a realistic picture of trading costs under normal market conditions.
Beyond the basics
We offer indices you won't find with every broker - from the AFRICA40 tracking Johannesburg's top performers to the CHINA50 reflecting Shanghai and Shenzhen markets. Whether you're trading household names like the UK100 or exploring frontier markets, the conditions stay consistent: tight spreads, reliable execution, transparent pricing.
For complete swap rates, margin requirements, and contract specifications across all instruments, see our full spreads and swaps page.
How to trade stock indices
You can trade indices in different ways, depending on how you prefer to manage costs, holding time, and exposure.
| CFDs | Spot-Quoted Futures (SQFs) | |
|---|---|---|
| Expiration | No fixed expiry , unless specified | Has an expiry. Typically longer dated than regular futures |
| Contract size | Variable | Standardised (smaller than micros) |
| Pricing basis | Variable | Spot price |
| Financing cost | Daily overnight swap/fee | Daily financing adjustment (ADJ) |
| Settlement | Cash | Cash. Contract rules apply |
| Traded on | OTC with broker | Exchange traded, centrally cleared |
Market sentiment and price movement
Traders use market sentiment to help determine whether an index is likely to rise or fall. This reflects expectations about economic data, corporate earnings, political events, and broader market conditions.
Smoother movement, real volatility
Index price movements tend to be smoother than individual stocks because one company's poor performance can be offset by another's gains. However, indices still experience significant volatility driven by broad economic shifts, central bank decisions, or geopolitical events. These factors affect entire markets simultaneously.
Learn
Understand that indices reflect the combined performance of multiple companies.
Choose
Analyse market sentiment to decide which index to trade and whether you expect it to rise or fall.
Trade
Place your trade based on your analysis, manage risk, and monitor your position.
Stock index dividends
The constituent stocks which make up an index periodically pay dividends. When that happens, it can affect the index value around the ex-dividend date when dividend payments are made.
Where dividend adjustments apply to the index product you are trading, Tickmill ensures there is no material impact on your open positions thanks to an automatic adjustment. If you hold a position during a dividend event, we’ll either credit your account (for long positions) or debit it (for short positions) to offset the dividend-related index price movement.
| Symbol | Name | Ex Date | Adjustment Points |
|---|
Important notes:
- Expected index adjustments are indicated in full index points per contract. The actual adjustment may differ from any forecast amount previously displayed.
- Index adjustments apply only to live trading accounts. Demo accounts will not reflect dividend adjustments or details.
Stock indices trading hours
Global stock indices trade across different time zones, with each market following its own schedule. The table below shows the specific trading hours for each index we offer.
Plan your trading around these hours to ensure you can access the markets when they're most active. Major indices like DE40, US30, and US500 offer near-continuous trading throughout the week, while regional indices like AUS200 and HK50 follow their local market sessions.
| Instrument | Trading Hours (GMT) |
|---|---|
| AUS200 | Mon-Thu: 02:50-09:30 / 10:10-24:00 Fri: 02:50-09:30 / 10:10-23:58 |
| DE40 | Mon: 01:05-03:00 / 03:15-24:00 Tue-Thu: 01:02-03:00 / 03:15-24:00 Fri: 01:02-03:00 / 03:15-23:00 |
| US30 | Mon-Thu: 01:00-24:00 Fri: 01:00-23:58 |
| STOXX50 | Mon: 01:05-03:00 / 03:15-24:00 Tue-Thu: 01:00-03:00 / 03:15-24:00 Fri: 01:00-03:00 / 03:15-23:00 |
| FRANCE40 | Mon-Fri: 09:00-23:00 |
| AFRICA40 | Mon-Fri: 09:30-18:30 |
| ITALY40 | Mon-Fri: 09:00-23:00 |
| UK100 | Mon: 01:05-24:00 Tue-Thu: 01:00-24:00 Fri: 01:00-23:00 |
| HK50 | Mon-Fri: 04:15-07:00 / 08:00-11:30 / 12:15-21:58 |
| SPAIN35 | Mon-Fri: 09:00-21:00 |
| USTEC | Mon-Thu: 01:00-24:00 Fri: 01:00-23:58 |
| JP225 | Mon-Thu: 01:00-24:00 Fri: 01:00-23:58 |
| US500 | Mon-Thu: 01:00-24:00 Fri: 01:00-23:58 |
| SWISS20 | Mon-Fri: 09:00-23:00 |
| CHINA50 | Mon-Fri: 01:00-23:59 |
| WIG20 | Mon-Fri: 09:45-17:50 |
Note: Trading hours are subject to change without prior notice. Liquidity Providers may adjust trading schedule as necessary, depending on market conditions.
Start trading stock indices with Tickmill
Ready to trade global indices with tight spreads and fast execution?