What are indices in trading and how do they work?

In financial markets, the individual assets are actively used for trading. However, there are other tradeable elements such as indices, ETFs, etc. When it comes to indices, they’re most popular in stock trading.
 
Here’s the index definition: An index is a collection of individual assets. It constantly measures their prices and offers an average price point, making it easy for interested traders to check the general price movement of the assets. In the stock market, for example, indices combine the shares of individual companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and many more.
 
The most popular indices on the market are The S&P 500, Dow Jones, NASDAQ, etc. These stock indices are also known as the “benchmark indices” because of their importance. Since they combine the shares of the most influential companies, the politicians and economists often use them to check the healthiness of the whole economy of a country.
 
Therefore, these and other indices can be used to get an idea about the condition of the financial markets and predict at some level the price directions of certain assets. But this is not the only use of indices, traders also use them for the actual trading.
 
CFDs, along with individual assets, are very popular among traders. Indices can be used as CFDs: traders can speculate the future value of an index, and without actually buying it, generate some payouts - or losses, depending on how successful their trade becomes.

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Trading indices explained

When people hear about trading, they usually think about individual assets like currency pairs, stocks, commodities, and others. They think that traders buy and sell only those securities, however, there are other types of assets that can be traded or used for informational purposes.
 
One such asset type is called an index. As for the indices meaning, they are a financial instrument that combines individual assets and represents their average value. Big financial companies track the prices of these assets in order to enable interested people to get a general view of the economy.


Types of index trading explained

For example, stock indices are the most popular index types in this industry because they combine some of the biggest companies in the world. And because of that, many economists, traders, and other people find them useful for getting a better view of the economic condition in the country. If the companies listed in the index are successful and growing, the index value will be increasing as well. And this will indicate that the economy is doing good.
What are indices in trading
On the other hand, if the index value is decreasing, this means that the companies are unsuccessful and the economy is in crisis. These conclusions may not always be very accurate, but for the general picture, they are still useful.
 
As we mentioned above, stock indices are the most popular types of index in finances. However, there are other types as well, such as indices in Forex, bond indices, etc. The most popular Forex index is USDX (also known as DXY or DX), which is a measurement of the US dollar against six other international currencies: euro, Japanese yen, Pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc.

The most popular stock indices

Indices, commonly referred to as indexes, play a pivotal role in contemporary financial markets. Both passive investors and active traders leverage these financial instruments to capitalize on market opportunities. One of the most compelling aspects of indexes that draws investors is their inherent capacity for diversification. Rather than allocating funds to a single company, investors and traders can spread their investments across entire sectors and industries, thereby mitigating risks. Let's delve into some of the widely recognized and influential indices on a global scale:

S&P 500 Index (US)

The Standard and Poor's 500, commonly known as the S&P 500 or US 500, stands as the preeminent global index. It meticulously tracks the performance of the top 500 publicly traded companies in the United States, serving as a benchmark for assessing the nation's economic vitality. Originating in 1923 as the "Composite Index," it initially monitored a limited number of companies before evolving into the robust S&P 500 we recognize today, officially established on March 4, 1957.

An intriguing facet of this index lies in its nomenclature; despite being labeled as the S&P "500," it encompasses more than that number. As of July 2018, it monitored 505 stocks, a figure subject to periodic fluctuations. The dynamic nature of the index is underscored by stringent criteria companies must meet for inclusion. Consequently, some companies lose their coveted spots while others secure entry. Noteworthy, too, are instances where companies issue new classes of stocks, further influencing the index's composition.

For investors, the S&P 500 and similar indexes represent cost-effective investment instruments compared to actively managed funds. This notion gained prominence, in part, due to the efforts of John C. Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group, who played a pivotal role in popularizing the concept.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) (US)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), commonly referred to as the Dow, tracks the performance of the top 30 companies listed on the US stock exchanges. Its inception in 1885 is credited to the collaborative efforts of Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. However, these pioneers were not solely architects of this financial barometer; in 1889, they also established the Wall Street Journal.

Remarkably, the Dow Jones index, initially comprising 12 predominantly industrial companies, was the brainchild of journalists Charles Dow and Edward Jones. Over time, it evolved and expanded to its current roster of 30 diverse companies, reflecting shifts in the economic landscape.

Much like its counterpart, the S&P 500 index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average serves as a reliable indicator of the overall health of the American economy. Rooted in its historical origins and adapted to contemporary financial dynamics, the Dow remains an influential benchmark for investors and analysts alike.

NASDAQ Composite (US)

The NASDAQ Composite (US), commonly referred to as the Nasdaq 100, stands as a widely recognized index. Contrary to its nomenclature, this index tracks the performance of more than 100 companies. Its composition is determined by market capitalization, signifying that larger companies wield a greater influence on the index's overall value. It is noteworthy that the index excludes any financial companies from its roster.

FTSE 100 Index (UK)

The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, commonly known as the FTSE 100 or affectionately nicknamed "Footsie," is a widely recognized index tracking the performance of the top 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, determined by their market capitalization. Established in 1984, the FTSE 100 serves as a valuable indicator, providing insights into the health and vitality of the UK's economy.

