Markets Long Form Article Hero Gradient

Our top markets

We offer an extensive range of markets on which you can spread bet and trade CFDs. Here’s a breakdown of our most popular markets, divided by asset class.
Top indices  Top FX pairs  Top equities Top commodities Top metals

Volatility disclaimer  FAQ

Top indices

Market Description Volatility*

UK 100

The UK 100, also known as the FTSE 100, is one of the most widely used metrics when evaluating the UK economy's performance. The index comprises the largest companies in the UK in terms of market capitalisation, with larger companies holding more influence on the index's price. In the UK, the largest companies are usually found in the mining, energy (particularly oil and gas) and financial services sectors.

14

Wall Street

Wall Street, also known as the Dow Jones, is one of the most widely recognized stock market indices in the world. Historically, the index was created to track the movements of the largest industrial companies in America, however it is now comprised of 30 companies from all different sectors.

As an index with a price-weighted average, a higher-priced stock will have greater influence. The index includes worldwide household names such as Intel, Exxon Mobil and Goldman Sachs.

16

US SP 500

The US SP 500 (S&P 500 underlying) is an index that tracks the largest 500 companies in the United States and is one of the most widely followed indices in the world. Regarded as the best gauge of large-cap equities, the SP 500 offers a picture of the US stock market and the broader economy, including household names such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and JPMorgan Chase.

17.2

Germany 40

The Germany 40 index consists of the biggest companies traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The size of the listed company is determined by book value and market capitalisation.

Currently, the DAX index is dominated by financial, automotive, healthcare and chemicals sectors such as Allianz, BMW, Bayer and Siemens. Its sheer size ensures that it is a very dominant index in Europe and can carry some influence over its neighbours.

16.7

Japan 225

The Nikkei (Japan 225) is the leading and most-respected index of Japanese stocks and comprises Japan's top 225 blue-chip companies traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Nikkei is equivalent to the Dow Jones (Wall Street) index in the USA and serves as a barometer of the Japanese economy as a whole.

19.7

Top FX pairs

Market Description Volatility*

GBP/USD

Also known as cable, GBP/USD is a staple for many FX traders and is one of the oldest exchanges in FX trading history, and once was the most-traded forex pair in the world. It still ranks among the highest today. Historically, the pound and the US dollar have been the main currencies by which many other nations have valued their own money.

8.6

EUR/USD

As two of the world’s most used currencies, EUR/USD is the world’s most-traded currency pair. It consistently offers traders tight spreads and constant liquidity as it represents the value of the US dollar per one euro. The European Union represents the world’s largest economic region with a GDP of over $13 trillion.

6.81

USD/JPY

USD/JPY is a forex pair that puts the US dollar against the Japanese yen, telling you how many yen it takes to buy a single US dollar. It is one of the most-traded currency pairs globally and is sometimes called the ‘gopher’ by FX traders.

The biggest difference between USD/JPY and the other major pairs is the value of the yen, which is much lower than the other major currencies. Because of this, a pip on USD/JPY is valued as 1% of a single yen, instead of 0.01% as with other pairs.

The yen is seen as a ‘safe haven’ currency among traders, so may rise in turbulent economic times.

9.15

EUR/GBP

The euro (EUR) against the British pound (GBP) is one of the most-traded currency pairs worldwide because it compares two significant economies against each other: the European Union and the United Kingdom. This pair has come into focus more and more in recent years as the Brexit vote and process heavily impacted both currencies involved.

6.5

Top equities

Market Description Volatility*

Barclays

Barclays (LON:BARC) is a UK multinational bank, and the fifth largest bank in Europe by total assets. It operates in retail banking, wealth management, corporate banking and investing, split across its two divisions: Barclays UK and Barclays International.

The bank has two stock listings: a primary one on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). It is a constituent of the FTSE 100 stock index. You can trade Barclays shares as a CFD with City Index.

The company was founded in 1690 in the City of London, although it took on its present form and the name Barclays in 1896.

28

Tesla

Tesla Inc is a pioneering US-based automobile company founded in 2003. As of January 2021, the company has introduced four battery-run models to the global market, grown revenues to more than $25 billion, and seen its market capitalisation surge to more than $800 billion from around $1.7 billion on IPO in 2010.

53

Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank is a leading German multinational investment bank dual-listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange.

36

Citigroup

Citigroup is a global financial services institution and the third largest bank in the US. 26.5

Top commodities

Market Description Volatility*

UK Crude Oil

UK Crude Oil is City Index’s market based on the live price of Brent Crude, the world’s leading oil benchmark alongside WTI. It enables you to take your position on Brent Crude’s price movements, without needing an account with a futures broker.

