Dow Jones

Dow Jones brokers facilitate access to the firm founded in 1882 by Charles Dow, Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser. Over the next century, the company grew into one of the biggest players in the financial and business news industry. The firm has also created various market averages, the most famous of these being the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). Today, a long list of online traders turn to Dow Jones brokers to speculate on some of the world’s leading companies, including Apple and Microsoft.

This article will guide you through the information you need to know about trading on the Dow Jones, alongside its comprehensive history, popular trading strategies, and more. We also list the best brokers with access to the Dow Jones in 2024.

Dow Jones Brokers

These are the 5 best brokers for trading on the Dow Jones:

#1 - FOREX.com

Why We Chose FOREX.com

Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: Forex, Spot Metals
  • Regulator: NFA, CFTC
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
  • Leverage: 1:50

Pros

  • There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
  • Alongside a choice of leading platforms, FOREX.com offers a superb suite of supplementary tools including Trading Central research, SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.
  • The in-house Web Trader continues to shine as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring day traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.

Cons

  • Despite increasing its range of instruments, FOREX.com's product portfolio is still limited to forex and CFDs, so there are no options to invest in real stocks, real ETFs or real cryptocurrencies.
  • Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
  • FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.

#2 - eToro USA

Why We Chose eToro USA

eToro is a social investing platform that offers short-term and long-term trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto. The broker is well-known for its user-friendly community-centred platform and competitive fees. With FINRA and SIPC oversight and millions of users across the world, eToro is still one of the most respected brands in the industry. eToro securities trading is offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc.

"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto
  • Regulator: SEC, FINRA
  • Platforms: eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
  • Minimum Deposit: $10
  • Minimum Trade: $10

Pros

  • The online broker offers an intuitive social investment network with straightforward copy trading on cryptos
  • The $10 minimum deposit and straightforward account opening process means beginners can get started quickly
  • The broker's Academy offers comprehensive learning materials for beginners to advanced-level investors

Cons

  • There's no MetaTrader 4 platform integration for traders who are accustomed to using third-party charting tools
  • Average fees may cut into the profit margins of day traders
  • There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos

#3 - DNA Markets

Why We Chose DNA Markets

DNA Markets is a forex and CFD broker established in 2020. The broker operates two entities in Australia and the offshore jurisdiction, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Traders can access 250+ markets, with a Standard account for beginners and a Raw account for experienced traders. The reliable MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms are available, alongside Signal Start.

"DNA Markets is an excellent choice for short-term traders familiar with the MetaTrader platforms. The smooth sign-up process also makes it easy to get started while the $100 minimum deposit is accessible. That said, DNA Markets trails the top brokers in education, research and mobile trading. "

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto
  • Regulator: ASIC
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
  • Leverage: 1:500

Pros

  • Convenient account funding with 7 base currencies, a $100 deposit and a wide range of payment methods
  • Short-term trading strategies are permitted including scalping and automated trading using Expert Advisors (EAs)
  • Top-rate platforms and charting tools for day traders with access to MT4 and MT5

Cons

  • There are limited educational and research tools, reducing its appeal to beginners
  • Although it continues to strengthen its client base and reputation DNA Markets lacks the track record of top brokers like Vantage
  • The investment offering trails alternatives, especially in terms of stocks, cryptos and commodities

#4 - IG

Why We Chose IG

Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.

"IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform and best-in-class education for beginners, plus advanced charting tools, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
  • Regulator: FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA
  • Platforms: Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
  • Leverage: 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)

Pros

  • IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, providing ample diversification opportunities
  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met
  • IG offers an extensive collection of professional and engaging educational resources, including webinars, articles, and analysis

Cons

  • IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders
  • Stock and CFD spreads still trail the cheapest brokers like CMC Markets based on tests
  • Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges

#5 - Pocket Option

Why We Chose Pocket Option

Established in 2017, Pocket Option is a binary options broker offering high/low contracts on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. With over 100,000 active users and a global reach, the platform continues to prove popular with budding traders.

