Forex Index Trading
Forex index trading allows investors to speculate holistically on the value of a currency rather than trading a single currency pair. This guide will compare trading currency pairs vs forex indices, popular strategies, and how to find the best brokers for currency index trading.
Currency Index Brokers
These are the 10 best brokers for trading currency indices and the indices they offer:
-
1
AvaTradeCurrency index: USD20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$1000.01 Lots1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFMCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, FuturesWebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTradeSkrill, Wire Transfer, FasaPay, Mastercard, Perfect Money, Swift, MoneyGram, Credit Card, WebMoney, JCB Card, Debit Card, Neteller, BoletoUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD -
2
XMCurrency index: USD$30 No Deposit Bonus When You Register A Real Account
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$50.01 Lots1:1000ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, IFSCCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, EnergiesMT4, MT5, TradingCentralCredit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Perfect Money, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, TransferWise, Visa, M-PesaUSD, EUR, GBP, JPY -
3
ExnessCurrency index: USD
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$100.01 Lots1:UnlimitedCySEC, FCA, FSCA, CMA, FSA, CBCS, BVIFSC, FSC, JSCCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, CryptoExness Trade App, Exness Terminal, MT4, MT5, TradingCentralWire Transfer, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin Payments, Boleto, Airtel, Debit Card, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, Sticpay, AstroPay, Cashu, FasaPay, WebMoney, M-PesaUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, MYR, IDR, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, AED, SAR, HUF, BRL, NGN, THB, VND, UAH, KWD, QAR, KRW, MXN, KES, CNY -
4
PepperstoneCurrency index: USD, EUR, JPYCFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81.8% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCBCFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread BettingMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTradeVisa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer, POLi, UnionPay, BPAY, Neteller, Skrill, PIX Payment, Apple Pay, Google WalletUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD -
5
EightcapCurrency index: USD
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$1000.01 Lots1:500ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCBCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, CryptoMT4, MT5, TradingViewNeteller, Skrill, Visa, UnionPay, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer, FasaPay, BPAY, PayPal, Dragonpay, PIX PaymentUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD -
6
eToroCurrency index: USD51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$100$10FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMFStocks, ETFs, Options, CryptoeToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentralVisa, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Rapid Transfer, Swift, Debit Card, iDeal, Klarna, Sofort, Trustly, Przelewy24USD, EUR, GBP -
7
VantageCurrency index: USD50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$500.01 Lots1:500FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSCCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, BondsProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTradeSkrill, BPAY, JCB Card, AstroPay, Visa, Swift, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, UnionPay, FasaPay, Sticpay, Bitwallet, VoletUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN -
8
FxProCurrency index: USD
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$1000.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro), 1:1000 (Via Prime Ash Capital Limited)FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSACFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, FuturesFxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTradeWire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Google Wallet, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum PaymentsUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, PLN -
9
CMC MarketsCurrency index: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD, NZD, CHFSpread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSACFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread BettingWeb, MT4Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPalUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN -
10
City IndexCurrency index: USD
Ratings/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MASCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures, Options, Bonds, Interest Rates,ETFs,Spread BettingWeb Trader, MT4, TradingView, TradingCentralWire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, MaestroUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, PLN, CZK
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- AvaTrade - Established in 2006, AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Operating under regulation in 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade processes an impressive 2+ million trades each month. Through like MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTrader, the broker provides a growing selection of 1,250+ instruments. Whether it’s CFDs, AvaOptions, or the more recent AvaFutures, short-term traders at all levels will find opportunities. With terrific education and 24/5 multilingual customer support, AvaTrade delivers the complete trading experience.
- XM - XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker with 10+ million clients in 190+ countries. Since 2009, this trusted broker has been delivering low trading fees across its growing roster of 1000+ instruments. It’s also highly regulated, including by ASIC and CySEC and offers a comprehensive MetaTrader experience.
- Exness - Established in 2008, Exness has maintained its position as a highly respected broker, standing out with its industry-leading range of 40+ account currencies, growing selection of CFD instruments, and intuitive web platform complete with useful extras like currency convertors and trading calculators.
