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Century Financial Consultancy LLC ("Century") does not offer investment advisory or portfolio management services nor guarantees investment returns. We do not accept or make payments in cryptocurrency or digital currency. Our official website is www.century.ae. Beware of fraudulent companies or websites posing as Century. We are not responsible for any losses from using fake websites or entities. Trading in financial markets involves a significant risk of loss which can exceed deposits and may not be suitable for all investors. Before you start, please ensure you fully understand the risks involved.
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Trade Indices

Indices provide a benchmark to measure the performance of an industry, sector, or an entire country’s stock market. Choose from over 100+ cash and index futures, including the UK 100, US 30, US Tech 100 and DAX 40.

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What are Indices?

Indices are a measurement of the collective price performance of a group of shares in an exchange. Investors follow different market indices to analyse market movements. If, on average, the share prices of the constituent companies go up, the index will likely rise. And if they fall, it will likely drop.

For instance, one of the notable indices of the stock market, the FTSE 100 tracks the 100 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Trading indices help you to gain exposure across an entire economy or sector at one go.

How to trade Indices?

There are various indices available for trading that measure the performance of the stock market across countries, sectors, or types of commodities.

Indices trading offers the trader an opportunity to speculate the price movements of indices to make profits. Trading indices involves the use of derivatives like index futures, CFDs, and ETFs.

Trading CFD Indices

CFD index trading enables you to speculate on the price movements in indices, whether rising or falling, without taking actual ownership of the underlying asset.

Indices are one of the most highly liquid markets to trade, offering longer trading hours. This enables you to gain long exposure to potential opportunities.

The world's largest indices of the stock market based on the market capitalization of their constituents are the S&P 500 (SPX), Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC).

Benefits of Indices Trading

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Index trading offers consolidated exposure to a wide variety of stocks in one sector or country with just one trade. Take Dow 30, NASDAQ 100, FTSE 100, S&P 500, and DAX 40 for instance.
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Diversification in the index balances out the extreme fluctuations that arise during market volatility. While some of the constituent company’s share prices may fall over time, other company’s stock rallies might provide a cushion to the overall index.
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Index values tend to vary across trading sessions, but indices are typically not seen to gain or lose considerable amounts apart from any major changes, for instance, broader market crashes, or natural disasters, or geopolitical events.
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If a company's stock in your portfolio goes bankrupt, you could lose money on your investment. However, if you're trading an index, the company might be replaced by another that meets the criteria. The value of the bankrupt firm in the index may momentarily drop, or it might have no effect at all, depending on its weight in the index and the performance of its fellow participants.
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Indices trading carries a lower risk when compared with trading in individual stocks. Thereby, individual investors, looking to save for retirement, often choose to trade indices within their investing accounts.

What are Some Mainstream Indices?

There are seven types of indices to consider when trading indices — global, national, regional, exchange, currency, industry, and sentiment-based.

Type Definition Examples
Global Tracks stocks of companies from various regions across different types of businesses MSCI World Index, S&P Global 100, Russell Global Index
National Tracks stocks of major companies listed on a country’s largest stock exchanges United Kingdom: FTSE 100 Index
Japan: Nikkei 225 Stock Average Index
Germany: The DAX (Deutscher Aktien index) 40 Index
Regional Tracks stocks of companies across certain regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, to name a few. Asia: S&P Asia 50 Index, FTSE ASEAN 40 Index
Europe: FTSE Euro 100 Index, S&P Europe 350 Index
Exchange Tracks stocks of companies listed in a particular exchange or group of exchanges Euronext 100, OMX Nordic 40
Currency Tracks variations in the value a currency against other major currencies across the globe Euro Index, US Dollar Index
Industry Tracks stocks of companies in an industry, say, finance, technology, utilities, among others. NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, Wilshire US REIT Index, PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index
Sentiment-Based Tracks investor expectations for fluctuations in the direction of stock prices Volatility Index (VIX), Bullish Percent Index (BPI), High-Low Index

Trade the World's Most Popular Stock Indices

Trade indices from exchanges all over the world with Century Financial. Choose from over 100+ cash and index futures, including the UK 100, US 30, and DAX 40.

Most popular Indices: FTSE 100, SPX 500, Dow Jones, DAX 40, DJIA, ITA 40, NASDAQ, CAC 40, RUSSELL 2000, HONGKONG 40.

Why Trade Indices CFDs with Century Financial?

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Tight spreads offer potential to profit from small price movements across 100+ indices
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Flexible leverage to control your level of risk
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Guaranteed stop loss (GSLO) features are available with some principals
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Enjoy low spreads and high liquidity
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24hr trading
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Go long or short
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Real-time pricing
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Maximum exposure from minimal investment

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does it mean to trade an Index?

Index trading is when you buy or sell a specific stock market index. Indices provide a benchmark to measure the performance of an industry, sector, or entire country’s stock market.

For example, S&P 500 is an index, so buying or selling S&P 500 is essentially trading the index.

Can I profit from index trading?

Just like trading stocks and other instruments, you can earn profits from index trading. However, there are also chances of incurring losses.

Which are the most popular stock indices?

Some popular indices include S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, FTSE 100, Nifty 50, and Nikkei 225. There are plenty of other indices as well.

What moves the index price?

The change in the price of the index’s constituents moves the index price.

What is the best time to trade indices?

Indices trading is generally done when the respective markets are open. For e.g., if you wish to trade Nasdaq, you will have to trade when the US markets are open.

For example, S&P 500 is an index, so buying or selling S&P 500 is essentially trading the index.

Is Indices trading better than stock trading?

The decision to trade stocks or indices depends on the risk appetite and financial objectives of the respected individual. There is no one size fits all.

Which is the best platform to trade indices?

You can trade 100+ indices across the globe with Century Financial. We have been serving UAE’s investors since 3 decades.

How can I Buy/Sell Indices with Century Financial?

With Century Financial, you can take a long position (place a buy trade) or short position (place a sell trade) based on whether you expect prices to rise or fall. Just select your trade size, place your trade size and monitor your position.