Trading The FTSE

UK stock traders of all experience levels should have a good understanding of the FTSE. Knowledge about how the FTSE index works will help inform decisions about which shares to buy and whether to invest in tracker funds. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to start trading the FTSE. Our report also includes a brief history lesson, a breakdown of the different indexes and their purposes, plus trading preparation tips.

Best FTSE Brokers In The UK

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    Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly regarded broker specialising in forex and CFDs. Serving more than 400,000 clients globally, it provides access to over 1,300 financial instruments through popular platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. Its fee structure is both low and transparent. With regulation by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, Pepperstone guarantees a safe trading environment for traders at every level.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
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    Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, Bappebti xStation
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30
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    FXCC, a well-established brokerage since 2010, offers cost-effective online trading. Registered in Nevis and regulated by CySEC, it is distinguished by its ECN conditions and absence of a minimum deposit requirement. The account opening process is efficient, taking under five minutes.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto CySEC MT4, MT5
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:500
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    IC Markets is an internationally acclaimed forex and CFD broker, admired for its competitive pricing, diverse trading instruments, and superior technology. Established in 2007 and based in Australia, the firm is under the regulation of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has successfully drawn over 180,000 clients from more than 200 nations.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $200 0.01 Lots 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
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    Founded in 2006, FxPro has built a reputation as a reliable non-dealing desk (NDD) broker, providing trading access across more than 2,100 markets to over 2 million clients globally. It has received over 100 industry awards, reflecting its favourable conditions for active traders.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Spread Betting FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $100 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
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    IC Trading belongs to the reputable IC Markets group. Designed for dedicated traders, it offers highly competitive spreads, dependable order execution, and sophisticated trading tools. However, it operates from Mauritius, an offshore financial centre, allowing high leverage but within a less regulated environment.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptos, Futures FSC MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $200 0.01 Lots 1:500
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    eToro, a leading multi-asset platform, provides access to trading services across thousands of CFDs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Established in 2007, it boasts millions of active traders worldwide and is sanctioned by top-tier regulators such as the FCA and CySEC. It stands out for its extensive social trading feature. Crypto investments are unstable and carry risk. Tax implications might apply. Acknowledge the risks involved. 61% of retail CFD accounts incur losses.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $50 $10 1:30

Safety Comparison

Compare how safe the Trading The FTSE are and what features they offer to protect traders.

Safety Comparison
Broker Trust Rating FCA Regulated Negative Balance Protection Guaranteed Stop Loss Segregated Accounts
Pepperstone 4.6
XTB 4.6
FXCC 3.3
IC Markets 4.6
FXPro 4.4
IC Trading 2.8
eToro 4.5

Payments Comparison

Compare which popular payment methods the Trading The FTSE support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).

Payments Comparison
Broker GBP Account Debit Card Credit Card Neteller Skrill Apple Pay
Pepperstone
XTB
FXCC
IC Markets
FXPro
IC Trading
eToro

Mobile Trading Comparison

How good are the Trading The FTSE at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.

Mobile Trading Comparison
Broker Mobile Apps iOS Rating Android Rating Smart Watch App
Pepperstone iOS & Android 4.4 4.1
XTB iOS & Android 4.7 4.1
FXCC iOS & Android 4.8 4.4
IC Markets iOS & Android 3.1 4.2
FXPro iOS & Android 4.7 4.3
IC Trading iOS & Android 4.8 4.6
eToro iOS & Android 4 3.8

Beginners Comparison

Are the Trading The FTSE good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?

Beginners Comparison
Broker Demo Account Minimum Deposit Minimum Trade Support Rating Education Rating
Pepperstone $0 0.01 Lots 4.6 4
XTB $0 0.01 Lots 4.3 3.8
FXCC $0 0.01 Lots 4.3 2.5
IC Markets $200 0.01 Lots 4.5 3.5
FXPro $100 0.01 Lots 4 4
IC Trading $200 0.01 Lots 2.8 2.2
eToro $50 $10 2.5 4

Advanced Trading Comparison

Do the Trading The FTSE offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?