- Pepperstone - Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
- Eightcap - Eightcap is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker established in Australia in 2009. The broker has proven popular with active day traders, providing 800+ instruments with tight spreads and notable improvements in recent years, integrating the leading TradingView platform, alongside AI-powered financial calendars and algo trading tools with zero coding experience required.
- eToro - eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Crypto Trading is offered via eToro USA LLC; Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. CFDs are not available in the US Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 51% of retail accounts lose money.
- Vantage - Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. You can trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on the RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC-regulated and client funds are segregated. Copy traders will also appreciate the range of social trading tools.
- FxPro - Established in 2006, FxPro has emerged as a trusted non-dealing desk (NDD) broker offering trading on over 2,100 markets to more than 2 million clients worldwide. It has scooped over 100 industry awards and counting for its competitive conditions for active traders.
- CMC Markets - Established in 1989, CMC Markets is a respected broker listed on the London Stock Exchange and authorized by several tier-one regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CIRO. More than 1 million traders from around the world have signed up with the multi-award winning brokerage.
- City Index - Established in 1983 and now a part of the Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group, City Index is a renowned and award-winning broker specializing in forex, CFDs, and spread betting. Offering over 13,500 instruments, an evolving Web Trader platform, top-tier educational resources, and 24/5 customer support, City Index delivers a comprehensive trading experience.
AvaTrade
"AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets."
AvaTrade Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000 |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | Yes |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures |
| Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM |
| Platforms | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD |
Currency Indices
AvaTrade only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.
- Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
- AvaTrade continues to enhance its suite of products, recently through AvaFutures, providing an alternative vehicle to speculate on over 35 markets with low day trading margins.
Cons
- Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
- While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.
- The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
XM
"With a low $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting platforms in MT4 and MT5, expanding range of markets, and a Zero account offering spreads from 0.0, XM provides all the essentials for active traders, even earning our ‘Best MT4/MT5 Broker’ award in recent years."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
XM Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | $30 No Deposit Bonus When You Register A Real Account |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | Yes |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies |
| Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, IFSC |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:1000 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY |
Currency Indices
XM only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- XM’s growing roster of 1,000+ instruments provides diverse short-term trading opportunities, with unique turbo stocks, fractional shares, and more recently thematic indices.
- XM’s Zero account is ideal for day trading with spreads from 0.0 pips, 99.35% of orders executed in <1 second, and no requotes or rejections.
- XM’s customer support has delivered over years of testing, with 24/5 assistance in 25 languages, response times of <2 minutes and now a growing Telegram channel.
Cons
- XM is falling behind the curve by not offering cTrader and TradingView which are increasingly being favored over MetaTrader for their smoother user experience and superior charting packages.
- Although trusted and generally well-regulated, the XM global entity is registered with the weak IFSC regulator and UK clients are no longer accepted, reducing its market reach.
- XM relies solely on the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, so there’s no in-house downloadable or web-accessible solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.
Exness
"After slashing its spreads, improving its execution speeds and support trading on over 100 currency pairs with more than 40 account currencies to choose from, Exness is a fantastic option for active forex traders looking to minimize trading costs."
Exness Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Regulator | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, CMA, FSA, CBCS, BVIFSC, FSC, JSC |
| Platforms | Exness Trade App, Exness Terminal, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:Unlimited |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, MYR, IDR, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, AED, SAR, HUF, BRL, NGN, THB, VND, UAH, KWD, QAR, KRW, MXN, KES, CNY |
Currency Indices
Exness only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- Exness was the first brokerage to pass the $1 trillion and $2 trillion marks in monthly trading volumes, highlighting its legitimacy.
- Fast and dependable 24/7 multilingual customer support via telephone, email and live chat based on hands-on tests.
- Highly competitive spreads, reduced for USOIL and BTCUSD in 2024, are available from 0 pips with low commissions from $2 per side.
Cons
- Exness has expanded its range of CFDs and added a copy trading feature, but there are still no real assets such as ETFs, cryptocurrencies or bonds
- Apart from a mediocre blog, educational resources are woeful, especially compared to category leaders like IG which provide a more complete trading journey for newer traders.
- Retail trading services are unavailable in certain jurisdictions, such as the US and the UK, limiting accessibility compared to top-tier brokers like Interactive Brokers.
