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SIX Swiss Exchange

SIX Swiss Exchange brokers offer access to the main stock exchange in Switzerland, which is one of the largest in Europe by market capitalization. This page will discuss its history, some of its related indices and how it operates, providing information on the trading hours and rules. Our guide also covers how to trade the SIX Swiss Exchange, some top tips for doing so and a comparison guide to determine the best brokers with access to the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Top SIX Swiss Exchange Brokers

These are the 5 best brokers for trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange:

  1. AvaTrade
  2. Pepperstone
  3. XM
  4. Eightcap
  5. FOREX.com

#1 - AvaTrade

Why We Chose AvaTrade

AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker, established in 2006 and regulated across 9 jurisdictions. Over 400,000 users have signed up with the broker which processes over 2 million trades each month. The firm offers multiple trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, and a proprietary WebTrader. 1250+ financial instruments are available for day trading, alongside a comprehensive education center and multilingual customer support.

"AvaTrade offers the full package for short-term traders. There is powerful charting software, reliable execution, transparent fees, and fast account opening with a low minimum deposit."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting
  • Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBol, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM
  • Platforms: WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
  • Leverage: 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)

Stock Exchanges

AvaTrade offers trading on 15 stock exchanges:

  • Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
  • Borsa Italiana
  • Deutsche Boerse
  • Euronext
  • Hang Seng
  • IBEX 35
  • Japan Exchange Group
  • London Stock Exchange
  • Nasdaq
  • Russell 2000
  • SIX Swiss Exchange
  • Shanghai Stock Exchange
  • Shenzhen Stock Exchange
  • Taiwan Stock Exchange
  • Toronto Stock Exchange

Pros

  • The broker’s unique risk management tool, AvaProtect, protects against losses up to $1 million and is easy to activate in the platform
  • There's a great range of fee-free deposit methods, including bank wire, credit cards and popular e-wallets like Skrill
  • Automated trading is supported through MetaTrader Expert Advisors (EAs), as well as the AvaSocial and DupliTrade tools

Cons

  • It’s a shame that there are no rebate schemes for serious traders looking for additional perks - CMC Markets would be a better choice here
  • There is no ECN account with raw spreads
  • A high $2000 minimum investment is required to use DupliTrade, which will be out of reach for many beginners
Visit AvaTrade

#2 - Pepperstone

Why We Chose Pepperstone

Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.

"Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/7 support."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting
  • Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
  • Leverage: 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)

Stock Exchanges

Pepperstone offers trading on 22 stock exchanges:

  • Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
  • CAC 40 Index France
  • DAX GER 40 Index
  • Deutsche Boerse
  • Dow Jones
  • Euronext
  • FTSE UK Index
  • Hang Seng
  • Hong Kong Stock Exchange
  • IBEX 35
  • Japan Exchange Group
  • Korean Stock Exchange
  • London Stock Exchange
  • Nasdaq
  • New York Stock Exchange
  • Russell 2000
  • S&P 500
  • SIX Swiss Exchange
  • Shanghai Stock Exchange
  • Shenzhen Stock Exchange
  • Taiwan Stock Exchange
  • Toronto Stock Exchange

Pros

  • Pepperstone emerges as a low-cost broker, especially for serious day traders with spreads from 0.0 in the Razor account and rebates of 25%+ through the Active Trader program.
  • Award-winning customer support is available via telephone, email or live chat with response times of <5 minutes during testing.
  • There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.

Cons

  • Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular copy trading feature built into the excellent cTrader platform and available at alternatives like IC Markets.
  • Despite enhancements to its range of markets, crypto offerings are relatively limited compared to other brokers such as eToro, with no option to invest in real coins.
  • There’s no simplified proprietary trading platform, nor are there any social trading features, which could be a disadvantage if you are new to day trading.
Visit Pepperstone

#3 - XM

Why We Chose XM

XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker with 10+ million clients in 190+ countries. Since 2009, this trusted broker has been known for its low fees on 1000+ instruments. XM is regulated by multiple financial bodies, including the ASIC and CySEC.

