- Richard Berry
Index brokers provide access to indices markets such as the FTSE, DAX, and S&P for the purposes of trading, speculation, and hedging. These indices are made up of individual shares traded on stock exchanges. For example, the FTSE 100 is an index of the biggest 100 publically listed shares traded on the London Stock Exchange. We have tested, ranked, compared and reviewed some of the best brokers for indices trading in the UK to help you choose the most appropriate account for your trading strategy.
City Index: Best index trading tools
🏆Award Winner🏆
- Indices available:40
- Minimum deposit:£100
- Account types:CFDs & spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 3.5,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.4
- GMG rating:
(4.1)
Customer rating: 3.6/5 (86 reviews)
Visit City Index
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
City Index Indices Trading Review
Name: City Index Indices Trading
Description: Trade major global indices at City Index like the UK 100, Wall Street and Germany 40. Choose a spread betting or CFD trading account and get tight spreads on European, US, Asian and Australian indices. City Index also provide trading signals through and post trade analytics to provide trading ideas and improve your performance.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
- Visit City Index
Is City Index good for indices trading?
Yes, you can trade around 40 indices with City Index, which is more than the majority of trading platforms. As the name suggests City Index started out as an indices broker, as remarkably indices have always been more popular than forex trading with UK traders. City Index are towards the top of the range when it comes to indices on offer, mid-range when it comes to index spreads and one of the best brokers for index trading signals (as they provide their own rather than buying them in from a firm like Acuity Trading).
- Indices available:40
- Minimum deposit:£100
- Account types:CFDs & spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 3.5,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.4
Pros
- Index trading signals
- Post-trade index analytics
- Good education and analysis program
Cons
- No DMA index trading
- Limited index options as a CFD or spread bet
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(4)
- Online Platform
(4)
- Customer Service
(4)
- Research & Analysis
(4.5)
Overall
4.1
Pepperstone: Best for MT4 & MT5 index trading
- Indices available:28
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 2,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.4
- GMG rating:
(3.9)
Customer rating: 4.6/5 (61 reviews)
Visit Pepperstone
75.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
Pepperstone Indices Trading Review
Name: Pepperstone Indices Trading
Description: Pepperstone sources razor-sharp pricing, from multiple Tier 1 banks and liquidity providers, with competitive fixed spreads as low as 1 point on UK100, 0.9 on GER40, with no commissions. 99.99% fill rate*, fast execution and no dealing desk intervention. Quick and easy account opening. Apply for your trading account in few minutes.
75.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
- Visit Pepperstone
Summary
- Indices available:28
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 2, NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.4
Pros
- Good for automated index trading
- Lots of indices on MT4 & MT5
- Tight index spreads
Cons
- No DMA index trading
- No index options
- Pricing
(4.5)
- Market Access
(4)
- Online Platform
(3.5)
- Customer Service
(4)
- Research & Analysis
(3.5)
Overall
3.9
Spreadex: Best index trading platform for customer service
- Indices available:30
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 4,NASDAQ 2,S&P 0.6
- GMG rating:
(4.2)
Customer rating: 4.2/5 (177 reviews)
Visit Spreadex
72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
Spreadex Indices Trading Review
Name: Spreadex Indices Trading Review
Description: Spreadex offers 24 hour indices trading via financial spread betting or Contracts For Difference on the world’s major stock indices – with spreads on the most popular markets from 1pt on UK 100, 1pt on Germany 40 & 1.7pts on Wall Street.
72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
- Visit Spreadex
Summary
- Indices available:30
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 4,NASDAQ 2,S&P 0.6
Pros
- Excellent customer service
- Low minimum deposit
- Easy-to-use index trading platform
Cons
- Limited index options trading
- No DMA index trading
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(4)
- Online Platform
(4)
- Customer Service
(5)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4.2
IG: Best for index liquidity and high-volume traders
- Indices available:80+
- Minimum deposit:£250
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting, DMA, investing
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 2.4,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.4
- GMG rating:
(4.2)
Customer rating: 3.9/5 (523 reviews)
Visit IG
71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider.