"Pocket Option excels for its easy-to-use web platform which provides a best-in-class user experience for short-term binary traders. The $50 minimum deposit is also accessible for beginners while opening an account is really easy. Looking at the negatives, Pocket Option still trails alternatives in its market offering and regulatory credentials."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: Binary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptos
  • Regulator: MISA
  • Platforms: Web, MT4, MT5
  • Minimum Deposit: $50
  • Minimum Trade: $1

Pros

  • The web platform shines for its straightforward design and usability that will appeal to beginners looking to speculate on popular financial markets in a few clicks
  • The MetaTrader platforms offer integrated analysis with helpful technical summaries for short-term traders
  • The range of payment methods beats the majority of rivals, providing fast, secure and convenient deposits for traders in most countries

Cons

  • The maximum binary contract length of 4 hours is restrictive for longer-term trading strategies. Alternatives like Videforex offer binaries up to 1 month
  • The MISA is a weak regulator with limited investor protection for retail traders
  • Pocket Option offers a slimmed down iteration of the MT4 and MT5 that doesn't provide the full charting package for advanced traders

How To Compare Dow Jones Brokers

Consider the following features when choosing between online brokers that support Dow Jones trading:

Platforms & Tools

The best platforms offered by Dow Jones brokers is, of course, a matter of personal preference. However, having the choice between third-party terminals or proprietary tools is worth looking out for. In-built indicators such as the relative strength index (RSI), moving average convergence divergence (MACD) or stochastic oscillator may be useful when identifying patterns in the Dow Jones index.

The MetaTrader 4 platform, for example, offer 30+ integrated technical indicators without the need for separate downloads. Being able to simply plot these onto graphs and charts within one interface will be advantageous when speculating on the Dow Jones.

Instruments

This a prominent global index and so Dow Jones brokers may offer a range of investment products. The simplest and often most cost-effective way to trade the Dow Jones is via an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or index-linked fund. Investing in these funds requires a smaller initial cash outlay whilst still providing a performance that mirrors that of the Dow Jones.

Alternatively, look out for Dow Jones brokers that also offer individual stocks. You should be able to trade shares of the 30 companies included in the Dow Jones.

Regulation

The best Dow Jones brokers will be regulated by top-tier financial authorities. Regulated brokers are considered the safest option and will provide capital protection and safeguarding initiatives for all retail traders.

Many Dow Jones brokers are registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Examples include TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers. The National Futures Association (NFA) safeguards the integrity of the securities markets within the USA. Check whether your online broker is a member via the official website.

Fees

Commissions and spreads can make a big difference to your overall profit. Fidelity, for example, offers commission-free investing on US stocks and ETFs.

As well as direct fees, Dow Jones brokers with low non-trading costs such as deposit and withdrawal charges, inactivity fees, and account maintenance costs should rank highly. Additionally, if you are trading with Dow Jones brokers that only permit account denominations in USD, you may be liable for currency conversion fees.

News

Access to live data and the latest company news is important for all index trading. However, the association of the Dow Jones group with well-regarded publications is a significant advantage. Dow Jones brokers that provide retail clients with free access to Dow Jones Newswires should be a key consideration.

The company publishes daily news items including exclusive content from The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch covering all asset classes and markets worldwide. Having this information directly available via your broker’s platform will save time and hassle.

Interactive Brokers, for example, integrates Dow Jones stock market insights and financial analysis into its service offering.

What Is The Dow Jones?

Dow Jones is known for founding one of the most prominent indices: the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The DJIA is formed of 30 significant companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The company also created and runs the Wall Street Journal, which remains one of the most influential financial publications to this day. One of the co-founders, Charles Dow, wanted to give investors predictions that would help to show whether the stock market was rising or falling.

The first index created by Dow consisted of 12 companies and the first recorded value of the Dow Jones Index, 40.94, was calculated by taking a market average of these firms. The top Dow Jones brokers offer access to the latest evolution of this index in 2024.

Dow also believed that it was possible to predict the movement in stocks based on the price movement of different types of equities. According to Dow Theory, an increase in industrial stocks will result in a similar trend in transportation stocks, for example. These averages can be used to more accurately predict the movement in share prices across various industries.

History

In 1882, Dow Jones was owned by its three founders Charles Dow, Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser. Ownership then changed in 1902 when Dow died and the company was bought by Jessie Waldron and Clarence Barron. This pair eventually passed control to the Bancroft Family, who retained ownership until 2007 when Dow Jones and company was bought by News Corp.

Key milestone history dates include:

Note, head to the official website for details on quarterly returns and daily trade volumes. The best Dow Jones brokers also provide information on investing metrics.

What Companies Are In The Dow Jones?