Pepperstone
"Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/7 support."
Pepperstone Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting |
| Regulator | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Currency Indices
Pepperstone offers trading on these 3 currency indices: USD, EUR, JPY
Pros
- Now offering spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools.
- Pepperstone has greatly improved the deposit and withdrawal experience in recent years, adding Apple Pay and Google Pay in 2025, as well as PIX and SPEI for clients in Brazil and Mexico in 2024.
- There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.
Cons
- Despite enhancements to its range of markets, crypto offerings are relatively limited compared to other brokers such as eToro, with no option to invest in real coins.
- Pepperstone’s demo accounts are active for only 30 days, which may not be not long enough to familiarize yourself with the different platforms and test trading strategies.
- Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular copy trading feature built into the excellent cTrader platform and available at alternatives like IC Markets, though it has introduced an intuitive copy trading app.
Eightcap
"Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms, education via Labs, and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 120+ crypto CFDs, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row."
Eightcap Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Regulator | ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:500 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD |
Currency Indices
Eightcap only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, and high leverage up to 1:500 for certain clients, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
- After bolstering its roster in 2021, Eightcap offers one of the most extensive selections of cryptocurrency CFDs in the market, with crypto/fiat pairs, crypto/crypto pairs, plus crypto indices for broader exposure to the market.
- Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools and resources, including MT4 and MT5, the innovative algorithmic trading platform Capitalise.ai, and more recently the 50-million strong social trading network TradingView.
Cons
- The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
- Despite a useful library of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap still trails IG’s comprehensive toolkit for aspiring traders with its dedicated IG Academy app and 18 course categories.
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
eToro
"eToro's social trading platform leads the pack with a terrific user experience and active community chat that can help beginners find opportunities. There are also competitive fees on thousands of CFDs and real stocks, plus excellent rewards for experienced strategy providers."
eToro Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulator | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF |
| Platforms | eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | $10 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Currency Indices
eToro only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- There's a comprehensive online training academy with accessible resources, from bitesize articles to comprehensive courses
- Top copy traders can receive annual payments up to 1.5% of assets under copy in the broker's Popular Investor Program
- The broker's services are great for beginners, with commission-free stock trading, a low minimum deposit and an unlimited demo
Cons
- There are limited contact methods aside from the in-platform live chat
- There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners
- Traders will face currency conversion fees for account denominations other than USD
Vantage
"Vantage remains an excellent option for CFD traders seeking a tightly-regulated broker with access to the reliable MetaTrader platforms. The fast sign-up process and $50 minimum deposit make it very straightforward to start day trading quickly."
Vantage Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | Yes |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds |
| Regulator | FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC |
| Platforms | ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:500 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN |
Currency Indices
Vantage only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- Vantage has bolstered its algorithmic trading tools for advanced traders with AutoFibo EA identifying reversal opportunities
- The low minimum deposit of $50 and zero funding fees make this broker a great choice for new traders
- There are no short-term strategy restrictions with hedging and scalping permitted
Cons
- A steep $10,000 deposit is needed for the best trading conditions, which include the $1.50 commission per side
- It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
- Unfortunately, cryptos are only available for Australian clients
FxPro
"FxPro is a stellar option for day traders, sporting exceptionally fast execution speeds under 12ms, competitive fees that were lowered in 2022, and terrific charting platforms in MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro Edge."
FxPro Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures |
| Regulator | FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA |
| Platforms | FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro), 1:1000 (Via Prime Ash Capital Limited) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, PLN |
Currency Indices
FxPro only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- FxPro operates under a 'No Dealing Desk' (NDD) model, ensuring fast and transparent order execution, often under 12 milliseconds, ideal for short-term trading strategies.
- FxPro's Wallet is a standout feature that allows traders to manage funds securely. By segregating unused funds from active trading accounts, the Wallet provides additional protection and convenience.
- FxPro offers four reliable charting platforms, notably the intuitive FxPro Edge, with over 50 indicators, 7 chart types and 15 chart timeframes.
Cons
- Despite a growing Knowledge Hub and a $10M funded demo account, FxPro is geared towards advanced traders, with beginners potentially finding the account and fee structure complex.
