🔹 Top U.S. Stock Indices
1. S&P 500
Symbol: US500 / SPX / $SPX
Tracks: 500 largest U.S. companies
Sector-diverse: Tech, finance, healthcare, etc.
Why trade it? Balanced, reflects U.S. economy, less volatile
Top holdings: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Alphabet
2. Dow Jones Industrial Average
Symbol: US30 / DJIA / $DJI
Tracks: 30 blue-chip U.S. companies
Price-weighted index (companies with higher share prices impact more)
Why trade it? Stable, blue-chip focused
Top holdings: Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson
3. NASDAQ 100
Symbol: NAS100 / NDX / $NDX
Tracks: 100 largest non-financial U.S. companies listed on NASDAQ
Tech-heavy index
Why trade it? High-growth, volatile, popular with traders
Top holdings: Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google, Nvidia
🔍 Comparison Table
| Index | Companies | Focus | Volatility | Trader Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 500 | Whole market | Medium | All |
| Dow Jones | 30 | Blue-chip | Low | Long-term |
| NASDAQ 100 | 100 | Tech/Growth | High | Active/day traders |
⏰ U.S. Indices Trading Hours (GMT+0)
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Pre-market | 09:00 – 13:30 |
| Regular market | 13:30 – 20:00 |
| After-hours | 20:00 – 00:00 |
⏳ Most volume and volatility happens during 13:30 – 16:00 GMT.
💡 What Moves U.S. Indices?
- ✅ Earnings reports (especially big tech)
- ✅ Economic data (GDP, inflation, jobs)
- ✅ Federal Reserve interest rate decisions
- ✅ Geopolitical events
- ✅ Investor sentiment / market psychology
📈 How to Trade U.S. Indices
- Index Futures (e.g., E-mini S&P 500)
🚀 Most Popular for Traders:
| Trader Type | Best Index |
|---|---|
| Scalper / Day Trader | NASDAQ 100 for big moves |
| Swing Trader | S&P 500 for steady trends |
| Investor / Position Trader | Dow / S&P 500 for stability |