What are the most actively traded indices for UK traders?
Verdict
- The indices UK traders follow most are the UK100 (FTSE 100), the US500 and NAS100, the GER40 (DAX) and the JPN225. Pepperstone publishes UK spreads on all five, from 0.4 points on the US500 to 7 on the JPN225.
- None of the brokers in our data publishes trading volume by index, so we can't rank these five by activity, and we haven't tried to.
- What we can compare is cost and timing. Each index is cheapest and busiest during its home market's hours, which fall at very different times of the UK day.
- UK retail leverage on all five is capped at 1:20 as major indices.
If you're picking which index to trade from the UK, 'most traded' matters less than when the index moves and what it costs you. Below are the five indices that Pepperstone prices most prominently for UK clients, with the hours each one is active in UK time.
The short answer, with Pepperstone's pricing
Pepperstone's UK pricing page singles out five indices and publishes their minimum spreads. These are the benchmark indices for London, New York, Frankfurt and Tokyo. Pepperstone Limited (FCA 684312) lets you trade all of them as spread bets in pounds per point or as CFDs, alongside the rest of its 26-index range.
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Five benchmark indices on a UK clock
Index CFDs and spread bets can usually be traded outside these hours too, but the cash session is when the underlying shares trade and prices tend to move most.
| Pepperstone symbol | Tracks | Home cash session (UK time, approx.) | Minimum spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK100 | FTSE 100, London | Morning to late afternoon | 1 |
| GER40 | DAX, Frankfurt | Morning to late afternoon | 0.9 |
| US500 | S&P 500, New York | Early afternoon to evening | 0.4 |
| NAS100 | Nasdaq 100, New York | Early afternoon to evening | 1 |
| JPN225 | Nikkei 225, Tokyo | Overnight to early morning | 7 |
Why we don't rank them by volume
A claim that one index is 'the most traded' needs volume figures, and neither Pepperstone nor the other brokers in our data publishes them for UK clients. Pepperstone's own pages don't even agree on how many indices it offers: the markets page says 20+, while the March 2025 account table counts 26. So this page sticks to what's published, which is spreads, leverage and the hours each market is open. If a site ranks indices by UK client volume, ask where the numbers come from.
Choosing an index that fits your day
- Trading before work or at lunch: the UK100 and GER40 are open during the UK morning.
- Trading after work: the US500 and NAS100 cash sessions run into the UK evening. The US500 has Pepperstone's tightest index minimum, at 0.4.
- Trading overnight: the JPN225 is active while the UK sleeps. Its minimum spread is 7 points, so check the point value before you size a trade.
- Every major index carries the same 1:20 retail cap, so £1,000 of exposure needs £50 of margin on any of them.
Sources
Is the FTSE 100 the best index for a UK trader?
Not necessarily. It trades in UK hours, which helps, but Pepperstone's tightest published index minimum is on the US500 (0.4 points), against 1 point on the UK100.
Can I trade US indices in pounds?
Yes, by spread betting. At Pepperstone you stake in GBP per point on the US500 or NAS100, whatever currency the index is priced in.
Are there 24-hour versions of these indices at Pepperstone UK?
Pepperstone offers perpetual CFDs on the NAS100 and US500, but in the UK they're for Professional clients only.
Trading indices with CFDs or spread bets involves leverage and a high risk of rapid losses. Pepperstone Limited says 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money on its spread bets and CFDs. Session times are approximate and change with daylight saving. Not investment advice.