IG Indices Trading Review
Name: IG Indices Trading
Description: Trade over 80 indices with the world’s No.1 spread betting and CFD provider. Trade with deep liquidity on spreads from 1 point on the FTSE 100, 1.2 on the Germany 40 and 0.4 on the US 500. IG also offers indices trading on weekends when the main markets are closed.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider.
- Visit IG
Summary
- Indices available:80+
- Minimum deposit:£250
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting, DMA, investing
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 2.4,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.4
Pros
- Excellent index liquidity
- Wide range of indices to trade
- Good index trading signals and analysis
Cons
- No index futures
- Index options only available as a CFD or spread bet
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(4.5)
- Online Platform
(4.5)
- Customer Service
(4)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4.2
Interactive Brokers: Best for on-exchange index trading
- Indices available:13
- Minimum deposit:£2,000
- Account types:CFDs, DMA, futures & options, investing
- Index pricing:FTSE 0.005%,DAX 0.005%,Dow 0.005%,NASDAQ 0.005%,S&P 0.005%
- GMG rating:
(4.2)
Customer rating: 4.4/5 (758 reviews)
Visit Interactive Brokers
60% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
Interactive Brokers Indices Trading Review
Name: Interactive Brokers Indices Trading
Description: Interactive Brokers has transparent, low commissions and financing rates equity indices can be traded in lots as small as 1X the index level. Unlike the related futures, Index CFDs do not expire, saving rollover-related costs and risks.
60% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
- Visit Interactive Brokers
Summary
- Indices available:13
- Minimum deposit:£2,000
- Account types:CFDs, DMA, futures & options, investing
- Index pricing:FTSE 0.005%,DAX 0.005%,Dow 0.005%,NASDAQ 0.005%,S&P 0.005%
Pros
- Low-cost index trading
- On-exchange index futures and options
- Excellent index trading platform and apps
Cons
- No index financial spread betting
- No guaranteed stops
- Pricing
(4.5)
- Market Access
(4.5)
- Online Platform
(4.5)
- Customer Service
(3.5)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4.2
CMC Markets: Best for low-cost index CFD trading
- Indices available:80+
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 2,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.5
- GMG rating:
(4)
Customer rating: 3.6/5 (107 reviews)
Visit CMC Markets
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
CMC Markets Indices Trading Review
Name: CMC Markets Indices Trading
Description: CMC Markets lets you trade on over 80 cash and forward global indices based on the FTSE 100 and more, with leverage, on an award-winning spread betting and CFD platform. Trade indices with tight spreads, lightning-fast execution and the highest-rated customer service in the industry.
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
- Visit CMC Markets
Summary
- Indices available:80+
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, spread betting
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 2,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.5
Pros
- Excellent client index trading sentiment
- Tight spreads on major indices
- Very good index trading platform
Cons
- No index ETF investing
- No DMA index trading
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(4)
- Online Platform
(4)
- Customer Service
(4)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4
Saxo Markets: Best for DMA indices trading
- Indices available:29
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs, futures & options, DMA, investing
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1,Dow 3,NASDAQ 1,S&P 0.5
- GMG rating:
(4.3)
Customer rating: 3.6/5 (52 reviews)
Visit Saxo Markets
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
Saxo Markets Indices Trading Review
Is Saxo good for indices trading?
Yes, with Saxo you can trade 29 index-tracking CFDs with fast and reliable access to the markets from your phone, tablet, laptop or multi-screen desktop setup. The award-winning, multi-device SaxoTraderGO partners seamlessly with SaxoTraderPRO, giving a professional-grade platform for advanced index traders.<BR>65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
Pros
- DMA index trading
- Low commissions
- Excellent analysis and data
Cons
- No index spread betting
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(4.5)
- Online Platform
(4.5)
- Customer Service
(4.5)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4.3
XTB: Good Index trading educational material
- Indices available:25
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs
- Equity overnight financing:-0.02341% / -0.00159% DAILY
- Pricing:FTSE 1.7, DAX 1, Dow 3, NASDAQ 1, S&P 0.5
- GMG rating:
(3.9)
Customer rating: 4.7/5 (117 reviews)
Visit XTB
81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
XTB Indices Trading Review
Name: XTB Indices Trading
Description: One of the good things about index trading with XTB, is that you can see market depth on the sidebar when trading indices. I’ve included that as a screenshot in the index trading platform tab below. This may not be such an issue if you are a smaller trader, but if you are dealing in size then people able to see what volume you will get filled in is very handy. You can also deal direct from the charts, so if you use the crosshairs function, you can quickly place orders around key support and resistance levels.