- There are no passive investment tools like copy trading or interest paid on cash. While active traders may not miss these, competitors like eToro catering to active and passive investors have more comprehensive offerings.
- While FxPro provides 24/5 customer support through multiple channels that performed well during testing, it lacks 24/7 availability, which can disadvantage traders needing assistance outside traditional market hours.
CMC Markets
"With advanced charting tools and an extensive range of tradable CFDs, including an almost unrivalled selection of currencies and custom indices, CMC Markets provides a fantastic online platform for traders of all levels. "
CMC Markets Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting |
| Regulator | FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA |
| Platforms | Web, MT4 |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN |
Currency Indices
CMC Markets offers trading on these 8 currency indices: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD, NZD, CHF
Pros
- CMC Markets is heavily regulated by reputable financial authorities and maintains its stellar reputation, helping to ensure a secure and trustworthy trading environment.
- The web platform delivers a fantastic user experience with advanced charting tools for day trading and customizable features, catering to both beginners and experienced traders. MT4 (but not MT5) is also supported.
- The brokerage continues to stand out with its wide range of value-add resources, including pattern recognition scanners, webinars, tutorials, news feeds, and research from respected sources like Morningstar.
Cons
- An inactivity fee of $10 per month is applied after 12 months of inactivity, which may deter casual investors.
- Despite improvements, the web platform still requires enhancements to make it as intuitive to trade on as software from rivals like IG.
- While CMC offers an above-average suite of assets, there is no support for trading real stocks and UK clients can’t trade cryptocurrencies.
City Index
"City Index is a great match for active traders, with ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms, a highly customizable web platform featuring 90+ technical indicators, and some of the best education we’ve seen."
City Index Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures, Options, Bonds, Interest Rates,ETFs,Spread Betting |
| Regulator | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS |
| Platforms | Web Trader, MT4, TradingView, TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction. |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, PLN, CZK |
Currency Indices
City Index only allows for trading on the USD currency index.
Pros
- City Index boasts 13,500+ markets spanning forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and interest rates, with the platform's inclusion of niche markets like interest rates offering unique trading avenues not always found elsewhere.
- City Index provides versatile trading platforms for all skill levels. The intuitive Web Trader platform is ideal for beginners, while support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView adds robust analysis and automation features, ensuring a flexible experience for traders of all levels.
- City Index is regulated by top-tier authorities like the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), and MAS (Singapore), while its ownership by StoneX Group Inc., a listed company, further reinforces its credibility.
Cons
- Unlike brokers such as AvaTrade and BlackBull, City Index does not provide passive investment opportunities like social copy trading, or real stock or ETF ownership, making it less appealing for hands-off trading.
- While many brokers like eToro have expanded their crypto offerings, City Index only provides crypto CFDs, and the limited range may not satisfy traders looking for a broader selection of altcoins.
- City Index lacks an Islamic account with swap-free trading conditions, making the broker less appealing to Muslim traders compared to providers like Eightcap and Pepperstone.
What Are Indices In Forex Trading?
In finance, an “index” is a collection of assets bundled together to represent a particular market sector. A forex index aims to track the value of a single currency in relation to a number of other significant currencies, all bundled up into one single figure.
The forex indices achieve this by tracking a basket of individual currency pairs, which are weighted to provide a theoretically balanced value for the main currency. This reduces exposure to a single currency pair and aims to provide a trading vehicle based on a single currency.
For example, the US Dollar Index is calculated by combining a basket of currencies from major global nations, including the UK, Canada and Switzerland. The weighting of the individual currency pairs is:
- 57.6% – Euro/US Dollar (EUR/USD)
- 13.6% – US Dollar/Japanese Yen (USD/JPY)
- 11.9% – British Pound/US Dollar (GBP/USD)
- 9.1% – US Dollar/Canadian Dollar (USD/CAD)
- 4.2% – US Dollar/Swedish Krona (USD/SEK)
- 3.6% – US Dollar/Swiss Franc (USD/CHF)
Major forex indices include the aforementioned US Dollar Index, the Euro Currency Index and the Swiss Franc Index. However, there are also forex currency indices available for minor and exotic currencies, such as the Swedish Krona Index and Norwegian Krone Index.
