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SIX Swiss Exchange

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Jemma Grist

Written By

Jemma Grist

Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.

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Edited By

James Barra

Edited By

James Barra

James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. He has worked as a management consultant, where he delivered large-scale operational transformational programmes at some of Europe's biggest banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.

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Fact Checked By

William Berg

Fact Checked By

William Berg

William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.

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Updated

Jun 13, 2024

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.

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:

• SPI – The Swiss Performance Index is the overall exchange index that consists of almost all companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange market, excluding equity securities with a free float of less than 20% and investment companies.
• SMIM – The Swiss Market Index-Mid consists of the 30 largest stocks in the SPI that are not included in the blue-chip segment, the SMI. These stocks are determined by considering both the market capitalization and the turnover of shares.
• UBS 100 – The UBS 100 Index is made up of the 100 largest shares from the SPI measured by market capitalization. It includes all in the SMI and SMIM and altogether covers more than 98% of the Swiss equity market.

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:

• 06:00 – 09:30: pre-market session
• 09:30 – 17:30: normal trading hours
• 17:30 – 22:00: post-market session

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:

• Level 1: This provides an ‘inside market’ level of information on the best bid, ask and last. With an annual cost of 300.00 CHF, it is ideal for those who want cost-effective access to information needed to trade on chart-based trading systems.
• Level 2: Defined as ‘market depth’ information, level 2 provides the best bid, ask and last as well as the next nine best bids and asks. This level incurs a cost of 1,080.00 CHF per annum.
• Level 2 Plus/DOB: This is the most expensive level of SIX Swiss Exchange trading data, at an annual cost of 1,512.00 CHF. This tier gives access to the best bid, ask and last along with the subsequent 29 best bids and asks, where the extended market depth is for the Swiss Blue Chips only. Additionally, the detailed order book (DOB) means professionals have aggregated/disaggregated market depth for all equity segments available to them.

SIX Swiss Exchange Rules & Regulation

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

• Provide, at minimum, accounting history of the previous three years with capital resources of at least CHF 25 million.
• Publish annual reports that include audited financial statements. Submit semi-annual financial reports to the SIX Swiss Regulation in addition to periodic reporting of equity securities, bonds and conversion rights, derivatives, investment funds and other collective investment schemes. These reports can be accessed via the newsboard on the exchange’s website.
• Appoint internal officers to ensure constant compliance with the trading rules. Additionally, there must be sufficient staff with experience and expertise for stock exchange trading.
• Minimum capitalization of 25 million CHF and minimum distribution of 25% of equity securities.

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?

• High liquidity makes it very easy to trade the important, blue-chip segment of the SPI index.
• Compliance with both the EU Benchmark Regulation and Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities provides a suitable index for any EU company seeking a gateway to Swiss visibility. High volatility stocks offer opportunity to generate profits with SIX Swiss Exchange trading, where 60% of the market weighting is made up of healthcare and consumer goods companies.
• The IPO process is highly efficient, to the point where a company can be listed within a month.
• Switzerland is a politically stable country that is renowned for its solid legal system and strong financial system and infrastructure.

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.

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 a simple process, so heading in with a predetermined strategy is important. 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 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 may want to 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 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:

• Charts
• Books and ebooks
• Forums & chat rooms
• Historical data charts
• Courses & video tutorials

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:

• Reuters
• Bloomberg
• Yahoo Finance
• Google Finance

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 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.