81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
- Visit XTB
Summary
- Indices available:25
- Minimum deposit:£1
- Account types:CFDs
- Equity overnight financing:-0.02341% / -0.00159% DAILY
- Pricing:FTSE 1.7, DAX 1, Dow 3, NASDAQ 1, S&P 0.5
Pros
- Multi-asset trading
- Competitively priced
- Lots of markets to trade
Cons
- Not UK HQ’d
- No basket trading
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(3.5)
- Online Platform
(4)
- Customer Service
(4)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
3.9
eToro: Best for copying other index traders
- Indices available:15
- Minimum deposit:$50
- Account types:CFDs & investing in USD
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1.5,Dow 6,NASDAQ 2.4,S&P 0.75
- GMG rating:
(3.6)
Customer rating: 3.4/5 (223 reviews)
Visit eToro
51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
eToro Indices Trading Review
Name: eToro Indices Trading
Description: With eToro you can trade index CFDs or buy index-tracking ETFs. The social trading platform is easy to use and offers traders and investors the opportunity to trade a wide range of major stock indices as well as see and copy other traders positions.
51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
- Visit eToro
Summary
- Indices available:15
- Minimum deposit:$50
- Account types:CFDs & investing in USD
- Index pricing:FTSE 1,DAX 1.5,Dow 6,NASDAQ 2.4,S&P 0.75
Pros
- Social and copy index trading
- Easy-to-use platform
- Can change your index leverage
Cons
- Accounts must be in USD
- High FX conversion charges
- Index pricing can be wide
- Pricing
(3.5)
- Market Access
(3.5)
- Online Platform
(4)
- Customer Service
(3.5)
- Research & Analysis
(3.5)
Overall
3.6
Tickmill: Index trading micro futures on CQG
- Indices available:10
- Minimum deposit:£100
- Account types:CFDs, futures
- Index pricing:FTSE 0.9,DAX 0.91,Dow 2.52,NASDAQ 1.93,S&P 0.39
- GMG rating:
(3.9)
Customer rating: 0.0/5 (0 reviews)
Visit Tickmill
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider
Tickmill Indices Trading Review
Name: Tickmill Indices Trading
Description: If you only want to trade the top ten indices as part of your overall trading, then Tickmill is a good option as they offer DMA futures trading on CQG as well as tight spreads on index CFDs on MT4 & MT5.
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider.
- Visit Tickmill
Summary
- Indices available:10
- Minimum deposit:£100
- Account types:CFDs, futures & options
- Index pricing:FTSE 0.9,DAX 0.91,Dow 2.52,NASDAQ 1.93,S&P 0.39
Pros
- DMA index futures trading
- Low-cost CFD indices
- Lots of index trading platforms
Cons
- No UK shares
- Only the most popular indices
- Pricing
(4)
- Market Access
(3.5)
- Online Platform
(4)
- Customer Service
(4)
- Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
3.9
Methodology:We have chosen what we think are the best brokers for indices based on:
- over 17,000 votes in our annual awards
- our own experiences testing the index trading platforms with real money
- an in-depth comparison of the features that make them stand out compared to alternatives.