Forex Index Trading vs Forex Pair Trading
The main difference between trading forex pairs and indices is diversification. When trading forex pairs, investors are speculating on the price relationship between two currencies. This relationship is often more volatile than a forex index and the major assets such as USD/EUR are more liquid. On the other hand, forex index trading provides a more balanced value of a single currency.
Another difference is available assets. While there are hundreds of currency pairs, there are far fewer forex indices. Trading forex pairs vs indices, therefore, is a good way to speculate on minor or exotic currencies.
Markets & Instruments
When it comes to forex index trading, as outlined above, there are not as many markets to choose from as traditional indices or currency pairs. While non-major currencies such as the Swedish krona and Singapore dollar are available to trade, investors are limited to tens, rather than hundreds of markets.
However, there is no shortage of available trading instruments for forex indices. For example, the US Dollar Index can be traded through forex-style CFDs, futures, options, and spread betting.
Trading Fees
Fees are a key consideration for investors, as high charges and commissions can quickly eat into profits.
Investors will be pleased to know that for forex index trading, generally fees are competitive. In fact, for US Dollar Index trading and other major FX indices, many leading forex day trading platforms offer zero commission or low-spread CFD trading.
When looking to trade major forex indices through more traditional methods such as mutual funds or ETFs, costs are also low. This is because these instruments are passive tracker funds rather than actively managed funds that command higher commissions.
Pros Of Forex Index Trading
- Single Currency Trading – While forex pairs allow investors to pit two currencies against each other, forex index trading allows investors to speculate on a more balanced overall value of a single currency.
- Simple – When trading forex pairs, investors are very exposed to fluctuations in two currencies, rather than one. For example, a trader that believes the Euro will weaken can speculate on EUR/USD, but shall be vulnerable to USD changes as well. However, the balanced basket of currencies used in forex indices helps reduce exposure to base currency changes.
- Low Costs – Forex indices tend to have competitive spreads and commissions from forex day trading platforms, whether these are for forex-style CFD trades or other vehicles.
- Range Of Instruments – From CFDs to spread bets and futures, forex index trading is available through a range of vehicles, suiting various trading styles and strategies.
Cons Of Forex Index Trading
- Low Volatility – When trading leveraged derivatives such as options and CFDs, volatility can send profits spiralling. The more balanced values of forex indices can curtail this profit potential due to comparatively lower volatility.
- High Single Pair Exposure – The component forex pairs weightings are supposed to offer a diversified method of providing a value for a currency. However, this is not always achieved in practice. For example, due to the advent of the Euro and the consolidation of European currencies into one, the US Dollar Index has a 57.6% exposure in EUR/USD.
- Limited Markets – While hundreds of forex pairs offer investors the chance to speculate on minor and exotic currencies, comparatively few forex indices currently exist.
- Reduced Trading Hours – The forex markets benefit from 24/5 trading thanks to the use of several global trading hubs, including London and New York. Unfortunately, forex indices do not benefit from this system and have significantly reduced trading hours compared to forex currency pairs.
Forex Index Trading Strategies
There are different strategies for live forex index training. Ultimately, experienced traders will draw upon a combination of leading forex indicators and signals to predict trades.
Rumours & News
Seasoned forex investors will know the power of breaking news on the value of a currency. Traders can capitalize on this trading opportunity using forex indices, which filter out the effects of other currencies through their diversification.
One popular strategy is to “buy the rumour and sell the news”. This hinges on getting your position locked in before the market reacts to the upcoming news to maximize profits. However, this is a risky strategy as rumours can often be incorrect. Additionally, there is no guarantee that news will affect markets in the way that investors predict.
Breaking news to look out for includes inflation and interest rate announcements as well as high-profile currency interventions, such as in late 2022 when the Bank of England stepped in to purchase long-dated gilt bonds.
This was to contain the mass sell-off that occurred after the government’s short-lived mini-budget, which affected the 30-year gilt yield by as much as 1% as well as the value of the pound against the dollar.
Fundamentals
Long-term investments in a forex index will often be driven by fundamental analysis. These are the economic and political factors that influence the value of a currency.
