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.
Our aim is to help traders succeed by providing an exceptional trading experience.
Experience tight spreads across popular instruments
Trade popular indices and diversify your portfolio
Enjoy fast and reliable execution
You can use scalping, hedging, and EAs
Adjust leverage depending on instrument and regulatory entity
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 .
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.
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.
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 .
Tickmill EU offers index exposure through both index CFDs and Spot-Quoted Futures (SQFs). The table below highlights the main differences. How you choose to trade them depends on how you prefer to manage costs, holding time, and exposure
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.
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.
Understand that indices reflect the combined performance of multiple companies.
Analyse market sentiment to decide which index to trade and whether you expect it to rise or fall.
Place your trade based on your analysis, manage risk, and monitor your position.
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.
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.
Note: Trading hours are subject to change without prior notice. Liquidity Providers may adjust trading schedule as necessary, depending on market conditions.
Ready to trade global indices with tight spreads and fast execution?