Demand for
24/5 trading reaches new heights as European retail investors seek extended market access.
38.7% of trades currently occur outside traditional market hours, the highest since 2022.
Spectrum
Markets reported a significant surge in after-hours trading activity for August
2024, reaching its highest level since November 2022. The pan-European trading
venue for securitized derivatives saw 38.7% of trades occurring outside
traditional market hours, reflecting a growing appetite among retail investors
for round-the-clock market access.
Spectrum Markets Sees
Record After-Hours Trading in August 2024
The
Frankfurt-based multilateral trading facility (MTF), which offers 24/5 trading
to retail investors across Europe, has been monitoring a steady increase in
demand for extended trading hours since its launch in August 2019. This latest
data point underscores the platform's success in meeting the evolving needs of
European retail traders.
For
comparison, in November last year, 32.3% of all transactions occurred in
after-hours trading, which is more than 6 percentage points less than
currently.
Michael Hall, Head of Distribution at Spectrum Markets
Michael
Hall, Head of Distribution at Spectrum Markets, attributed the spike in
after-hours trading to “significant market-sensitive events that triggered
spikes in volatility” during August. This increased volatility appears to
have driven investors to seek more flexible trading options.
Two months
ago, the European trading venue for retail investors also
published its H1 2024 business update, revealing a mixed performance amid
more challenging market conditions. For example, it reported a 15% volume
decline compared to the same period a year earlier. Spectrum reached a turnover
of $1.5 billion, $200 million lower than in H1 2023.
Despite the
downturn, Spectrum Markets demonstrated some resilience and extended its
product range to include approximately
1,800 ETFs. Although
Spectrum's results for the first half of 2024 indicate a downturn compared to
the previous year, it's important to recognize that 2023
was an exceptionally strong year for the company.
Retail Investors Turn
Bearish
Spectrum's
proprietary SERIX sentiment indicator revealed a bearish shift in investor
outlook, particularly towards the French CAC 40 index. The SERIX value for the
CAC 40 dropped from a neutral 100 in July to a bearish 93 in August, reflecting
growing caution among retail investors towards the French economy in the
post-Olympics period.
“Our
bearish investor sentiment index indicates a degree of pessimism among retail
investors, as the attention switched back to politics. After the heightened
political uncertainty caused by President Macron’s call for a snap election in
June, the upcoming Olympics worked as a distraction to investors’
concerns,” added Hall.
Source: Spectrum Markets
Trading Volume, Distribution, and Top Traded Markets
While the
surge in after-hours trading was a standout feature, Spectrum's August data
revealed other noteworthy trends.
The total
order book turnover for August 2024 reached €306.3 million. The distribution of
trades across asset classes showed a strong preference for indices, accounting
for 82.2% of the turnover. This was followed by commodities at 7.4%, equities
at 4.5%, cryptocurrencies at 3.1%, and currency pairs at 2.8%.
The NASDAQ
100 led as the most traded underlying market, representing 34.3% of trades. It
was followed by the DAX 40 at 26.6% and the DOW 30 at 11.4%.
In a move
to strengthen its industry position, Spectrum
Markets became a member of the German Federal Association of Investment Firms during the
first half of 2024.
Spectrum
Markets reported a significant surge in after-hours trading activity for August
2024, reaching its highest level since November 2022. The pan-European trading
venue for securitized derivatives saw 38.7% of trades occurring outside
traditional market hours, reflecting a growing appetite among retail investors
for round-the-clock market access.
Spectrum Markets Sees
Record After-Hours Trading in August 2024
The
Frankfurt-based multilateral trading facility (MTF), which offers 24/5 trading
to retail investors across Europe, has been monitoring a steady increase in
demand for extended trading hours since its launch in August 2019. This latest
data point underscores the platform's success in meeting the evolving needs of
European retail traders.
For
comparison, in November last year, 32.3% of all transactions occurred in
after-hours trading, which is more than 6 percentage points less than
currently.
Michael Hall, Head of Distribution at Spectrum Markets
Michael
Hall, Head of Distribution at Spectrum Markets, attributed the spike in
after-hours trading to “significant market-sensitive events that triggered
spikes in volatility” during August. This increased volatility appears to
have driven investors to seek more flexible trading options.
Two months
ago, the European trading venue for retail investors also
published its H1 2024 business update, revealing a mixed performance amid
more challenging market conditions. For example, it reported a 15% volume
decline compared to the same period a year earlier. Spectrum reached a turnover
of $1.5 billion, $200 million lower than in H1 2023.
Despite the
downturn, Spectrum Markets demonstrated some resilience and extended its
product range to include approximately
1,800 ETFs. Although
Spectrum's results for the first half of 2024 indicate a downturn compared to
the previous year, it's important to recognize that 2023
was an exceptionally strong year for the company.
Retail Investors Turn
Bearish
Spectrum's
proprietary SERIX sentiment indicator revealed a bearish shift in investor
outlook, particularly towards the French CAC 40 index. The SERIX value for the
CAC 40 dropped from a neutral 100 in July to a bearish 93 in August, reflecting
growing caution among retail investors towards the French economy in the
post-Olympics period.
“Our
bearish investor sentiment index indicates a degree of pessimism among retail
investors, as the attention switched back to politics. After the heightened
political uncertainty caused by President Macron’s call for a snap election in
June, the upcoming Olympics worked as a distraction to investors’
concerns,” added Hall.
Source: Spectrum Markets
Trading Volume, Distribution, and Top Traded Markets
While the
surge in after-hours trading was a standout feature, Spectrum's August data
revealed other noteworthy trends.
The total
order book turnover for August 2024 reached €306.3 million. The distribution of
trades across asset classes showed a strong preference for indices, accounting
for 82.2% of the turnover. This was followed by commodities at 7.4%, equities
at 4.5%, cryptocurrencies at 3.1%, and currency pairs at 2.8%.
The NASDAQ
100 led as the most traded underlying market, representing 34.3% of trades. It
was followed by the DAX 40 at 26.6% and the DOW 30 at 11.4%.
In a move
to strengthen its industry position, Spectrum
Markets became a member of the German Federal Association of Investment Firms during the
first half of 2024.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
FCA Hands BGC the Keys to EUR and GBP Benchmark Pricing
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