Examples of fundamentals include economic growth, as tracked by GDP and employment rates. Political stability is also a crucial fundamental, with markets notoriously sensitive to political changes. The balance of trade is also important, with high exports generally strengthening a currency.
Investors will often look at historical data to find trends in a currency’s fundamentals to make predictions as to its future value. However, if an investor believes that an upcoming event will change the pattern of fundamentals, a reversal trade is always a lucrative form of investing, especially when using options.
Technical Analysis
Thanks to the wide availability of retail analysis and platforms such as TradingView and MetaTrader 4, powerful technical analysis is more accessible to investors than ever.
Users may want to look at trend lines such as the relative strength index (RSI) in forex index trading or other leading indicators such as support and resistance lines and Fibonacci overlays.
Technical analysis can be done through various time frames, with short-term forex trading instruments such as binary options and CFDs able to analyse patterns on 1-minute or 5-minute charts.
How To Trade Forex Indices
Decide On Your Market & Instrument
While many brokers offer several currency indices, it is a good idea to decide on your favoured trading assets first. This is to ensure your chosen broker supports these assets before signing up and depositing funds.
It is also important to decide on your preferred trading vehicles, as most brokers support just one or two, for example, CFDs, ETFs, binary options or futures.
Choose A Broker
When it comes to trading forex indices, choosing a reputable and low-cost broker is key. Here are our top tips for finding the best forex index broker:
- Regulated by a reputable body, such as the FCA or CFTC
- Provides competitive trading and payment fee structures, such as a zero-commission account
- Supports your favoured payment methods, such as PayPal or wire transfer
- Supports reliable and user-friendly trading platforms such as MT4 or NinjaTrader
- Offers helpful and accessible customer support, available 24/5 via live chat or phone
Create An Account
Now, create an account. This is usually a simple process, but firms often require verification details for regulatory purposes, such as IDs, passports or bank statements.
Next up is to fund your forex index trading account. If you plan to trade a leveraged forex index market, ensure that you have sufficient capital to avoid a quick stop-out or margin call.
Find Your Market
Once your account is set up and funded, it is time to start trading forex indices. Download one of your broker’s supported trading platforms (some brokerages offer web-based platforms too) and navigate to your chosen product.
If your trading will centre around a small number of markets, most platforms allow traders to bookmark or favourite these asset pages for quick navigation in the future.
Make A Trade
Once you have conducted analysis of your forex index, it is time to make the trade.
As well as selecting your position, set stop-loss and take-profit levels, with advanced “trailing” tools available on some platforms. This will help keep a handle on your risk exposure.
Close Your Position
Monitor the market for the best opportunity to close your trade, taking your profit or closing out your losses.
With that said, some instruments like binary options may not offer an early cash-out opportunity. In these instances, hedging a trade to either lock in a profit or minimize losses may be possible.
Final Word On Trading Forex Indices
Forex index trading is a good choice for investors that wish to speculate on the value of a currency with less exposure to individual currency pairs. There are plenty of available forex index trading instruments, and these markets are largely low-cost. However, there is limited choice for exotic markets and trading hours are reduced compared to traditional currency pairs.
Use our list of the top forex index brokers to start trading.
FAQs
What Is An Index In Forex Trading?
A forex index is a basket of currency pairs with a common currency, such as the US Dollar. This provides a diversified measure of the value of this common currency.
Forex index trading essentially offers a means to speculate on the value of a single currency, such as the USD, EUR or GBP.
What Are The Best Currency Indices To Trade?
Forex indices such as the US Dollar Index, British Pound Index and Euro Index are highly liquid. However, a solid strategy can make any forex index a profitable trading market.
Head to our tutorial on forex index trading to find a suitable broker and get started.
What Is The Best Time To Trade Forex Indices?
The best forex index trading opportunities will occur around significant news, such as interest rate announcements, changes in government monetary policy and new global trade relationships.
Note that unlike trading standard forex pairs, FX indices may not be available 24/5.
Is Trading Forex Indices Better Than Forex Pairs?
Forex index trading allows investors to speculate on a single currency more reliably and stably than by using a single currency pair. However, currency pair trading can be more lucrative due to its comparative volatility, and investors have more options when it comes to available currencies.