Like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, the Dow Jones is also one of the most prominent indices in the world. This is the list of companies currently included in the DJIA (as of 2022), along with the year they joined the index:

  1. American Express Co – 1982
  2. Amgen – 2020
  3. Apple Inc – 2015
  4. Boeing Co – 1987
  5. Caterpillar Inc – 1991
  6. Cisco Systems – 2009
  7. Chevron Corp – 2008
  8. Goldman Sachs Group – 2013
  9. Home Depot Inc – 1999
  10. Honeywell International Inc – 2020
  11. International Business Machines Corp – 1979
  12. Intel Corp – 1999
  13. Johnson & Johnson – 1997
  14. Coca-Cola Co – 1987
  15. JP Morgan Chase & Co – 1991
  16. McDonald’s Corp – 1999
  17. 3M Co – 1976
  18. Merck & Co Inc – 1979
  19. Microsoft Corp – 1999
  20. Nike Inc – 2013
  21. Procter & Gamble Co – 1932
  22. Travellers Companies Inc – 2009
  23. UnitedHealth Group Inc – 2012
  24. Salesforce Inc – 2020
  25. Verizon Communications Inc – 2004
  26. Visa Inc – 2013
  27. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc – 2018
  28. Walmart – 1997
  29. Walt Disney Co – 1991
  30. Dow Inc – 2019

Keep an eye on the official index for the top stocks by market capitalization, along with any new additions. The top Dow Jones brokers will provide detailed insights into leading stocks, along with key financial metrics and latest price projections.

Trading Hours

Dow Jones is open from 9:30 am – 4 pm Monday to Friday in New York Time. In UK time, opening hours are 2:30 pm – 9 pm (GMT). Outside of regular market hours, there is also industrial pre-market trading running from 4 am to 9:30 am (ET) and after-hours trading from 4 pm to 8 pm (ET) though not all Dow Jones brokers will offer this.

Note, there is no overnight trading or weekend investing on the index.

Other Indices & Publications

Outside of the DJIA, other indices and publications are currently or were previously owned by the Dow Jones company.

Indices:

Dow Jones and company no longer directly control these three indices that they originally founded. In 2012, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC bought all three. This company is a collaboration between the CME Group and S&P Global.

Publications:

Strategies

Various investment and trading strategies can be employed to speculate on the Dow Jones via brokers that offer the index. Popular examples include:

Note, that the best Dow Jones strategy will depend on your individual investment objectives and risk appetite. 

Final Word On Dow Jones Brokers

The Dow Jones Industrial Average compares and ranks 30 major companies listed on stock exchanges in the US. As well as the popular index, the organization also set up various financial news brands. This guide has provided an introduction to the Dow, along with key dates in its history. We have also explained how to compare brokerages and platforms that offer trading on the Dow Jones.

Use our list of the best platforms and brokers with access to the Dow Jones to get started today.

FAQs

How Do You Trade The Dow Jones At Online Brokers?

The easiest way to trade Dow Jones via online brokers is through an exchange-traded fund (ETF). ETFs are known for being less volatile than individual stocks since large swings in the performance of specific equities will have a limited impact on the overall index average. As well as being lower risk, ETFs also help diversify portfolios. You can check what instruments Dow Jones brokers offer before signing up.

What Time Does The Dow Jones Start Trading At Online Brokers?

Standard trading hours begin at 09:30 ET which will be shown in broker’s investing platforms.

When Does The Dow Jones Stop Trading At Online Brokers?

Typical closing times are 16:00 ET which will be reflected via broker’s platforms. Note, that closing hours may vary with Christmas and public holidays.

Is Dow Jones A Price-Weighted Index?

Yes, the components of Dow Jones with the most value will have more influence. As of 8th July 2022, the most valuable stock on the index is UnitedHealth at $521.77, while the lowest is Walgreens Boots Alliance at $37.79. The best Dow Jones brokers offer detailed statistics and data on the constituents of the index.

What Is The Average Return On The Dow Jones From The Last 20 Years?

The average return from 2002-2021 has been 9.51%. Head to live price and volume charts at Dow Jones brokers for further insights into historical market data and quotes.

What Is The Future Forecast For The Dow Jones?

The Economic Forecast Agency has made a prediction of 30,296 points for the beginning of June 2024 with a maximum of 32,114 and a minimum of 28,478. Various other forecasts and predictions can be found online at Dow Jones Brokers.

When Is The Best Time To Trade The Dow Jones With Major Brokers?

Regular trading of Dow Jones begins early at 9:30 am EST. The hour ending at 10:30 am EST is often the best time of day. This is when the biggest changes occur in the shortest amount of time. Many professional day traders will prioritize this time to make the most of the high volatility in prices.