Brent Crude is oil that is drilled from North Sea fields. Like WTI, it is a light, sweet crude which means it is easily refinable and therefore sought after. Brent Crude makes up over half of the oil traded globally, and its futures are traded on the InterContinental Exchange (ICE) in London.

34.6

US Crude Oil

US Crude Oil – also known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – is a major oil benchmark that represents a light sweet oil drilled in the United States. Its price often moves in line with UK Crude Oil, also known as Brent Crude.

WTI is an easily refined oil, making it attractive among investors and traders. Its price forms the basis of futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

US Crude's price is often quoted alongside that of UK Crude. The difference between the two is referred to as the WTI-Brent spread.

34.5

Coffee C

Coffee C is the benchmark for Arabica futures and options. It’s the world’s leading coffee commodity market and is used to price Arabica coffee across the world.

Coffee is often regarded as the most important export commodity after crude oil. Although there are many different varieties of coffee, only two are of economic importance: Coffea Arabica and Coffea Robusta. Today, more than 60% of the world’s coffee output is Arabica.

The demand for coffee is relatively constant, so the market price is influenced primarily by supply-side factors, such as the weather conditions and political situations in producer countries.

32.6

Top metals

Market Description Volatility*

Gold

The gold price is followed around the world as the precious metal continues to be highly valued by investors, consumers and companies. It was used for millennia as a currency, but even after the fiat-based system was introduced, gold remains a store of value and a ‘safe haven’ during periods of economic decline.
As well as being a popular investment, gold is used in industries ranging from medicine to technology.

Typically, the gold price is quoted in US Dollars, which means it has an inverse relationship with the currency. Gold is regularly traded as a currency pair in the format XAU/USD – Au being the symbol for gold on the periodic table.

15

Silver

Silver is a metal that functions both as a ‘safe haven’ and a popular commodity on futures markets. Its demand stems from its value as an enduring precious metal and practical applications for electronics, tableware and jewellery.

Silver prices are affected by supply and demand. The metal is especially constrained by the status of silver mines primarily located in Mexico and Poland.

28.6

12-month volatility rating

* This volatility rating is the implied volatility for a 12 month period. For example, if a market is priced at USD 100, and has a volatility rating of +/- 30%, this suggests the market may have a potential range of USD 70 - USD 130 over a year. Volatility ratings are indicators only and true volatility can not be predicted.

Opening a trading account FAQ

Is there a minimum deposit size?

While there are no minimum deposits with City Index accounts, we recommend that you deposit an amount which is enough to substantially cover the margin requirement of your first trade. It is prudent to also have enough equity in your account to sustain any significant moves against your position.

The minimum deposit limit for each transaction depends on the funding method:

  • Card - 100 units of the base currency (GBP; USD; EUR; PLN; CHF)
  • PayPal - 50 units of the base currency (GBP; USD; EUR)
  • Bank wire - No min limit
Was this answer helpful?

How do I apply for an account?

Applying for a financial spread betting and CFD trading account is quick and easy.

You can apply now in a matter of minutes by completing our simple and secure online application form.

If you would like to find out more about Professional trader status, you can do so here.

As an FCA-regulated business, we are required to ensure that our products are suitable for applicants. We will ask you questions about:

  • Your personal details
  • Which products you want to trade in your account (spread betting, CFDs or both)
  • Your financial status
  • Your trading experience

It is important that you answer the questions accurately as it may impact your ability to open an account.

Was this answer helpful?

Do I need a lot of money to open an account?

Your application will be considered based on your individual circumstances; these include both income and savings. There is no minimum deposit to open an account, but we suggest starting with at least £100.

Was this answer helpful?

Can I apply from outside of the UK?

Applications are considered from any country; however for certain countries additional documentation may be required in order to verify your identity.

There are certain countries (e.g. USA & Canada), whose citizens would be unable to open an account with us due to their domestic financial regulations. However, this is very rare and the vast majority of countries are eligible.

If you apply from the EU, you will be redirected to our EU entity to open an account.

Open your City Index account.

Was this answer helpful?

Do I need any experience to open an account?

It is important that you understand the risks involved in trading before you open an account. We strongly encourage new traders to practise using a demo account and educate themselves on how to minimise risk using the education tools available on this website. As part of our suitability criteria, you will have to complete a short questionnaire in order to ensure that our products are suitable for you.

If you think you’re ready for a live account, open one here.

Was this answer helpful?

What do I need to verify my account?

In the majority of cases we can verify your details electronically so you won't need to supply additional documentation. But if we can't confirm your identity electronically (for example, if you've moved house recently), we'll ask you to provide documentation via email.

Was this answer helpful?

How do I make my first deposit?

Funding your account is secure, fast and free*. We accept credit or debit card, bank transfer or PayPal.

*Your issuer may charge you for credit card deposits

Was this answer helpful?

If you have more questions visit the FAQ section or start a chat with our support.