STOXX Europe 600 Index Futures Margin & Contract Specifications

What Is the STOXX Europe 600 Index?

The STOXX Europe 600 Index is compiled by STOXX, a subsidiary of the Deutsche Börse Group. It includes 600 large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks and covers approximately 90% of the investable free-float market capitalization across 17 developed European countries. It is one of the most important and representative benchmarks for measuring European equity market performance.
The Europe 600 is not limited to the euro area; it also includes countries that use other currencies such as the British pound and the Swiss franc. The United Kingdom has the largest country weight at roughly 20–25%, followed by France and Switzerland.

Factors Affecting the STOXX Europe 600 Index

1. European Central Bank (ECB) Policy and Economic Conditions

Indicators such as GDP growth, industrial output, PMI, and retail sales reflect the state of the European economy. Strong economic data generally support index gains.
Inflation is the ECB’s primary policy concern. If CPI inflation exceeds expectations, especially alongside strong employment data, markets may anticipate prolonged high interest rates or further rate hikes. Higher rates increase corporate financing costs and are typically negative for the STOXX Europe 600.

2. Euro Exchange Rate

Movements in the euro affect export competitiveness and multinational earnings. When the euro weakens, European goods become more competitive internationally, boosting exports. Overseas revenues of multinational constituents translate into higher euro-denominated earnings, which is supportive for share prices and the index in the short term.

3. Performance of Major European Countries

The index spans 17 countries, with companies from the UK, France, Switzerland, and Germany accounting for nearly 70% of total index weight. Strong economic performance and political stability in these four countries often drive gains in the overall index.

4. Global Market Linkages

Global equity markets are highly interconnected. Sharp rallies or sell-offs in U.S. equities often spill over into European markets. For example, when the U.S. Federal Reserve raises rates and widens the U.S.–Europe interest rate differential, capital may flow from Europe to the U.S., putting pressure on the STOXX Europe 600.

5. Corporate Earnings and Financial Results

The index has its largest weights in healthcare, financials, technology, and industrials. Strong earnings, positive outlooks, and solid cash flows from sector leaders—such as Novartis, HSBC, and SAP—typically lift the overall index.

6. Market Sentiment and Geopolitics

Political developments within the EU—such as elections or budget disputes—as well as geopolitical events like the Ukraine war, energy crises, or recurring pandemics can rapidly shift risk appetite. During such periods, investor sentiment often turns defensive, prompting capital to rotate out of equities and into safe-haven assets like gold or government bonds, placing heavy selling pressure on the index.

STOXX Europe 600 Index Margin

How much money is needed to trade futures? At the beginning, the required margin is the initial margin. While holding a position, the margin after deducting floating profits and losses must remain above the maintenance margin; otherwise, a margin call will be issued. For day-trading margin, only half of the margin is required, provided the position is closed before the market closes.

Foreign Futures

STOXX Europe 600 Index Contract Specifications

Here is a summary for traders of the contract specifications, exchange, trading hours, minimum price fluctuation, and available trading months for STOXX Europe 600 IndexFutures.

STOXX Europe 600 IndexLast Trading Day

Futures