Our country's approach to the development of financial derivatives is relatively conservative. Although the futures market was established early, the launch of stock index futures was delayed until April 2010. Despite the late start, its domestic development has been rapid. Nowadays, many individuals and institutions participate in domestic stock index futures investments, making it an essential tool for investors to hedge risks. Those involved in futures trading know that daily buying and selling of futures contracts require paying fees, and stock index futures are no exception. So, what are the transaction fees for domestic stock index futures trading? What should beginners pay attention to?

1. What are the transaction fees for domestic stock index futures trading?

Those who have traded stocks know that daily transactions involve many fees, including stamp duty, regulatory fees, commissions, transfer fees, and other detailed charges. In contrast, stock index futures trading fees are relatively simple, consisting only of a transaction fee. This fee is calculated based on the total value of the transaction after the buyer and seller agree, charged at a certain percentage. So, what is the specific fee rate? It can be divided into intraday trading fees and non-intraday trading fees. If an investor opens a position intraday, the fee is a few ten-thousandths of the transaction amount, while closing the position incurs a few thousandths. For non-intraday trading, both opening and closing positions incur fees of a few ten-thousandths of the transaction amount, which is very low.

2. What should beginners pay attention to?

Many beginners, unfamiliar with stock index futures trading fees, may later wonder where some of their money went. Here’s a reminder for new traders: although the China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFEX) sets fee standards, investors open accounts with specific futures brokers and trade through their platforms. Therefore, brokers may add extra fees on top of the CFFEX’s prescribed rates to cover operational costs and profits. When choosing a broker, beginners should compare multiple options and prioritize those with better service quality and lower fees.

3. How to reduce trading costs?

Although the fees seem low, the overall cost remains high due to the inherently high threshold of stock index futures. So, how can trading fees be reduced? The first option is to avoid closing positions intraday, which lowers closing fees. The second option is to adjust investment strategies—avoid focusing on short-term trading, as this inevitably increases fee costs.