From Monday 18 January we are pleased to announce extended trading hours plus lower spreads and margins across a range of our most popular CFD markets.
24-hour trading without breaks
PureDeal, our browser-based online trading platform, offers CFD trading opportunities across the largest range of 24-hour stock index markets. In addition to Wall Street, the FTSE 100 and all the leading European stock indices, we’re now extending around-the-clock trading to many other leading markets.
Starting 18 January, you will now be able to trade stock index CFDs 24 hours a day with no breaks on the Australia 200*, US SPX500, US Tech 100 and Japan 225. That’s continuous stock index trading from 10am AEDT Monday until 8.15am AEDT Saturday. This takes the number of stock indices you can trade continuously to 14, which is more than any other CFD provider.
It also means that you can take advantage of all the early morning news, including our Morning Prices and Market Update. You no longer have to wait until 9.50am (AEDT) to place your trades on the Australia 200 Index.
The extended trading hours also include some public holidays, such as the upcoming Australia Day and the Martin Luther King Day (for the US on Monday 18 January). So this Monday, when the overnight Australian market would normally be closed, IG Markets will continue to offer the Australia 200 Index throughout the US public holiday.
Please note, this also means that stops and limits can be filled at any time during these hours.
* The Australia 200 will be quoted from 09.50am AEDT Monday until 8.00am AEDT Saturday.
Reduced trading spreads and margins
We will be offering even tighter spreads on a number of stock indices, commodities and interest rate futures. We are also reducing the margin requirements for Trader Account holders on a number of popular stock indices and commodities.
Margin requirements
We have cut the margin requirements for Trader Account holders on a number of leading stock indices (including a reduction of 20% on the Australia 200 Index) and two of our most popular commodities, Silver and US Light Crude Oil. From the 18 January, you can now open positions across most of our markets with smaller deposits thereby providing a greater potential return relative to your initial outlay.
| Market |
Current | New | Market | Current | New |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Indices – Mini contracts | |||||
| Australia 200 | $250 | $200 | France 40 | E80 | E60 |
| FTSE 100 | £120 | £80 | Germany 30 | E300 | E200 |
| Italy 40 | E350 | E250 | Japan 225 | US$150 | US$100 |
| Spain 35 | E400 | E300 | US SPX 500 | US$500 | US$400 |
| US Tech 100 | US$400 | US$300 | Wall Street | US$200 | US$160 |
| Commodities– Mini contracts | |||||
| Silver | US$600 | US$500 | Crude Oil, Light (US) | US$1,000 | US$750 |
Trading Spreads
We've also made pricing improvements on our trading spreads. The table below lays out our in-hours changes. In addition, Wall Street is now available on our in-hours spread from 7pm AEDT instead of 1.30am, through to 8am.
| Market |
Current | New | Market | Current | New |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Indices – Cash markets | |||||
| Hong Kong HS42 | 20 | 12 | Spain 35 | 8 | 5 |
| Sweden 30 | 0.7 | 0.5 | Switzerland Blue-Chip | 7 | 4 |
| US Russ2000 | 0.5 | 0.3 | US SPX500 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| US Tech 100 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Commodities | |||||
| Copper - High Grade | 80 | 40 | Corn | 2 | 1 |
| Cotton | 30 | 25 | Gold | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Lean Hogs | 40 | 15 | Oats | 2 | 1 |
| Silver | 4 | 3 | Sugar No. 11 World | 6 | 5 |
| Sugar No. 5 (London) | 1 | 0.8 | Wheat (Chicago) | 2 | 1 |
| Rates and Bonds | |||||
| Gilt | 4 | 2 | German BOBL | 4 | 2 |
| German BUXL | 4 | 2 | German Schatz | 4 | 2 |
| T-Bond (Decimalised) | 6 | 4 | 10-yr T-Note | 6 | 4 |
| 5-yr T-Note | 6 | 4 | 2-yr T-Note | 6 | 4 |
Range of markets
In tandem with our unparalleled range of markets, we offer a number of innovative trading tools, including Trailing Stops and Guaranteed Stops. We also continue to provide integrated live news from Reuters and cutting-edge charting solutions available at a single click of the mouse.
Updated: 15/01/10