CFDs on Stock Indices
Access global stock indices with exceptional trading conditions.
What are Stock Indices?
A stock index is a group of stocks that can be bought or sold as a single tradable instrument. Now, some traders speculate on how the price of a single asset changes however, some choose to speculate with Stock Indices. As a group, stock indices can be used to indicate the health of an industry or even a country.
Classifying stock indices, however, is a little more complex. Some indices, like the DAX 40 for example, is a group of the 40 top-performing companies in Germany. Classified as a ‘national stock index’ it gives an indication of the health of the German stock market.
However, stock indices aren’t only comprised of stocks that are grouped together because of their geographical location. Some stock indices represent and track the performance of certain sectors of the market. For example, the US Tech 100 index, tracks the performance of all the companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Generally being technology-related firms, the US Tech 100 index gives an indication of the health of the technology sector in the US!
Stock Indices
| Instrument | Minimum Spread | Typical Spread | Long Position | Short Position |
| AFRICA40 | 9 | 17.74 | -26.57 | 11.36 |
| DE40 | 0.8 | 0.91 | -2.92 | -0.34 |
| FRANCE40 | 1 | 1 | -3.75 | 0.35 |
| HK50 | 14 | 14 | -3.57 | 1.16 |
| ITALY40 | 10 | 10 | -3.6 | 0.4 |
| JP225 | 5.2 | 6.04 | -2.66 | -1.51 |
| UK100 | 0.9 | 0.9 | -1.49 | 0.58 |
| US30 | 2.2 | 2.52 | -9.05 | 2.7 |
| US500 | 0.39 | 0.39 | -1.07 | 0.53 |
| USTEC | 0.8 | 1.93 | -3.94 | 1.94 |
HOW-TO
Trade Stock Indices
As stock indices are made up of groups of firms, there are a number of different factors that affect the price of the index. In very simple terms, if the stocks that make up an index go up in value, then the price of the index will increase, and vice versa.
Traders that speculate with stock indices are able to decide if an index will increase or decrease in value based on market sentiment.
The price movement of an index is likely to be much smoother than other financial instruments, as one individual stock can’t bring about a huge spike in price. However, there is significant volatility in stock indices as they can reflect broad political and economic shifts.
Trader speculates an Index will increase in value.
Stocks within Index increase in value, increasing Index value.
Trader earns profit.
Upcoming Stock Index Dividends
Constituent stocks of an index will periodically pay dividends to shareholders. When that happens, it impacts the overall value of the index causing it to drop by a certain amount.
Tickmill will ensure that there is no material impact on your account in case you have an open position through a dividend adjustment.
We will either credit (if you're long) or debit (if you're short) your trading account with the amount that you have incurred as additional running profit or loss due to the dividend adjustment.
Tickmill will ensure that there is no material impact on your account in case you have an open position through a dividend adjustment.
We will either credit (if you're long) or debit (if you're short) your trading account with the amount that you have incurred as additional running profit or loss due to the dividend adjustment.
1. Expected index adjustments indicated in full index points per contract. The actual adjustment may differ from the forecast amount previously displayed.
2. Index adjustments are only applicable to live trading accounts; demo accounts will not reflect any index adjustments or details.
Stock Indices Trading Hours
As stock indices are comprised of stocks traded across the globe, they have variable trading times. Check out the trading times below:
| INSTRUMENT | TRADING HOURS |
| 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.