CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Indices trading definition

Indices trading has a particular significance in relation to IG's platform. Here, we define indices trading in general investing and explain what it means to you when trading with IG.

Indices trading is the means by which traders attempt to make a profit from the price movements of indices.

There are many indices available for trading, measuring the performance of the stock market of various different markets: including countries or sectors, or types of commodity. Indices traders can either focus on a single index, or trade various indices as part of a wider strategy.

It is not actually possible to buy or sell an index like you would a stock or commodity, as they are indicators of the price movements of several assets and have no actual physical basis to trade. Instead, indices traders use derivatives like index futures, CFDs, binary bets and ETFs to speculate on the movements of various indices.

With IG

Our indices products enable you to speculate on the movements of over 30 major stock indices using CFDs or digital 100s.

Visit our indices trading section

Find out more about indices trading with IG.

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IG is a trading name of IG Markets Ltd and IG Markets South Africa Limited. International accounts are offered by IG Markets Limited in the UK (FCA Number 195355), a juristic representative of IG Markets South Africa Limited (FSP No 41393). South African residents are required to obtain the necessary tax clearance certificates in order to utilise their foreign investment allowance should the South African resident wish to open an offshore account with IG Markets Limited.

IG provides execution only services and enters into principal to principal transactions with its clients on IG’s prices. Such trades are not on exchange. IG Markets South Africa Limited is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 41393). Whilst IG Markets South Africa Limited is a regulated FSP, CFDs issued by IG are not regulated by the FAIS Act as they are undertaken on a principal-to-principal basis.

IG Markets South Africa Limited is an authorised over-the-counter derivative provider and is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

The information on this site is not directed at residents of the United States or Belgium or any particular country outside South Africa and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

Voted SA’s top CFD provider in Business Day Investors Monthly Annual Stockbroker Awards in 2012, best platform for Active Day Traders in 2013 and 2014, SA's best Online Broker in 2015 and 2017 and SA's best CFD provider in 2020 as well as SA's Top CFD Broker in 2021.

Indices trading definition

With IG

Visit our indices trading section

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