Setting A Stock Indices Schedule and a Written Example

Stock Indices Trading is a market that is global in nature. The global nature of the stock index trading market means that it is open around the clock throughout the week. Stock Indices traders therefore have a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing when to trade. However, not all times are suitable for placing transactions.

Investors should set up a schedule based on the most active Stock Indices Trading hours which are the best hours to help maximize profits.

USA and London sessions are the most active times. These three sessions make up the largest volumes of transactions from across the world on a daily basis, although Asia is one of these 3 sessions best not to trade during this particular session.

There are also overlaps in the between the three sessions, where two sessions are open at the same time, these overlaps are the most active periods. These overlaps provide a great opportunity to trade in multiple markets at once and maximize your potential profits.

The best overlap is the one that occurs between the US and London markets. This is when the stock indices opportunities are the most active and more opportunities present themselves.

Asian session is the least active of the three major sessions. All stock indices instruments move slowly or consolidate at a single point throughout the session. This is not a good time to be in the stock indices market - this is the best time to take a break.

Because the trading day lasts all day and night and it is not possible to stay up all night long, investors should set up a workable schedule. By gaining an understanding of these hours, one can set appropriate hours to increase chances of maximizing profits.

When setting up a schedule, it should accomplish the following goals:

1. Familiarize yourself with the various market sessions. These are: New York session, the London session, the Tokyo session.

London 3a.m. To 12p.m. EST ( 8:00 GMT 1700 GMT.)

New York 8a.m. To 5p.m. EST (1300 GMT 2200 GMT.)

Tokyo 7p.m. To 4a.m. EST (00:00 GMT-9:00 GMT.)

2. Trade during this time when stock indices instruments are most active.

3. Plan a workable schedule. So as to keep a balance between your time to get adequate rest. The best time is between 3a.m. To 5p.m. EST

When the USA and UK sessions are both open stock indices prices will generally trend up or down and move a good number of pips in one direction. As a technical analyst, this time the indicators will provide good and profitable signals that catch the trend.

When the stock indices prices are trending and moving fast traders will find it much easier to make money.

On the other hand, during the other times for example the Asian session, the stock indices prices will be in a range movement and traders using technical indicators will have a hard time making profits as the indicators will generally tend to be more prone to whipsaws. One will find it difficult to make money in this range bound stock index price action movements.

It is 10 times easier to make money when the stock indices market is moving up or moving down than it is to make money when it is ranging.

During the best times to open orders, i.e. 800 GMT and 1800 GMT the stock indices prices will stock indices trend in one direction, during other times like Asian Session, the stock indices prices likely to be Range Bound.

• London session 08:00 GMT -16:00 GMT.
• US session 13:00 GMT - 22:00 GMT.
• Asian session is a relatively slow for all stock indices instruments and not suitable at all.

Basically your plan should target 800 GMT and 1800 GMT as the time that you trade stock indices trading instruments.

Example of a Schedule on a Stock Indices Plan

The example illustrated below shows how to specify your routine and time of day to watch the stock index market. This will form the basis of your schedule. The time frame that you use will also be specified and mostly it will depend on what type of trader you are. The time set for this example is during the day when the UK and USA sessions are open as shown on the stock indices example illustrated below.

Written Stock Indices Schedule - Stock Indices Plan Sections