Outside the US, a handful of indices attract most of the trading. Each follows its own economy and its own hours, but all of them react to what Wall Street did overnight, and Wall Street often reacts to what they did first.
| Index | Country | Constituents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAX | Germany | 40 | Europe's most traded index; heavy in industrials and exporters |
| FTSE 100 | UK | 100 | Many global firms; sensitive to commodities and the pound |
| Euro Stoxx 50 | Eurozone | 50 | The eurozone's blue-chip benchmark |
| CAC 40 | France | 40 | Luxury goods and banks are large weights |
| Nikkei 225 | Japan | 225 | Price-weighted; moves inversely to the yen at times |
| Hang Seng | Hong Kong | Around 80 | China-linked; reacts to Chinese policy news |
How they connect
- The handover: Asian markets react to the previous US close; Europe reacts to Asia and US futures; the US reacts to Europe.
- Currency effects: a weaker yen tends to help the Nikkei (exporters earn more), and a weaker pound often helps the FTSE 100.
- Overlap: the DAX and FTSE are most active at their own open and again when US data and the US cash open arrive.
Trading them
Retail traders usually access these through index CFDs (named things like GER40, UK100 or JP225) or through futures such as the FDAX on Eurex. CFD names and contract sizes vary by broker, so check the specification before you trade.
Key takeaways
- The main non-US indices are the DAX, FTSE 100, Euro Stoxx 50, CAC 40, Nikkei 225 and Hang Seng.
- Each has its own cash hours; markets hand over from Asia to Europe to the US.
- Currencies affect export-heavy indices such as the Nikkei and FTSE 100.
- Most retail traders use broker CFDs with their own names and contract sizes; check the spec.