Why trade Indices with us?

Reduced Risk

Reduce single-stock volatility by trading a basket of stocks to lower your risk1

Market Flexibility

Make short or long-term assumptions with a wide range of expirations

Cash Settlements

Play your index trade all the way up to expiration on select index products2

Diversified Exposure

Get exposure to multiple asset classes and sectors with index ETFs, index futures, and index options

Curated Watchlists

Keep up to date on index markets with over 15 index watchlists and their respective components

Market Awareness

Index futures can offer new insights regarding local and global financial markets, and the outlook for the upcoming trading session

WHAT INDEX PRODUCTS CAN I TRADE?

With tastytrade, you can trade an index (i.e. the S&P 500, NASDAQ100, VIX, and many more) on our innovative platform. Utilize different products for your portfolio – from cash-settled indices, ETFs, ETNs, index options, and futures – to suit your account size and risk tolerance.

INDEX OPTIONS

You can trade options on an index instead of speculating on individual components of the index using e.g. the SPX, VIX, SPC, RUT, DJX, RUT, VRO

INDEX FUTURES

Gain access to greater leverage3 when you trade index futures. Hedge your portfolio with equity index futures

INDEX ETFS

Diversify your portfolio with index ETFs (exchange-traded funds ETFs), a more capital efficient way of gaining exposure to a specific index

Trade indices and understand the fee structure

When trading indices with tastytrade, the fee structure is different from other option products.

Familiarize yourself with the fees and costs of trading indices:

SymbolDescriptionFee per contract

SPX

S&P 500

$0.65

RUT

Russell 2000

$0.18

VIX

CBOE Market Volatility Index

$0.65

OEX

S&P 100 (American-style exercise)

$0.40

XEO

S&P 100 (European- style exercise)

$0.40

DJX

Dow Jones Industrial Average 1/100

$0.18

XSP

Mini-SPX4

$0.00/$0.07

WHAT'S AN INDEX AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

An index is a basket of publicly listed companies’ stock, that captures an entire market or are specific to an industry sector, segment, a particular market or region. 

Indices work by giving you the opportunity to trade a basket of stocks in a specific index with each stock possibly having a different weight.

HOW TO TRADE INDICES

  1. Understand what an index is and how indices work
  2. Create a tastytrade account or log in
  3. Create a trading plan and a risk management strategy
  4. Open your index position, then monitor and close it

Apply for a trading account in minutes

  • DISCOVER A PLATFORM WITH EXECUTION FEATURES FOR VETERAN TRADERS AND NEWBIES

    Become familiar with our intuitive tastytrade platform and enjoy its flexibility and speed

  • BOOST YOUR TRADING KNOWLEDGE WITH INSIGHTS AND TRADE INSPIRATION

    Get access to curated watchlists for a broad overview of indices and get trade inspiration with the Follow Feed and video feed

  • GET PEACE OF MIND TRADING ON A RELIABLE PLATFORM

    Feel secure knowing you are trading on one of the fastest and most reliable trading platforms in the world


Trade indices YOUR WAY

Trade indices on a secure, fast and reliable platform. Get instant access to global markets and customize your trading needs with our innovative features.

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Desktop

An immersive trading experience with a simple, intuitive interface.

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Browser

Use our web platform on any browser. Manage accounts, fund, and trade in one place.

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Mobile

Stay on top of your trading while you’re on the move. Never miss a market minute.

1Volatility still exists with indices due to economic forecasts and occurrences such as natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical events.
2The non-quarterly options on equity indices futures do not settle to cash (they settle to the future).
3Leverage – Notional value/margin of 1 short option or 1 futures contract. Increased leverage can substantially increase risk and loss to your portfolio in the event of adverse market movements.
4XSP contract fees are as follows: $0.00 for less than 10 contracts per leg and $0.07 for 10 contracts per leg or more.

All investments involve risk of loss. Please carefully consider the risks associated with your investments and if such trading is suitable for you before deciding to trade certain products or strategies. You are solely responsible for making your investment and trading decisions and for evaluating the risks associated with your investments.


tastytrade, Inc. (“tastytrade”) does not provide investment, tax, or legal advice. tastytrade’s website and brokerage services are not intended for persons of any jurisdiction where tastytrade is not authorized to do business or where such products and other services offered by the tastytrade would be contrary to the securities regulations, futures regulations or other local laws and regulations of that jurisdiction. Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors as the special risks inherent to options trading may expose investors to potentially significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before deciding to invest in options.

Futures accounts are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). All customer futures accounts’ positions and cash balances are segregated by Apex Clearing Corporation. Futures and futures options trading is speculative and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Futures & Exchange-Traded Options Risk Disclosure Statement prior to trading futures products.

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