"XM is one of the best forex and CFD brokers we have tested. The flexible account types will suit a variety of short-term trading styles while the $5 minimum deposit and smooth sign-up process make it easy to start trading."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: Forex, Stock CFDs, Turbo Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Precious Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto, Futures
  • Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC, FSCA
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5
  • Minimum Deposit: $5
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots

Stock Exchanges

XM offers trading on 14 stock exchanges:

  • Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
  • Borsa Italiana
  • CAC 40 Index France
  • DAX GER 40 Index
  • Deutsche Boerse
  • Dow Jones
  • Euronext
  • FTSE UK Index
  • Hang Seng
  • IBEX 35
  • Japan Exchange Group
  • Nasdaq
  • S&P 500
  • SIX Swiss Exchange

Pros

  • The broker offers premium research including market sentiment, fundamental insights and strategy builders
  • Transparent and low fees with spreads from 0.0 pips that will help protect day trading profit margins
  • XM is a hugely respected broker authorized by tier-one regulators

Cons

  • There is weak regulatory oversight through the global entity
  • PayPal deposits are not supported
  • There's $5 inactivity fee after only 3 months, though this won't affect active traders
Visit XM

#4 - Eightcap

Why We Chose Eightcap

"Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 250+ crypto CFDs and the Crypto Crusher market scanner, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row."

- DayTrading Review Team
  • Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
  • Regulator: ASIC, FCA, xCySEC, SCB
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots

Stock Exchanges

Eightcap offers trading on 16 stock exchanges:

  • Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
  • CAC 40 Index France
  • DAX GER 40 Index
  • Dow Jones
  • Euronext
  • FTSE UK Index
  • Hang Seng
  • Hong Kong Stock Exchange
  • Japan Exchange Group
  • London Stock Exchange
  • Nasdaq
  • New York Stock Exchange
  • Russell 2000
  • S&P 500
  • SIX Swiss Exchange
  • Toronto Stock Exchange

Pros

  • After bolstering its roster in 2021, Eightcap offers one of the most extensive selections of cryptocurrency CFDs in the market, with crypto/fiat pairs, crypto/crypto pairs, plus crypto indices for broader exposure to the market.
  • Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools, including MT4 and MT5, the innovative algorithmic trading platform Capitalise.ai, and more recently the 50-million strong social trading network TradingView.
  • Having excelled across all key areas for day traders, Eightcap outperformed more than 490 competitors to win our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024, also securing our 'Best Crypto Broker' title.

Cons

  • Eightcap needs to continue bolstering its suite of instruments to match category leaders like Blackbull Markets with its 26,000+ assets, featuring a particularly weak selection of commodities.
  • In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
  • The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
Visit Eightcap

#5 - 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: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures, Options, Commodities
  • Regulator: NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
  • Leverage: 1:200 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)

Stock Exchanges

FOREX.com offers trading on 14 stock exchanges:

  • Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
  • Borsa Italiana
  • CAC 40 Index France
  • DAX GER 40 Index
  • Dow Jones
  • Euronext
  • FTSE UK Index
  • Hang Seng
  • Hong Kong Stock Exchange
  • IBEX 35
  • Japan Exchange Group
  • Nasdaq
  • S&P 500
  • SIX Swiss Exchange

Pros

  • FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
  • 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.

Cons

  • Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
  • There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
  • FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
Visit FOREX.com

Comparing SIX Swiss Exchange Brokers

The first step is choosing a SIX Swiss Exchange broker. This will be your platform to enter the market and execute trades. As you will rely on these brokers to facilitate your orders and provide any advice or other key information, it is an important decision.

When comparing the top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers, consider the following:

Costs

Charges, fees and commissions can eat away at your profits. These may be associated directly with investments, but also include non-trading charges such as account maintenance or inactivity fees. The best SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will publish this information on their website, so it is accessible before having to open a live profile.

Look out for SIX Swiss Exchange brokers that offer tight spreads or commission-free investments, plus waived charges for exchange participation and market depth data.

As the SIX Swiss Exchange trading centre operates in CHF, consider any currency exchange rates if using another currency. Note that the Swiss franc is generally strong against the USD. You can use the currency converter on the official website to find the most up-to-date exchange rates.

Payment Methods

If you are a Swiss citizen, SIX Swiss Exchange brokers that offer credit/debit cards or Sofort transfers may be the most appealing so you can fund a trading account and begin investing right away.

If you are an international investor, consider SIX Swiss Exchange brokers with cheap international bank wire transfers or Visa/MasterCard/Amex card payments. Processing times will vary between SIX brokers, those with swift fund clearance will rank highly.

A low minimum deposit requirement should also be a key point to look out for, particularly if you are new to day trading.

Trading Platform

How reliable and easy to use is the broker’s platform, software and tools? The best SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will provide a choice of terminals, with customizable interfaces and intuitive navigation.

Look out for SIX Swiss Exchange brokers that provide access to indicators, analysis tools, copy trading services and graphical objects for the best overall experience. Live news streams of the latest Swiss corporation publications and performance will also be valuable when making investment decisions.