Advanced Trading Comparison
Broker Automated Trading Pro Account Leverage VPS AI Low Latency Extended Hours
Pepperstone Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
XTB Open API 1:30
FXCC Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader 1:500
IC Markets Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
FXPro Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
IC Trading Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader 1:500
eToro Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. 1:30

Detailed Rating Comparison

Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Trading The FTSE.

Detailed Rating Comparison
Broker Trust Platforms Mobile Assets Fees Accounts Support Research Education
Pepperstone 4.6 4.4 4.3 3.8 4.5 4 4.6 4.3 4
XTB 4.6 4 4.4 4 4.3 4 4.3 4.1 3.8
FXCC 3.3 3.3 4.6 3 4 3.5 4.3 2 2.5
IC Markets 4.6 4 3.7 3.5 4.6 4 4.5 4 3.5
FXPro 4.4 4.3 4.5 4 4 3.8 4 4 4
IC Trading 2.8 4 4.7 3 4 3.5 2.8 3 2.2
eToro 4.5 2.8 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.1 2.5 4.3 4

Our Take On Pepperstone

"Pepperstone is a premier trading platform, providing tight spreads, swift execution, and sophisticated charting tools for seasoned traders. Beginners benefit from no minimum deposit, comprehensive learning materials, and outstanding 24/7 support."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • Pepperstone presents itself as an economical choice for traders, offering spreads as low as 0.0 in its Razor account. The Active Trader programme provides rebates up to 30% on indices and commodities, plus $3 per lot on forex.
  • In recent years, Pepperstone has significantly enhanced the deposit and withdrawal process. By 2025, clients can use Apple Pay and Google Pay, while 2024 saw the introduction of PIX and SPEI for customers in Brazil and Mexico.
  • Support for top-tier charting platforms such as MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader. These tools accommodate different short-term trading methods, including algorithmic trading.

Cons

  • Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
  • Pepperstone doesn't offer cTrader Copy, a favoured feature for copying trades found in the cTrader platform, which is available on other platforms such as IC Markets. However, Pepperstone has launched its own user-friendly copy trading app.
  • Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.

Our Take On XTB

"XTB emerges as an ideal option for novice traders, offering the impressive xStation platform, zero commission pricing, no required minimum deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are conveniently integrated into the platform."

Pros

  • XTB ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
  • XTB offers a diverse range of over 7,000 instruments, including CFDs on shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, forex, and cryptocurrencies. The platform also provides real shares, real ETFs, share dealing, and the latest addition, Investment Plans, serving both traders seeking short-term gains and investors focused on long-term growth.
  • XTB has raised its interest rate on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs for UK clients, offering access to 3,000 stocks and 700 ETFs for diverse investment opportunities.

Cons

  • It is frustrating that XTB products do not allow traders to modify the default leverage level. Manually adjusting leverage can greatly reduce risk in forex and CFD trading.
  • The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
  • The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.

Our Take On FXCC

"FXCC remains a top choice for forex traders, offering over 70 currency pairs, very tight spreads from 0.0 pips in tests, and high leverage up to 1:500 with the ECN XL account."

Pros

  • FXCC offers competitive and transparent ECN spreads starting from 0.0 pips, with no commissions. This makes it one of the most cost-effective forex brokers available.
  • The complimentary education section, featuring the 'Traders Corner' blog, provides a wide array of resources suitable for traders of all experience levels.
  • There are no deposit fees other than standard cryptocurrency mining charges, which benefits active traders.

Cons

  • Unaware traders might face steep withdrawal fees, such as a notable $45 for bank transfers.
  • While the MetaTrader suite excels in technical analysis, its outdated design detracts from the overall trading experience, particularly when contrasted with contemporary platforms such as TradingView.
  • FXCC's exclusive MetaTrader platform is a limitation, especially when compared to more versatile options like AvaTrade, which offers five different platforms to cater to various trader needs.

Our Take On IC Markets

"IC Markets provides excellent pricing, swift execution, and easy deposits. With cutting-edge charting tools like TradingView and the Raw Trader Plus account, it continues to be a preferred option for intermediate and advanced traders."