Nikkei 225 (Japan)

The Nikkei 225, commonly known as the Nikkei, is a prominent stock market index representing the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan. Established on September 7, 1950, it operates as a price-weighted index, with stocks added or removed automatically based on their market capitalization. Beyond offering investors a platform to engage with the Japanese economy, the Nikkei serves as a reliable indicator, reflecting the overall health and performance of the country's economic landscape.

What are indices in real-world trading?

Traders can use indices in two ways: they can either buy the individual assets and use indices to track their price movements more accurately, or they can use those indices as CFDs and actually trade using them. Let’s talk about both of those options.


Using indices as market indicators

So, what are indices in trading? According to the first option, indices can be used as market price indicators. Because they combine lots of individual assets, the price of an index actually becomes the general indicator of how the industry is working. Here is what it means:
Trading index meaning
If the price of an index is increasing, that means the individual asset prices are also rising, and the industry is working well. This information can be used for trading the individual assets; a trader can conclude that since the index value is going up, it may be worth buying a certain asset because its price may increase even more.
 
On the other hand, if the index price starts declining, a trader can take a note from it, speculating that even though their asset is still stable or increasing, its price may start declining because other assets are behaving that way.
 
Now, all those conclusions are speculations and cannot always work the same way. Sometimes, those predictions will become the reality, but sometimes they will not. It is important to keep this in mind when using indices as price indicators.


Using indices as trading CFDs

Another option, as we’ve discussed above, is to use indices as CFDs (contracts for difference) and trade them. Many traders use a method of buying many assets - which is called portfolio diversification - as a form of reducing risks. And since indices combine individual assets, they can be considered as diversified portfolios that contain a basket of various stocks, currencies, or other assets.
 Why trade indices
But there is a difference between what are indexes as CFDs and what are diversified portfolios: the second option requires them to own the assets, while the first one doesn’t. For example, a trader can open a long position (buy) on the FTSE 100 index without buying any assets, which basically means this: a trader speculates that the value of this index, as well as its assets, is going to increase in the future.
 
If the value actually increases, a trader will get a payout from this CFD trade. The amount of payout depends on the difference between the initial price, when a trader placed the long position, and the final price, when a trader placed the short position (sell). But if the FTSE 100 value goes down, a trader will have to pay the price difference.
 
One of the reasons why traders tend to choose indices for trading is that they offer a much larger exposure to the market. What this means is that the index traders usually open positions without conducting detailed research on the market. That’s because the general direction of the index prices can be a good indicator of how the industry is doing. Besides, the indices are less volatile because the individual assets cannot have a big influence on their value.

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What is index trading? - Summary

In trading, the individual assets aren’t the only ones used for trading. There are other asset types like indices, ETFs, etc. Indices, for example, are a collection of individual assets that generalize their prices and offer the average value.
 
The most popular indices can be found in stock trading, but there are also currency indices Forex traders use. As you may know, stocks are the shares of the companies, therefore, the stock indices combine the companies and their values. If the companies are doing great, the index value increases as well; and if they’re unsuccessful, the index value declines.
 
The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and other most popular indices are often used to determine the market condition, as well as the health of the economy. If they’re going up, it means that the companies are successful and the whole economy is booming.
 
Indices can also be used like CFDs for actual trading. Traders and service providers can agree on certain conditions and if those conditions are met, a trader generates a payout; but if the conditions aren’t fulfilled, a trader will lose funds.

FAQ on indices in financial markets

What are indices in trading?

In trading, be it Forex, stocks, or any other market, there are individual assets that can be traded. However, they are not the only assets on the market. Traders can use ETFs, mutual funds, and other forms of trading equally successfully (or unsuccessfully).

Similarly, alternative trading instruments are indices meaning in trading, you can buy and sell baskets of spot assets. They combine individual assets into one group where their prices are measured and offered as an average value of the whole index. It’s basically a portfolio of different assets that makes their prices more stable.

The most popular indices can be found in the stock market. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, The FTSE 100, and other indices are considered the most influential stock collections because they combine the biggest companies in the world. Therefore, a change in their value can represent the condition of the whole economy.

What is the difference between index trading vs stock trading?

People can do trading in various ways: they can buy individual assets when the price is low and sell them when the price is high; or they can make contracts (CFDs) with their service providers, agreeing on certain conditions and getting payouts that way.

The second method uses indices trading meaning it buys and sells baskets of individual assets. Here’s an index trading explanation: A trader and their service provider can decide that if the S&P 500 price increases, a trader will get a certain payout from it, but if it declines - there will be losses. Again, it’s a contract, so it can be arranged another way: price increase brings losses and price decline brings payouts.

In stock trading, traders don’t have that option. When they buy a stock, its price has to increase if a trader wants to get payouts. Not only that, traders actually buy the stocks, while with indices, but they also negotiate on position size with their service providers.
 

What is index economy and how does it work?

Indices combine the individual assets, be it stocks, currencies, commodities, or anything else. Therefore the price of one index is a reflection of these individual assets.

The most popular trade indices, as we’ve mentioned, can be found on stock markets. For example, the S&P 500, along with other indices, is considered a “benchmark index” because it combines the most popular and influential companies from the informational technology, health care, and other sectors.

Therefore, when economists and politicians want to get a better view of the general economic condition, they look at these indices; if the companies are successful, the index value will be higher, and the whole economy will remain strong. But if the companies aren’t successful, the index value will decline, as well as the strength of the economy. That is how index trading is used in economics.

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