Customer Service

An important consideration when comparing brokers with access to the SIX Swiss Exchange is customer support. Glitches or issues can cost you both time and money so a prompt and responsive support team should be on hand to resolve these quickly.

The top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will provide multilingual support, meaning wherever you are trading from, you can receive guidance in your native language.

What Is The SIX Swiss Exchange?

A Brief History

The SIX Swiss Exchange is operated by the SIX Group Ltd. and was formed in 1995 following the merging of the three stock exchanges of Geneva, Basel and Zürich. The following year, a system to allow fully automated clearing, settlement and trading were introduced – it was the first stock exchange to do so.

In 1999, the stock exchange was named the ‘SWX Swiss Exchange’ but this was later rebranded to the ‘SIX Swiss Exchange’ after merging with the SIS Group and Telekurs in 2008.

Based primarily in Zürich, Switzerland, the SIX Swiss Exchange supports stocks, stock options, Swiss government bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded products (ETPs), while also providing support for listing and post-trade services. These can be accessed via registered SIX Swiss Exchange brokers.

Contact details with information like the Zürich address for the offices, along with a local support centre located in London for UK-based traders can be found on the website. The SIX Swiss Exchange website also includes a newsroom where key figures can be found in official notices and press releases.

Indices

SMI

The main stock market index in Switzerland is the Swiss Market Index (SMI), consisting of the 20 largest and most liquid company shares that make up over 80% of the total market capitalization of the Swiss equity market.

This is known as the SIX Swiss Exchange trading blue chips segment of the Swiss equity market. These stocks come from the Swiss Performance Index (SPI), which includes all Swiss stocks. With listed companies weighted by market cap, the SMI is constantly being recalculated in real-time.

Other notable Indices that are part of the Swiss Index family include:

SARON

The Swiss Average Rate Overnight (SARON) is an overnight reference rate that relates to the Swiss franc repo market. This is an important tool for daily liquidity management for banks and overnight interest rates are vital to determine a yield curve.

SARON is administrated by the SIX Swiss Exchange trading group and is seen as an alternative to CHF Libor, providing resilient and reliable financial benchmarks and leading to SARON’s endorsement under the EU-regulated market in 2020.

SIX Swiss Exchange Opening Hours

The SIX Swiss Exchange opening hours in Central European Time (GMT+2) are as follows:

If you are a UK-based trader then bear in mind that CET is two hours ahead of GMT, meaning that the SIX Swiss Exchange market opening hours are 07:30 – 15:30 GMT. SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will update their calendars with the latest hours, including details of public holiday dates and market closures.

Fees

SIX charges several different fees to investors, including participation fees, admission fees and recurring annual fees. The charges that most directly affect short-term investors are transaction and “ad valorem” fees, which are based on the type of securities being traded, the volume of trade and the number of transactions performed. The top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers may absorb these costs so they won’t be passed on to you.

In addition, there are exchange fees for SIX Swiss Exchange market data, split into three different tiers:

SIX Swiss Exchange Rules & Regulation

The listing requirements of companies on the SIX Swiss Exchange are:

Biggest Players

There are over 250 companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. These range from small family businesses to large global giants that altogether account for a total market capitalization of USD 1.76 trillion. The top 10 SMI total return components are listed below, with their tickers and market capitalization in millions of CHF.

  1. Roche Holding AG (ROG) – 222,338.16
  2. Nestle S.A (NESN) – 219,388.29
  3. Novartis AG (NOVN) – 206,937.07
  4. Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA (CFR) – 60,552.00
  5. ABB LTD (ABBN) – 59,368.12
  6. Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN) – 55,038.33
  7. Lonza Group AG (LONN) – 52,515.36
  8. UBS Group (UBSG) – 52,280.91
  9. Sika AG (SIKA) – 45,242.37
  10. Givaudan S.A. (GIVN) – 35,967.13

Other popular SIX Swiss Exchange members include Relief Therapeutics, under the symbol RLF, Wisekey (WIHN), PolyPeptide Group AG (PPGN),  Zur Rose (ROSE) and Partners Group Holding AG (PGHN). Look out for key financial metrics offered by SIX Swiss Exchange brokers. These can help you with your investment decisions.

Why Invest On The SIX Swiss Exchange?

How To Start Investing On The SIX Swiss Exchange

Once you have compared SIX Swiss Exchange brokers and chosen one that suits your investment goals and needs, its time to invest.