Pros

  • IC Markets provides some of the industry's narrowest spreads, offering 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs. This makes it an extremely cost-effective choice for traders.
  • As a well-regulated and reputable broker, IC Markets focuses on client safety and transparency to provide a dependable global trading experience.
  • Access over 2,250 CFDs across diverse markets like forex, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. This variety enables traders to employ diversified strategies.

Cons

  • Although there are four top-tier third-party platforms available, the absence of in-house software or a trading app tailored for novice traders is notable.
  • Interest is not paid on idle cash, a feature gaining popularity with alternatives such as Interactive Brokers.
  • IC Markets provides metals and cryptocurrencies for trading through CFDs, though the selection is narrower compared to brokers such as eToro. This limits opportunities for traders focused on these asset classes.

Our Take On FXPro

"FxPro is an excellent choice for traders, offering swift execution speeds under 12ms, reduced fees since 2022, and outstanding charting platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and FxPro Edge."

Pros

  • FxPro uses a 'No Dealing Desk' (NDD) model for swift and transparent order execution, usually within 12 milliseconds, making it well-suited for short-term trading strategies.
  • FxPro provides four dependable charting platforms, including the user-friendly FxPro Edge. It features more than 50 indicators, 7 types of charts, and 15 different timeframes.
  • FxPro's Wallet is a notable feature enabling traders to securely manage their funds. It ensures additional protection and ease by separating unused funds from active trading accounts.

Cons

  • FxPro offers customer support five days a week around the clock, accessible via various platforms, and the service quality is reliable based on tests. However, the absence of weekend support can be a drawback for traders requiring help beyond standard market times.
  • There are no passive investment options such as copy trading or interest on cash. While traders might not find these essential, competitors like eToro, which accommodate both active and passive investors, offer more extensive services.
  • FxPro, with its $10M funded demo account and expanding Knowledge Hub, mainly caters to experienced traders. Beginners might find its account and fee structure challenging to understand.

Our Take On IC Trading

"IC Trading offers an ideal environment, featuring top-tier execution speeds of around 40 milliseconds, extensive liquidity, and advanced charting tools, perfect for scalpers, traders, and algorithmic traders."
Christian Harris
Christian Harris
Reviewer

Pros

  • IC Trading provides exceptional flexibility, allowing traders to open as many as 10 live accounts and 20 demo accounts. This enables the management of distinct profiles for various activities, including manual and algorithmic trading.
  • IC Trading offers top-tier spreads, with some major currency pairs like EUR/USD featuring spreads as low as 0.0 pips, making it an excellent choice for traders.
  • Trading Central and Autochartist provide valuable technical analysis and actionable ideas. These tools are readily available within the account area or on the cTrader platform.

Cons

  • Customer support was inadequate during testing, with multiple live chat attempts going unanswered and emails ignored. This raises significant concerns regarding their capacity to manage urgent trading issues.
  • Although IC Trading operates under the reputable IC Markets group, it is licensed by the FSC in Mauritius, a regulator known for its limited financial transparency and lack of robust safeguards.
  • Unlike IC Markets, IC Trading lacks support for social trading via the IC Social app or the ZuluTrade platform.

Our Take On eToro

"eToro's social trading platform excels with its outstanding user experience and lively community chat, aiding beginners in spotting opportunities. It offers competitive fees on numerous CFDs and real stocks, alongside exceptional rewards for seasoned strategists."

Pros

  • The web platform and mobile app receive higher user reviews and app rankings compared to leading competitors like AvaTrade.
  • Leading traders participating in the broker's Popular Investor Programme can earn yearly compensation of up to 1.5% of the copied assets.
  • eToro has enhanced its investment portfolio by frequently introducing new crypto assets. It currently offers a selection of over 100 digital currencies.

Cons

  • The only significant contact option, besides the in-platform live chat, is limited.
  • The absence of extra charting platforms such as MT4 may deter experienced traders who rely on external software.
  • There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.

The FTSE Explained

The FTSE (pronounced ‘footsie’) is the main UK stock exchange consisting of 600+ companies across 50 countries. It’s the largest exchange in Europe and operates as a key reference point for other global markets. Each index, detailed further below, ranks the top publicly traded companies registered in the UK by market capitalisation.

Our timeline highlights critical moments in its history:

  • 1973 – Regional exchanges merge to become the Stock Exchange of Great Britain and Ireland, later renamed as the LSE, which stands for London Stock Exchange
  • 1984 – FTSE 100 is launched with a market value of £160 billion and an index level of 1,000
  • 1987 – On 20th October the market falls 12.22% in one day. This largest one-day percentage drop in the FTSE’s history is known as ‘Black Monday’
  • 1992 – FTSE 250 is launched with a market value of £98 billion
  • 1999 – The FTSE’s highest point of the 20th century is reached on 31st December owing to the dot-com boom
  • 2009 – On the 5th March, the FTSE falls to the lowest value since opening at 3,529.86 and closed at a high of 3,530.73
  • 2017 – On the 29th December, the FTSE reached the highest-ever closing and a record all-time high intra-value at 7,687.77 and 7,697.62 respectively

FTSE Indexes

  • FTSE 100 – The FTSE 100 is a leading global index and its stocks and shares are the most popular to buy. It is composed of the top 100 companies in the UK, ranked by market cap. The top 50 FTSE constituents come from many different sectors, for example, leading energy and oil companies like BP and mining companies like Glencore. There are several property businesses and banks in the top 100 list also.
  • FTSE 250 – This index comprises the next largest 250 companies. FTSE 250 companies tend to trade less internationally and therefore the index’s performance is a better reflection of the UK economy.
  • FTSE 350 – The FTSE 350 is a weighted index of the companies included in the FTSE 100 and 250. It, therefore, includes a list of the top 350 companies in the UK on the London Stock Exchange.
  • FTSE Small Cap – This index is a collection of small-cap companies ranking from 351st to 619th on the LSE sorted by market cap.
  • FTSE Aim All-Share – A weighted index with approximately 600 constituents out of 2,000 LSE listed companies. It is managed by FTSE Russel a subsidiary of the LSE. The FTSE Aim All-Share index tends to track closely to the FTSE 100 and often follows similar chart trends.

FTSE Russell also provides other indices, which are split by region and sector. A fact sheet for each can be found on their website.

To be listed by the FTSE Group, companies must adhere to specific conditions. These include having a full London Stock Exchange listing and providing proof of nationality, liquidity, and free-floating status.

Key Components Of FTSE Indexes

Weighting

All companies are weighted by market capitalisation in each index. Companies with a large market cap will influence the index more significantly than smaller companies. Market cap is calculated by the number of tradable shares multiplied by the share price.

To calculate the number of tradable shares, the total number of shares is multiplied by the free float adjustment factor. The free float adjustment factor is the percentage of tradable shares as a proportion of total shares (rounded to the nearest 5%). Any restricted stock such as shares held by employees is excluded.

Changes

FTSE Russell carry out a quarterly review of the list of companies in each FTSE index and their market cap ranking. The review dates are the Wednesday after the first Friday of each quarter. Each company’s valuation is based on the close market cap value of the night before the review. Based on this valuation, all companies are listed in league tables. The biggest market cap risers will be promoted, and the greatest fallers will be relegated.

Only companies in the top 90 can be promoted and any company lower than 111th will be relegated. It can therefore be expected that the top FTSE 250 risers will be included in the FTSE 100 the following quarter, similarly, the top FTSE 100 fallers may be included in the FTSE 250 index. All FTSE index changes are made by independent market experts.

There are many reasons why a FTSE 100 company’s value may change, often reflected in a change in share price. The most common reasons are mergers and acquisitions, responses to news stories, and consumer trends.

Purpose Of The FTSE

The FTSE 100 is most widely used as a UK stock market indicator. Despite this, many of the companies in the top 100 list are internationally focused meaning the index’s price, chart and forecast may not truly reflect the UK’s economic performance. It is impacted by international events, for example, falling 5.7% after the 9/11 attacks in New York.

The FTSE 250, 350, and All Share act in a similar fashion but may be less affected by international events due to increased domestic trade.

Many traders try to capitalise on FTSE index price movements by anticipating changes in market sentiment. This can be achieved by using a tracker. The index can be either ‘up’ or ‘down’. When there are more buyers than sellers the index is up, while when the reverse occurs, the index is down. These movements occur in real-time with live charts refreshing every 15 seconds during market hours.

The market opens at 08:00 and the close time is 16:30. The close value is taken at 16.35. (All times in UK Local time – GMT in winter, BST in summer)

How To Start FTSE Trading

Nowadays, many FTSE 100 investors are using day trading strategies to make money. Earnings can also be made by developing a system that focuses on the FTSE over a longer period. Regardless of your preferred method of trading, be sure to review our top tips for FTSE trading:

1. Select A Broker

A broker is a trader’s main route to market. Therefore, it is important to make the right choice. The key things to consider are:

  • Trading platform – Platforms available vary by broker, some are more comprehensive than others. Traders must understand the platform they are using and get the most out of the tools available for technical analysis. Some platforms offer multi-screen displays where traders can analyse different indexes, for example, comparing a FTSE All-Share Index chart vs a live FTSE 100 or 250 chart.
  • Fees applicable – There are fees applicable when trading, including commissions, deposit and withdrawal fees, plus transaction fees. When trading in high volumes these fees can add up and erode profits.
  • Customer service – Trading can be confusing and having strong customer service support is important, especially if something goes wrong. Most brokers now offer a range of customer options during trading hours, from live chatbots to email and telephone.
  • Additional features – The best brokers offer additional tools to improve the trading experience. Whilst this is not essential for FTSE trading, features such as a forum, live market news, and daily chart update notifications are a bonus.
  • Compare brokers – Reviews are a great source of information when choosing a broker in a competitive market. Reviews can provide clear and concise details which might not be transparent on the broker’s website. For broker recommendations, review our broker list.

2. Fund Your Account

Before you can start trading the FTSE you will need to fund your new account. Over time, brokers have increased the number of payment options, some now accept Bitcoin payments, for example. Make sure you have enough funds in your account to execute trades, not forgetting fees.

3. Choose Your Asset

All FTSE shares have different characteristics, with over 2,000 to choose from it would be impossible to have an understanding of them all. Despite this, all FTSE stocks share two common qualities: volume and volatility.

Volume

Volume is the number of shares being traded at a specific time. If a FTSE chart increases by 100 transactions today and decreases by 50 tomorrow, the total volume over the 2 days would be 50. The size of a market move is relative to the current trading volume. As a result, volume can be used as a quality factor to measure the size of a move. For example, a transaction of 1,000 FTSE 100 shares may not show a spike on a live chart due to the number of shares in that period, but a transaction of the same size for a FTSE Small Cap company may have a bigger impact.

Making use of a stock screener is essential, here traders will be able to pick stocks that align with their methodology by comparing volume, price, and other important factors. Popular stock screeners include Yahoo Finance, TradingView, or MarketWatch. Alternatively, most FTSE brokers offer a regular report on the top 10 stocks being traded as well as the biggest FTSE 100, 250 and 350 risers and fallers.

Volatility

Volatility is the rate of risk and a measure of unpredictability that a share price can experience over a period. If the price fluctuates in large swings it is considered to be highly volatile, while if the price does not fluctuate, it is considered to be stable. A trader’s appetite for volatility in the FTSE will inform their trading strategy, for example, a day trader would welcome volatile price movements whereas a position trader may wish for steady and stable movements over a longer period.

Traders may wish to use the beta value of a stock which indicates how volatile or risky a stock is compared to the market. The market beta is 1, any company with a beta above 1 is more volatile than the market and anything below is less volatile than the market.

Traders with a good grasp of trading volumes and volatility will have a solid foundation to start trading. However, before you do enter the market ensure you read our preparation guide below.

FTSE Trading Preparation

There are winners and losers in all financial markets trading. To give yourself the best chance at returning profit it is essential to prepare properly.

Wake Up Early

Starting your day right is key. The FTSE opening time is 08:00 GMT so be sure to give yourself enough time in the morning to wake up properly, grab a coffee, and check for overnight updates.

Read The News

All FTSE indexes are sensitive to news stories, whether that be financial market news (for example on Bloomberg News) or otherwise. News of new entrants or listings may also influence price movements.

The FTSE 100 will be impacted by major world events whereas the FTSE 250 and 350 may be more impacted by domestic issues. Make sure you’ve read the latest stories and thought about how this might affect your live FTSE trades. This may also allow you to set up a move as soon as the market opens off the back of that news.

A good example of this is the impact of Brexit on the FTSE value. The result of the Brexit vote was known on the night of the 23rd June 2016. When the market opened on 24th June the FTSE fell from 6,338.10 to 6,138.69. Well-prepared traders would have opened short positions on the FTSE to capitalise on this update.

Analyse Market Data

There are many different trading strategies that you can implement, some are FTSE specific and others can be adapted to other asset types like indices, futures, and options. Many traders investing in FTSE 100 or 250 companies use historical data or values to make future price predictions. This combined with chart, growth, and trend analysis can form the foundations of a good trading strategy.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the stock price rise last week will forecast gains the next week. A famous quote known in the investing world explained: “Past performance is no guarantee of future results”.

Set Up Your Charts

As discussed above, using charts are a key aspect of FTSE trading. Most platforms offer several customisable charts. This includes short-term charts such as 1 and 5-minute charts or charts which focus on the long-term. A FTSE chart with a longer time frame will provide an overview of market sentiment and a high-level summary of how a share is currently trending.

Traders may wish to implement specific trading strategies by drawing support and a resistance line on the graph. This will allow traders to judge at what price they want to enter or exit the market.

Alternatively, some platforms will offer automated FTSE trading which lowers the level of attention needed. A good example of this is a FTSE 100 day trading robot.

Start Trading

Once you have your charts set up and are comfortable with your strategy, you are ready to trade. Depending on your investing strategy, you should be able to identify when the market confirms your predictions. If you are day trading the FTSE, there may only be seconds between entering at a desired live price and missing the right rate, so you need to be ready. Longer-term investors like position traders may have to be patient for their share to hit the execute price. Regardless of your trading strategy, all investing should have an element of risk management.

Additional Tips

In addition to the steps above, FTSE traders can also do the following to capitalise on gainers and fallers:

  • Use FTSE forums and chat rooms to share trading ideas of future movers
  • Traders can order ebooks or download to PDF to increase knowledge of the financial markets
  • Watch online trading videos or enroll in courses. There are lots of FTSE educational materials that help traders cover topics such as how to read an index graph and how to review a dividend yield calculation to make a move.

Final Word On FTSE Trading

The outlook for the FTSE is hopeful. In the last 12 months, global financial markets have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, however, there is an expectation that the FTSE and other indexes will soon return to similar levels. The FTSE rankings will continue to change and there remains a good opportunity for traders to realise profits by following our guidance and making use of trading strategies and resources.

FAQ

What Are The Best Brokers To Trade The FTSE With?

There are many important qualities to consider when choosing a broker which have been listed above. More experienced traders may want a broker who offers a choice of platforms or additional features whereas beginners may want simplicity. Check out our list of broker recommendations here.

The UK FTSE, What Is It?

The FTSE is a collection of indexes that are made up of the top 600 companies (by market cap) traded on the London Stock Exchange. The main FTSE index is the FTSE 100 which includes the biggest 100 companies.

What Companies Are In The FTSE 100?

The top 100 companies on the LSE come from different sectors. The biggest players in the index typically include Shell, HSBC, British American Tobacco, and BP. These 4 companies account for more market capitalisation than the remaining 96.

How Do Companies Move From The FTSE 250 To The FTSE 100?

All companies are ranked by market cap every quarter. Companies are put into league tables and those in the top 90 will be promoted while those below 111th will be relegated.

Where Can I find The Biggest FTSE Risers And Fallers?

Brokers often provide a list of the biggest risers and fallers with relevant volume, volatility, and price data. Traders should also make use of stock screeners to compare different FTSE shares to trade.