Plus500 (LON: PLUS) has entered the weekly options market, unveiling new contracts focused on commodities like gold and oil, as well as major indices such as the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500. This initiative marks a strategic move by the brokerage to cater to active traders seeking to capitalize on short-term price movements.
The newly launched weekly options will refresh every seven days, providing traders with more frequent opportunities to engage in the market. While these options are accessible to all clients of Plus500, actual access may be contingent on obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, underscoring the importance of compliance with local laws in the financial trading landscape.
This rollout coincides with a notable increase in the global appetite for options contracts, particularly during periods of market volatility. The demand for such instruments has surged, reflecting a broader trend among investors looking for flexible trading strategies.
In 2025, US-listed options achieved unprecedented levels, with total trading volume hitting 15.2 billion contracts, a 26 percent increase from the previous year. On average, approximately 61 million contracts were exchanged daily across various market segments, indicating robust engagement from traders.
Gold options, primarily traded on the CME”s COMEX, reached a record high in October 2025, with an average daily volume of 156,000 contracts. Although this figure dipped to 96,000 in December, the recent rally in gold prices may have prompted renewed interest among traders, likely increasing volumes once again.
Furthermore, index options demonstrated impressive activity, averaging 5 million contracts daily throughout 2025, with the S&P 500 index (SPX) accounting for about 3.9 million of those contracts. The introduction of weekly options adds to Plus500″s already diverse array of derivative products, which includes options for contracts for differences (CFDs) available in many jurisdictions.
In the United States, Plus500 also offers regulated access to futures and options trading, providing a comprehensive suite of trading tools for its clients. However, it”s worth noting that while CFD brokers in the UK and Europe disclose the percentage of losing customers, they do not differentiate data based on product type. The Australian regulator recently revealed that 85 percent of retail clients trading options CFDs incurred losses in 2025, raising questions about the suitability of such products for various investors.
As market dynamics evolve and regulatory landscapes shift, Plus500″s weekly options could represent a significant step forward in meeting the needs of active traders while adapting to changing market conditions.
