Pepperstone is the broker we prefer for index trading in the UK: it quotes the UK 100 from 1 point and the US 500 from 0.4 as spread bets or CFDs, charges no commission on indices, and offers forward contracts alongside cash prices. Capital.com follows, with 24/5 trading on nine index CFDs and guaranteed stops.
Your questions, answered
What are the most actively traded indices for UK traders?
Neither broker publishes UK client volumes by index, so we can only point to what they feature. Pepperstone's UK index page leads with the UK 100, US 30, Germany 40, US 500, NAS100, Japan 225 and Europe 50, and Capital.com's 24/5 list adds the Hong Kong 50 and US Russell 2000. The FTSE 100 is the natural home market, but many UK traders follow the US indices because they move most in the afternoon and evening.
Where can I trade indices with leverage in the UK?
With any FCA-authorised CFD or spread betting firm, including Pepperstone and Capital.com. Retail leverage is capped at 20:1 on major indices such as the FTSE 100, S&P 500 and DAX, and 10:1 on others such as the Hang Seng. That means a £10 per point bet on the FTSE 100 at 8,000 needs about £4,000 of margin.
Which broker offers the widest range of stock indices?
Pepperstone offers more than 20 cash stock indices, three currency indices (USDX, EURX, JPYX), forwards on major indices and newer 23/5 CFDs on the Hang Seng Tech, S&P 400 MidCap and Taiwan index. Its platform table lists 26 index CFDs. Capital.com's index list includes cash indices, the VIX and dated index futures such as the US Tech 100.
Which brokers offer 24 hour index trading?
Capital.com runs 24/5 trading from Sunday night to Friday night (UTC) on nine index CFDs, including the UK 100, US 500, Germany 40 and Japan 225, priced from live futures. At Pepperstone, the US indices and Japan 225 trade from 01:00 to 23:59 server time, and its UK 100 forward from 01:00 to 23:59. Spreads are wider outside the cash session at both.
What are the hidden costs when trading indices?
The spread is visible; these are not. Overnight funding is charged on the whole position, dividend adjustments are debited from short positions when index members go ex-dividend, spreads widen out of hours, and a non-GBP CFD is converted when you close (Capital.com charges 0.7% on conversion). A guaranteed stop premium, where offered, is another cost if it triggers.
Which platform is best for indices trading in the UK?
For index CFD forwards, use MT5 or cTrader at Pepperstone, because that is where its CFD forwards are listed. For charting-led index trading, TradingView works with Pepperstone's Razor and spread betting accounts and with Capital.com. If you mainly spread bet the FTSE 100 from your phone, either firm's own app is enough.
Which broker is best for day trading indices?
Pepperstone is our choice for intraday index trading: no commission, tight minimum spreads on the main US and European indices and no overnight cost if you close by the end of the day. The US 500 at 0.4 points and the Germany 40 at 0.9 are among its tightest. Plan around the opening auctions, when spreads and slippage are worst.
Which brokers let you trade indices on MetaTrader?
Pepperstone offers its indices on MT4 and MT5, as CFDs or spread bets; on MetaTrader the spread bet symbols carry the _SB suffix. Capital.com offers indices on MT4 too. If you want the forward contracts as well as cash indices, Pepperstone lists those on MT5 and cTrader.
Which broker has the lowest spread on the UK 100?
Pepperstone's minimum spread on the UK 100 is 1 point on Razor and on its spread bet, and 1.2 on Standard; Capital.com shows the UK 100 from 1 point on spread bets. So on the published minimums, they tie at 1 point. The FTSE 100 spread is tightest between 8am and 4.30pm UK time, while the London exchange is open.
Which broker has the lowest spread on Germany 40?
Pepperstone lists the Germany 40 from 0.9 points on Razor and spread bets and 1.2 on Standard. Capital.com does not publish a fixed minimum for the Germany 40 on its UK fees page; its live spread is shown on the instrument page and deal ticket. The DAX cash session runs from 8am to 4.30pm UK time.
Which broker has the lowest spread on the US 500?