- interviews with the index broker CEOs and senior management
Compare Index Trading Platforms
| Index Trading Platform | Indices Available | Minimum Deposit | GMG Rating | More Info | Risk Warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | £100 | (4.1) | See Platform | 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 28 | £1 | (3.9) | See Platform | 75.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 80+ | £250 | (4.2) | See Platform | 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider. | |
| 30 | £1 | (4.2) | See Platform | 64% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 29 | £1 | (4.3) | See Platform | 65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 13 | £1 | (4.2) | See Platform | 62.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 25 | £1 | (3.9) | See Platform | 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 80+ | £1 | (4) | See Platform | 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | |
| 15 | $10 | (3.6) | See Platform | 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money | |
| 10 | £100 | (3.9) | See Platform | 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider | |
| 40 | £1 | (4.1) | See Platform | 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. | |
 | 27 | £10 | (4) | See Platform | 66.95% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider |
Beginners
City Index is a good broker for beginners as they have a simple trading platform with 40 major indices to trade as CFDs and spread bets. They also provide a lot of educational material, and have trading signal on indices which show potentially good times to buy and sell through two signal providers.
This matrix of index brokers shows which indices trading platform offer features that can benefit new traders.
| Beginner Features: | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Signals | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Webinars | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Seminars | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Leverage Control | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Low-Risk Products | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Investment Account | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Advanced & Professional Traders
Saxo Markets is the best broker for sophisticated and high-net-worth index traders as their platform is geared towards professional traders placing large orders. They also have some complex order functionality and direct markets access to global exchanges through futures and options.
This comparison table shows what index brokers offer functionality for advanced index traders.
| Advanced Features: | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice Brokerage | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Corporate Accounts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Level-2 | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Algo Trading | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Prime Brokerage | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Market Access
IG and CMC Markets both offer over 80 indices for trading as a spread bet or CFD.
This table shows which brokers offer access to the most indices as well as peripheral markets.
| Market Access: | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Markets | 12000 | 17000 | 11000 | 1200 | 9000 | 5233 | 10000 | 8,000 | 3700 | 2,100 |
| Forex Pairs | 84 | 51 | 338 | 62 | 182 | 100 | 54 | 20 | 138 | 57 |
| Commodities | 25 | 38 | 124 | 32 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 28 | 22 |
| Indices | 21 | 34 | 82 | 28 | 29 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 23 | 25 |
| UK Stocks | 3500 | 3925 | 745 | 192 | 5000 | 500 | 1575 | na | 450 | 230 |
| US Stocks | 1000 | 6352 | 4968 | 880 | 2000 | 3500 | 2110 | na | 1575 | 1080 |
| ETFs | n/a | 2000 | 1084 | 107 | 675 | 1100 | 160 | na | 0 | 138 |
Commissions & Fees
CMC Markets is one of the cheapest brokers for indices, with some of the tightest spreads for CFDs and spread betting on the major exchanges.
As well as our index cost comparison, you can use our trading fee calculator to see how much it will cost you to trade over a year with various different brokers.
| Trading Costs | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE 100 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.01% | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.7 |
| DAX 30 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.9 | 1 | 0.01% | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1 |
| DJIA | 3.5 | 2.4 | 2 | 2.4 | 3 | 0.01% | 4 | 2.4 | 5 | 3 |
| NASDAQ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.01% | 2 | 1 | 1.9 | 1 |
| 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.01% | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | |
| EURUSD | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.09 | 0.6 | 0.00% | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| GBPUSD | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.28 | 0.7 | 0.00% | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| USDJPY | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.14 | 0.6 | 0.00% | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| Gold | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.05 | 0.6 | 0.00% | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.28 | 0.35 |
| Crude Oil | 0.3 | 0.28 | 3 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.00% | 3 | 0.28 | 0.4 | 3 |
| UK Stocks | 0.008 | 0.001 | 0.001 | 0.001 | 0.0005 | 0.02% | 0.002 | 0.001 | 0.30% | 0.0008 |
Account Types
Saxo Markets provides the most ways to trade indices as they offer index CFDs as well as on exchange traded futures, options and ETFs. The only type of index trading Saxo Markets does not offer is spread betting, where profits are tax free in the UK. If you would like to trade indices as a spread bet IG also offer spread betting, CFDs and physical ETFs, although no DMA futures and options.