Familiarize Yourself With Swiss Stocks

It is easy to purchase stock on the SIX Swiss Exchange trading centre due to the welcoming foreign investment policy, though it is important to learn the charges and rules related to the stock exchange before investing. The top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will offer free trading on the exchange with all relevant investor fees waived.

With that said, brokers will not cover any governmental charges, including if you need to pay Swiss taxes on any profits that you make.

Strategy

Investing without a plan is a risky business that can quickly cost you money. Trading stocks is not always a simple process, so heading in with a predetermined strategy is a wise move. Many strategies rely on the analysis of market information using charts and the identification of patterns in historic data to predict what will happen in the future.

You will need to have patience as following a strategy can be difficult and time-consuming, while honing your craft can take even longer. There are plenty of strategies that you can find online, alternatively, visit our strategies guide for more in-depth advice, tips and information.

Select A Stock

For your best chance at maximizing profits, you need to ensure you perform due diligence on your search for the stocks you shall day trade. The two most important factors you should consider for SIX Swiss Exchange trading are volume and volatility.

Volume is simply the number of shares that are being traded at a given time, with each transaction that occurs increasing the total volume. This is a good way to check the validity of a trend move as high volumes imply substantial interest.

Volatility refers to how unpredictable a stock is, with highly volatile stocks bringing an added risk of the price fluctuating sharply over short periods of time. Volatility can provide an opportunity for keen-eyed day traders to quickly turn a profit, though it can also wipe away winnings in the blink of an eye.

Trading Tips

Educational Resources

Whether you are a beginner, expert or anywhere in between, use the widespread and thorough resources that are available online to keep up with the ever-changing SIX Swiss Exchange. Some of the resources you could use include:

Demo Accounts

Practising with a demo account before committing personal capital is a great risk-free way to learn the nuances and intricacies of the exchange. The best SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will provide access to real-time market conditions, with unlimited funds.

Brokers with a paper trading profile will help you determine what strategy you want to adopt. Many brokers with access to the SIX Swiss Exchange nowadays will provide this service free of charge with no time limit.

News

Keeping up to date on current events is one of the best ways to help you predict what the market is going to do in both the short and long term. Look out for news websites reporting information like quarterly earnings, returns, investor relations and IPO calendars for the exchange organizations. Many SIX Swiss Exchange brokers will integrate these live news streams into their service offering.

Examples of key websites include:

Final Word On SIX Swiss Exchange Brokers

Choosing the best SIX Swiss Exchange brokers is an important decision when it comes to investing. Brokers offer traders a gateway to invest in a reliable and stable financial market and a catalog of successful Swiss companies. The many company stocks and indices available offer a good range of potentially profitable opportunities in all major industries. If you wish to start investing on the SIX Swiss Exchange follow our guide above and see our list of top SIX Swiss Exchange brokers.

FAQs

Who Owns The SIX Swiss Stock Exchange?

SIX is owned by 121 major financial institutions. Share distribution is arranged such that no single owner has an absolute majority. The significant shareholders are PCS Holding AG (holding 22.07%), Verbrugge NV (11.69%) and Rieter Holding Ltd (3.01%).

What Dates Are The Market Holidays For SIX Swiss Stock Exchange Brokers?

SIX Swiss Exchange trading holidays follow the standard Christian calendar, with Easter, Christmas and other major holidays in place. The 2024 Trading and Currency Holiday Calendars for the SIX Swiss Exchange can be found on their website or integrated into broker’s published calendars.

Who Regulates The SIX Swiss Stock Exchange?

SIX Swiss Exchange trading is regulated by the SIX Exchange Regulation Body (SER). The Swiss financial markets are self-regulated under the supervision of FINMA. The Regulatory Board issues trading rules, the compliance with which is monitored by the SER. There is a regulation directive in place for ad-hoc publicity in case of an obligation to disclose price-sensitive facts whereby the issuers publication must provide true, clear and complete information on significant events.

How Can I Obtain My Trader License To Invest With SIX Swiss Stock Exchange Brokers?

If you want a job as a trader for a SIX Swiss Exchange trading centre AG Participant or Reporting Member you will need to complete a training session and a trader exam. Training sessions take place either at SIX premises or on-site at client locations in both English and German.

Can I Trade Crypto Via SIX Swiss Exchange Brokers?

The SIX Swiss Exchange is one of the world’s leading regulated marketplaces to trade products with cryptocurrencies, with a choice of over 70 products. 62 of these are structured products and 17 are ETPs, for example, the Polkadot ETP.