Pepperstone's US 500 minimum is 0.4 points on Razor and spread bets and 0.6 on Standard, one of the tightest index quotes on its list. A £1 per point bet therefore costs 40p to open and close at the minimum. The spread is narrowest during the New York session, 2.30pm to 9pm UK time.
Which broker has the lowest spread on the Nasdaq 100?
On Pepperstone, the NAS100 starts from 1 point on Razor and spread bets and 1.2 on Standard. Capital.com calls the same index the US Tech 100 and shows its live spread on the platform. The Nasdaq 100 moves further in points than the US 500, so a 1-point spread is small relative to its daily range.
What is the spread on the Hong Kong 50 at UK brokers?
Pepperstone lists the Hong Kong 50 from 5 points on Razor and spread bets and 7 on Standard. Its trading hours follow the Hong Kong exchange in three sessions, from 04:15 to 22:00 server time with breaks. Because the Hang Seng is not a major index under FCA rules, retail leverage is 10:1, or a 10% margin.
Which broker is best for spread betting on the FTSE 100?
Pepperstone is our pick for FTSE 100 spread bets: 1 point minimum spread, no commission, pounds per point and the choice of a cash or forward bet. Pepperstone's own worked example is a £10 per point long bet, where a 50-point move makes or loses £500. Capital.com is the alternative if you want to attach a guaranteed stop.
What are the overnight financing costs on index CFDs?
Index CFD funding is a daily interest charge on the full position value, based on a benchmark rate plus the broker's fee. Capital.com publishes its formula: a 4% a year admin fee plus or minus SONIA for GBP indices or SOFR for USD indices, which on its UK 100 example costs £2.01 a night for a long £1 per point position. Pepperstone shows its current index rates on the platform; indices usually charge three days of funding on Friday.
Which broker is best for trading the Wall Street index?
Pepperstone quotes the US 30 (Wall Street) from 2 points on Razor and spread bets and 2.3 on Standard, with no commission, trading 01:00 to 23:59 server time. Capital.com includes the US Wall Street 30 in its 24/5 index list. The Dow moves in large point swings, so size your stake per point carefully.
Which broker is cheapest for trading the Japan 225?
Pepperstone's Japan 225 minimum is 7 points on Razor and spread bets and 9 on Standard. Capital.com lists the Japan 225 among its 24/5 index CFDs and shows its funding rate in its UK fees table. Japan 225 points are worth less than FTSE points in pounds, so compare spreads as a percentage of the index level.
Which brokers offer both cash and futures pricing on indices?
Pepperstone offers both: cash index CFDs and spread bets with daily funding, and forward contracts that track the futures price, roll automatically and carry no overnight charge. Its forwards include the UK 100, US 500, NAS100, US 30, Germany 40, Japan 225, Australia 200 and Hong Kong 50. Capital.com also lists dated index futures CFDs, such as a December US Tech 100 contract, alongside its cash indices.
What are the trading hours for FTSE 100 CFDs?
At Pepperstone, the cash UK 100 trades 03:00 to 22:59 server time Tuesday to Thursday (from 03:05 on Monday and to 22:55 on Friday). Server time is GMT+2, or GMT+3 during US daylight saving, so that is roughly 01:00 to 21:00 UK time. The UK 100 forward runs longer, from 01:00 to 23:59 server time, and Capital.com's UK 100 CFD trades 24/5.
What margin is required to trade index CFDs in the UK?
For retail clients, the FCA cap of 20:1 on major indices means a 5% margin, and 10:1 on other indices means 10%. So a US 500 position worth $6,000 of exposure needs about $300 of margin, before any buffer. Keep more than the minimum in your account, because the broker starts closing positions when your equity falls to half the margin required.
Which broker is best for trading the Europe 50?
Pepperstone lists the Europe 50 (EUSTX50) from 1.6 points on CFDs and 1.5 as a spread bet, trading 03:15 to 22:59 server time. Capital.com calls it EU Stocks 50 and includes it in its 24/5 list. It is a major index under FCA rules, so retail leverage is 20:1.
Published 2026-10-21. Informational only, not investment advice. CFDs are leveraged products and most retail accounts lose money.
Best for UK index traders
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