Use our comparison table of what we think are the best index trading platforms to compare how many indices they offer, commission and spreads on the most popular indices and what different types of account they offer.
| Account Types: | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD Trading | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Spread Betting | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| DMA | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Pro Accounts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Investments | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
Index brokers provide access to stock market indices markets via:
- Index Futures– these index brokers provide professional traders with direct market access to indices traded on exchange.
- Index Options– these index brokers options trading to professional traders on-exchange. In some cases, stock brokers will offer index options for clients that want to hedge a portfolio.
- Index CFDs – these index brokers provide CFDs (contracts for difference) which are ideal for traders that want to trade in smaller size than index futures.
- Index Spread Betting – these index brokers let their clients bet on the price movements of an index. As trades are structured as bets, there is no capital gains tax due on index spread betting profits
- Index ETFs – Index ETFs are listed on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold in a similar way to shares and can track the price of an index. They are useful for investors that want exposure to an indices’ overall performance but do not want to buy an actively managed index fund or index derivatives. As they are listed on stock exchanges, they are available through share dealing platforms, CFD trading platforms and spread betting brokers.
⚠️ FCA Regulation
All index trading platforms that operate in the UK must be regulated by the FCA. The FCA is the Financial Conduct Authority and is responsible for ensuring that UK index trading platforms are properly capitalised, treat customers fairly and have sufficient compliance systems in place. We only feature index trading platforms that are regulated by the FCA, where your funds are protected by the FSCS.
Index Trading Platform FAQ:
Indices are listed on futures exchanges like the ICE (International Continental Exchange) for FTSE futures and the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) for E-mini S&P 500 futures. These future provide the basis, or underlying asset on which Index brokers enable their clients to trade indices.
The actual on-exchange futures contracts are mainly for professional and institutional traders as the minimum contract size is often quite high. For example, the FTSE future contract is valued at £10 x the index value. So at the time of writing (4/11/21) where the FTSE Index is valued at 7200, a single FTSE future is worth £72,000.
Yes, you can make money trading indices, but Index trading is a high risk. To successfully make money trading indices you will either have to invest in indices in the long term or call the market right in the short-term. It is worth keeping in mind that only around 25% of non-professional traders make money. but some are easier to trade than others.
Yes, as a financial instrument in the UK index trading is regulated by the FCA.
Yes, you can compare the best brokers for trading volatility here.
Index brokers make money through fees and financing charges. Index broker costs can be broken down depending on how an index is traded.
The different types of index broker make money in these ways
- Futures index brokers – commission charge on a per lot basis
- Options index brokers – commission charged on a per lot basis
- CFD index brokers – the bid/offer spread is widened and overnight interest is charged on positions
- Spread Betting index brokers- the bid/offer spread is widened and overnight interest is charged on positions
- ETF index brokers – commission charge on buys and sells, plus an account maintenance charge
Here is a list of the most popular stock markets to trade with an index broker. You can read more about each specific index, the pros and cons of trading and what economic factors move the market by either clicking on the below index links or reading our guide on the top ten stock market indices for trading and why.
- Dow Jones Industrials Average (US 30)
- Nasdaq (Composite and Nasdaq 100)
- Dow Jones Industrials (DJIA)
- UK FTSE 100 (FTSE 100)
- CAC 40 (France 40)
- DAX (Germany 30)
- Euro Stoxx 50 (Euro 50)
- Japan 225 (Nikkei 225)
- Hong Kong (Hang SengIndex)
The main things to consider when choosing an index broker are:
- Are they right for your level of experience?
- How many indices do they offer?
- What are the commissions and fees?
- How can you trade indices?
- What sort of added value does the broker offer?
- What trading platforms and mobile apps do they have?
In this guide to the best brokers for trading indices we will go through each point, highlight which broker is best for each point so you can make the best choice for the specific type of index trading you do.
By trading an index rather than the individual shares you can buy and sell the entire market in one go.
- Further reading: How to start index trading and our guide to thebest indices for index trading.
Richard Berry
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.Richard's contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.Under Richard's leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide's standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
This article contains affiliate links which may earn us some form of income if you go on to open an account. However, if you would rather visit the index brokers via a non-affiliate link, you can view their indices trading pages directly here:
