SIX Swiss Exchange
SIX Swiss Exchange brokers give traders access to one of Europe’s largest stock exchanges, hosting some of the biggest European companies, including Nestle and Roche. In this 2026 guide, we cover how to trade on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the different instruments available. Our team also rank the top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers.
Best UK Brokers For SIX Swiss Exchange Trading
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Established in 1974, IG is a unit of IG Group Holdings Plc, listed on the LSE as IGG. It provides access to over 17,000 markets through intuitive platforms and apps. For half a century, IG has remained an industry leader, excelling in all vital aspects for traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only) CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) -
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, CMF, Bappebti xStation Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
Spreadex, regulated by the FCA, provides spread betting across 10,000+ CFD instruments, including 60 forex pairs. Traders have the option to engage in short-term positions on sporting events as well. With a history exceeding 20 years, the company has earned numerous accolades.
Instruments Regulator Platforms Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting FCA Spreadex Platform, TradingView, AutoChartist Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage £0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) £0.01 1:30 -
Trade Nation is a leading FX and CFD broker regulated in the UK and Australia, among other places. The company provides competitively priced fixed and variable spreads on over 1,000 assets. Traders benefit from advanced platforms and comprehensive training materials. Additionally, the Signal Centre offers valuable trade ideas.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting (UK and Ireland only), Cryptos (Bahamas entity only) FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA TN Trader, MT4, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.1 Lots 1:30 -
Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 830,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,400+ 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, helping to ensure a secure environment for traders at all levels.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto CFDs (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, SCB, CMA-Kenya Pepperstone Trading Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya) -
Eightcap, an acclaimed broker regulated by the FCA, offers exceptionally low trading costs. Recognised as the top-rated brand by TradingView's vast user base of 100 million, traders can directly access the platform. UK traders can open a live account with a minimum deposit of just £100.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs in Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage £100 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
eToro is a leading multi-asset platform providing trading services across numerous CFDs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Since its 2007 inception, it has attracted millions of traders worldwide. It operates with authorisation from top regulators such as the FCA and CySEC. Its social trading feature is especially well-regarded. Crypto investments are high-risk and possibly unsuitable for retail investors. There's a potential to lose all invested capital. Familiarise yourself with the risks. 61% of retail CFD accounts incur losses.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs FCA, CySEC, MiCA, MFSA, FSRA, ASIC, FSAS, MAS, GFSC eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $50 $10 1:30
IG
XTB
Spreadex
Trade Nation
Pepperstone
Eightcap
eToroSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the SIX Swiss Exchange are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Spreadex | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Trade Nation | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| eToro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the SIX Swiss Exchange support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Spreadex | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Trade Nation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| eToro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the SIX Swiss Exchange at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| XTB | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Spreadex | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Trade Nation | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Pepperstone | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Eightcap | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| eToro | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the SIX Swiss Exchange good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Support Rating | Education Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| XTB | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Spreadex | ✘ | £0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) | £0.01 | ||
| Trade Nation | ✔ | $0 | 0.1 Lots | ||
| Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Eightcap | ✔ | £100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| eToro | ✔ | $50 | $10 |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the SIX Swiss Exchange offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| XTB | - | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Spreadex | ✘ | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Trade Nation | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Pepperstone | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya) | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Eightcap | TradingView Bots | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| 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 SIX Swiss Exchange.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | |||||||||
| XTB | |||||||||
| Spreadex | |||||||||
| Trade Nation | |||||||||
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| Eightcap | |||||||||
| eToro |
Our Take On IG
"IG offers a complete package: an easy-to-use web platform, top-tier beginner education, enhanced charting via TradingView, up-to-date data, and strong trade execution for seasoned traders."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- IG provides a wide range of professional and engaging educational materials, such as webinars, articles, and analyses, tailored for traders.
- The IG app provides an excellent mobile trading experience with an intuitive design, earning it the Runner Up position in our 'Best Trading App' award.
- IG secured a crypto asset license from the FCA, enabling its return to the UK market. It now offers buying, selling, and storage services for over 55 digital tokens with fees starting at 1.49%, all under FCA regulation.
Cons
- IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
- Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
- IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 to $18 after two years, discouraging occasional investors.
Our Take On XTB
"XTB excels for novice traders with its superb xStation platform, minimal trading costs, no required deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are fully integrated into the platform."William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- XTB processes withdrawals swiftly, paying within 3 business days, subject to the method and amount.
- XTB has raised interest rates on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs (for ETFs and real shares, or 0.2% on trades over €100k) for UK clients, offering access to a wide array of markets.
- XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
Cons
- Trading fees are competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads of about 1 pip. However, they are not as low as the most affordable brokers, such as IC Markets. Additionally, an inactivity fee applies after a year.
- XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
- XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
Our Take On Spreadex
"Spreadex attracts UK traders keen on spread betting in financial markets and traditional sports wagers. It offers low fees for short trades, and spread bet profits are tax-free. With a robust charting platform and no minimum deposit, it's easy to begin."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Spreadex has integrated Autochartist-powered trading signals into its desktop platform. This offers real-time, pattern-based insights aimed at assisting active traders in spotting potential opportunities.
- Our fee analysis shows the EUR/USD at 0.6 pips during off-peak hours. FTSE and S&P 500 spreads remain competitively priced for spread-betting brokers. Trading costs are reasonable.
- From testing, the platform facilitates seamless active trading. Features like one-click trading, watchlists, and saved layouts functioned effectively, including Force Open. Constructing a tidy workspace and handling short-term trades proved straightforward.
Cons
- CFDs, financial spread bets, sports, and casino activities are combined in one account balance. For serious traders, this means non-trading losses can immediately decrease the margin for trading positions.
- Execution is satisfactory, though not top-tier. Tests showed 0.2–0.4 pip slippage in stable liquid markets, but news-induced volatility increased some fills to around 1 pip. Thinner AIM stocks often experienced 2–4 point slippage.
- Spreadex requires real funds initially, offering no demo accounts. Few spread betting brokers neglect to accommodate new traders in this manner.
Our Take On Trade Nation
"Trade Nation caters to discretionary traders aiming to speculate on major indices like the US 500 or liquid FX pairs, with the certainty of fixed spreads. Our tests revealed the TN Trader's fixed spreads to be advantageous, especially during economic announcements, thanks to its dependable charting and capped spreads."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- The broker expanded into Europe by launching regulated online trading services, after securing authorization from Portugal's CVMV, enhancing safety measures for European residents.
- Trade Nation's 2026 alliance with Volt has streamlined payments for Australian traders, enabling instant deposits and withdrawals via PayID. Faster payout features are also anticipated for UK and EU clients.
- During tests of the TN Trader account in standard market conditions, fixed spreads remained stable. Major forex pairs experienced prompt order fills, albeit with slight entry level drift as prices fluctuated between click and execution.
Cons
- The FCA, CMVM, and ASIC clients are ineligible for the 2–20% rebate scheme. Consequently, active traders in these areas cannot receive transaction rebates.
- Offshore SCB and FSA firms offer retail investors leverage up to 1:200 and 1:500. In contrast, regions like the UK, Europe, and Australia cap leverage at 1:30. Thus, an FSA client can access 16 times more exposure than a UK retail client on identical trades. However, this comes with reduced oversight and no compensation schemes.
- Withdrawals may take up to five business days, aligning with industry norms. However, this is slower compared to the 1-3 days many brokers now offer to minimise complaints from retail investors.
Our Take On Pepperstone
"Pepperstone excels in trading with tight spreads, swift execution, and advanced charting for seasoned traders. Beginners enjoy zero minimum deposit, comprehensive educational materials, and outstanding 24/5 support, including 18-hour weekend assistance."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Recognised customer support is accessible through phone, email, or live chat, with response times under five minutes. Service agents are friendly and well-versed in products and trading tools.
- Support for top-tier charting platforms such as MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader. These tools accommodate different short-term trading methods, including algorithmic trading.
- By integrating spread betting via TradingView, Pepperstone offers a streamlined, tax-efficient trading platform with sophisticated analysis tools for financial spread bettors in eligible countries.
Cons
- Execution might not appear as dependable in rapid markets as headline speeds imply. Our tests showed swift execution at targeted prices. However, community feedback highlights concerns over slippage, stop-loss fills, and order triggers sensitive to spreads amid volatility.
- Overnight holding fees exceed those of some Market Maker brokers (typically Benchmark + 2.5%). Pepperstone suits traders and forex scalpers well but is less ideal for swing traders who keep positions open overnight.
- Pepperstone has withdrawn support for key tools enhancing the trading experience for active retail traders, including Autochartist, Capitalise.ai, and a free VPS, now limited to pro traders in certain countries.
Our Take On Eightcap
"Eightcap excels for traders, offering diverse charting platforms, educational Labs, and AI tools. With over 120 crypto CFDs, it stands out in crypto trading and has won our 'Best Crypto Broker' award twice consecutively."William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- Eightcap offers competitive trading with tight spreads starting from 0 pips and low commission fees. These affordable and adaptable conditions suit various strategies, including trading and scalping.
- Eightcap Challenges, the broker's proprietary trading firm, operates under multiple regulations, eliminating the third-party risks typical of white-label firms. It offers tailored funded accounts for crypto traders with approximately 150 crypto pairs and is integrated with the TradingView platform.
- In 2021, Eightcap enhanced its lineup, now providing an extensive range of cryptocurrency CFDs. It offers crypto/fiat and crypto/crypto pairs, along with crypto indices for comprehensive market exposure.
Cons
- Despite the growing range of tools available, Eightcap lacks popular industry resources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. These provide advanced charting analytics, live news, and essential market insights for traders focused on short-term strategies.
- Eightcap must enhance its range of over 800 instruments to rival top competitors like Blackbull Markets, which offers 26,000+ assets, especially improving its limited commodities selection.
- Despite a helpful array of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap lags behind IG's extensive resources for aspiring traders. IG boasts a dedicated Academy app and features 18 diverse course categories.
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."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- There is an extensive online training academy offering a range of accessible resources, from concise articles to detailed courses.
- The entry requirements for eToro Club have been reduced. For $4.99 monthly, members enjoy 18 benefits, including a debit card that converts purchases into stocks with a 4% share return.
- eToro has enhanced its investment portfolio by frequently introducing new crypto assets. It currently offers a selection of over 100 digital currencies.
Cons
- The absence of extra charting platforms such as MT4 may deter experienced traders who rely on external software.
- The minimum withdrawal is set at $30, accompanied by a $5 fee. This may impact traders with limited funds, particularly those just starting out.
- There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.
Choosing SIX Swiss Exchange Brokers
Below, we cover the key factors to consider when comparing SIX Swiss Exchange brokers:
Instruments
The assets and product types that each brokerage offers are different. For example, if you are looking to trade through an HSBC investment account then you can gain direct access to buying equities on the Swiss Exchange.
On the other hand, if you are looking for CFD trading then you could look towards a broker like Pepperstone, which offers SMI 20 CFD instruments. Contracts for difference are popular with short-term traders looking to go long or short on a market with leverage.
Fees
Fees can quickly add up and diminish any profits when investing on the SIX Swiss, or indeed any, exchange and brokers charge fees differently. Some firms charge through commissions on trades, others through wider spreads and swap fees.
However, finding a broker with the cheapest fees may come at the price of limited safety features or fewer additional services. Therefore, you should try to find a broker that offers all your required features with the lowest fees.
Platforms
The platform is where you will spend time executing trades and managing your portfolio. Some SIX Swiss Exchange brokers, such as IG, offer advanced investing features through bespoke platforms, as well as third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4. These give users plenty of technical tools to implement more complex trading strategies and analyse a range of markets.
Finding the platform that suits your style will be key to enhancing your investing experience. Most top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers offer free demo accounts to allow you to practise using their platforms within a virtual environment. This is a great way to test platforms and firms without risking capital.
Regulation
SIX Swiss Exchange brokers that are overseen by strict regulatory bodies are recommended. This is especially true for those regulated by top agencies like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the UK.
Regulated brokers must follow strict rules that protect their clients from scams, fraud and financial foul play.
Negative balance protection, compensation schemes and segregated funds are key features that you should look for to maximise your safety when choosing SIX Swiss Exchange brokers.
What Is The SIX Swiss Exchange?
The SIX Swiss Exchange is Switzerland’s main stock exchange and is based in Zurich. The exchange is completely owned by the SIX Group, an unlisted public limited company owned by 122 financial institutions and banks. It was formerly known as the SWX Swiss Exchange.
The exchange came about after the Geneva Stock Exchange, Basel Stock Exchange and Zurich Stock Exchange merged in 1993. The SIX Swiss took over trading in 1995 and was the first to use automated trading, clearing and settlement.
SIX Swiss Exchange brokers facilitate the trading of stocks and other securities like derivatives and Swiss government bonds within and beyond Switzerland. The exchange uses the Swiss franc (CHF) as its base currency and has a market capitalisation of roughly £993 billion in 2023.
The SIX Swiss Exchange is the 12th largest exchange in the world by market cap.
History
The current SIX Swiss Exchange came about due to the culmination and merging of multiple exchanges.
The first Swiss exchanges were created in the 1850s with the founding of the United Brokers Association. The trading floor opened in 1855 and the Basler Borse followed in the next couple of decades in Basel and Zurich. The Berne Exchange was then founded in 1884. Other smaller exchanges also opened up in these decades.
Exchanges were mostly closed in Switzerland during the First World War, apart from bond trading in Geneva. Later, after the Great Depression, new federal banking laws were introduced that ensured greater due diligence and permission to do banking activities by the FINMA. As a result, Swiss exchanges had to unite under a securities exchange association to set up a registration office.
After the Second World War, exchange trading banking fees were unified and revenues hit highs during the 1950s. In 1993, the Geneva Stock Exchange, Basel Stock Exchange and Zurich stock exchange merged into the SWX Swiss Exchange.
In the late 1990s, the Swiss exchange was dominated by food, pharmaceutical and financial companies. The dot-com bubble bursting had a heavy impact on Swiss stocks, causing indices to tumble more than 20% compared to the country’s previous peaks.
In 2007, the SWX Group, SIS Group and Telekurs Group announced their merger into the Swiss Financial Market Services AG. The merger happened in 2008, with the company being renamed SIX Group AG. This was also when the SWX Swiss Exchange changed its name to the SIX Swiss Exchange.
SMI Chart
Market Segments
Over 60,000 securities are available on the SIX Swiss Exchange across a range of products, including equities, bonds, ETFs, ETPs, structured products, mutual funds and sponsored funds. The exchange also has a host of indices, which track different collections of financial instruments.
The SIX Swiss Exchange hosts two of the three largest blue chips in Europe, alongside 20 cryptocurrencies and over 250 crypto products.
- Equities – There are over 250 major equities available, including Nestle, Roche and Novartis.
- Bonds – There are more than 2,100 international bonds admitted to trading on the Swiss Stock Exchange, including straight bonds, floating-rate notes, convertibles, asset-backed securities and loan participation notes.
- ETFs – Its first ETF was listed in 2000, with around 1,600 now available from 27 issuers.
- ETPs – Available on the exchange since 2010. Stock and commodity ETPs are available, as well as the newly introduced cryptocurrency ETPs.
- Mutual Funds – The investment funds segment gives you access to over 500 mutual funds, with a wide selection of focuses, including biotechnology, dividends and volatility.
- Structured Products – Over 50,000 structured products are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The exchange ensures products that have passed through the SER (SIX Exchange Regulation) can be traded on the exchange.
Note, online brokers do not typically offer access to all of these products.
Indices
SIX Swiss Exchange brokers may offer a selection of indices covering various categories. These include equity, bond, strategy, real estate and customised indices. The most impactful of these are the SMI, the Swiss Market Index, and the SPI, the Swiss Performance Index.
- SPI – The Swiss Performance Index is a total-return index that follows the equities on the SIX Swiss Exchange that have a free float of at least 20%. This covers large, mid and small-cap companies and weights them by market capitalisation. It is the most followed performance index of the SIX Swiss Exchange.
- SMI – The Swiss Market Index is Switzerland’s blue-chip stock market index. It tracks the 20 largest and most liquid Swiss Performance Index stocks. These stocks make up 85-90% of the total SIX Swiss Exchange trading turnover.
Largest Stocks
The SIX Swiss Exchange hosts some of the largest European companies by market cap:
- Nestle – Approx £168 billion
- Novartis – Approx £150 billion
- Roche – Approx £156 billion
- Richemont – Approx £64 billion
- Zurich Insurance – Approx £59.4 billion
- UBS Group – Approx £56 billion
- ABB Ltd – Approx £44 billion
- Lonza – Approx £36 billion
- Sika – Approx £35 billion
- Holcim – Approx £28 billion
Trading Hours
The SIX Swiss Exchange trades on Central European Time (CET), GMT +1. This changes to CEST (GMT +2) during the Summer months.
Each trading day lasts from 06:00 to 22:00 CET, Monday through Friday. However, active trading opens at 09:00 am and closes at 17:40 pm (CET). There is also a post-trading period between 18:15 pm to 22:00 pm (CET).
Note that not all SIX Swiss Exchange brokers facilitate the post-trading period, thus opening hours may vary.
SIX Swiss Exchange Market Holidays
The SIX Swiss Exchange generally has nine market holidays, including New Year’s Day, Easter, Labour Day, Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day. In 2023, these are:
- New Year’s Day – January 2
- Good Friday – April 7
- Easter – April 10
- Labour Day – May 1
- Ascension Day – May 18
- Pentecost – May 29
- National Day – August 1
- Christmas – December 25
- St. Stephen’s Day – December 26
Note, the exact dates may change from year-to-year.
Bottom Line On The SIX Swiss Exchange
The SIX Swiss Exchange is an important European exchange and is home to some influential stocks. Its prominence in the extended European and Western markets makes it a prime exchange for UK investors. Furthermore, there is a wide range of available assets, extending from indices, ETFs and shares to newly-conceived crypto-based ETPs.
Refer to our list of the best SIX Swiss Exchange brokers to start trading.
FAQ
Can UK Investors Trade On The SIX Swiss Exchange?
Yes, there are UK brokers that provide access to SIX Swiss Exchange financial instruments. There are a limited number of brokers that provide direct access to buying and selling stocks on the exchanges, mostly comprising banks and financial institutions like Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Securities.
However, there are online brokers that provide CFD trading opportunities, including those of the popular SMI indices, like Pepperstone and IG Index.
What Are The Most Popular SIX Swiss Exchange Indices?
The most popular indices of the SIX Swiss Exchange are the SPI and its derivative indices (particularly the SMI). The Swiss Performance Index is the most popular, tracking equities with a free float of over 20%. It is a total-return index covering companies of small, mid and large caps and is weighted by market capitalisation. It is used as a benchmark for many ETFs, index funds and mutual funds and as an underlying index for many derivative contracts.
The Swiss Market Index is Switzerland’s blue-chip stock market index, following the 20 largest SPI stocks. These companies represent approximately 70% of the free float Swiss equity market capitalisation and is thus a popular index to follow.
What Are The SIX Swiss Exchange Trading Hours?
The SIX Swiss Exchange runs on CET or CEST (GMT +1 / GMT +2). The main opening hours are 08:00 to 16:40 GMT, while post-trading hours run from 17:15 to 21:00 GMT.
What Is The Best SIX Swiss Exchange Broker?
There is no best broker that will suit every trader’s needs. If you are looking to speculate via index CFDs then you can trade with online SIX Swiss Exchange brokers like Pepperstone. However, firms offer different trading platforms and fee structures. Use our guide to find the right brokerage with access to the SIX Swiss Exchange for your needs.
How Many Market Holidays Does The SIX Swiss Exchange Have?
The SIX Swiss Exchange typically has nine market holidays, including New Year’s Day, Labour Day and Christmas. Switzerland-specific holidays are also included, like the Swiss National Day. See our article for a list of all SIX Swiss Exchange market holidays.