Indices

Indices or Indexes are groupings of a specified number of stocks into one trade-able entity, either representing a particular market or portion of it. Although each stock can be bought and sold on its own, and index can also be traded as a whole. Indices are bought and sold in same way as an individual share.

Indices images

Indices are mostly region based and investors also use them to gauge a particular economy’s health. Trading on Indices also allows investors to diversify their risk across the whole market instead of investing in a specific company. Major Indices are S&P 500, Dow Jones in USA, FTSE100 in UK, European indices such as DAX30 and Asian Indices such as NIkkei225, Shanghai Composite.

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Indices Trading Example

Buying SPX500

Opening the Position

Opening price USD $ 2082.60 You decide to buy 1 contract at $ 2082.60 (1 contract=1$ per index point)

Closing the Position One week later the SPX500 has risen to $2092.60, you decide to take your profit by closing your buying position Market movement= 2092.60 – 2082.60 = 10 Gross profit on Trade = 2092.60*1-2082.60*1= USD$ 10 ($1 per Index point)

Indices are mostly region based and investors also use them to gauge a particular economy’s health. Trading on Indices also allows investors to diversify their risk across the whole market instead of investing in a specific company. Major Indices are S&P 500, Dow Jones in USA, FTSE100 in UK, European indices such as DAX30 and Asian Indices such as NIkkei225, Shanghai Composite.