Day traders open and close positions within the same day, which removes weekend and overnight risk but puts daily loss limits front and centre. For South Africans, the timing works well: the London session opens in the morning and the US session runs into the evening.
What day traders should prioritise
- A workable daily loss limit (3–5%) and knowing how it’s calculated.
- Fast execution and hotkeys.
- Low costs per trade, since commissions add up.
- News rules, because intraday traders often trade around releases.
Our picks
Futures: Topstep and Apex
US index futures suit day traders with fixed tick values and transparent volume. Topstep is the most established, and South Africa is now eligible for its Live Funded Accounts. Apex offers cheap one-time evaluations with an end-of-day drawdown option. Compare them in Topstep vs Apex.
Forex and indices CFDs: FTMO and FundedNext
FTMO offers stable rules and EAs; FundedNext adds fast payouts and a 1-Step that pays every 5 business days. Note FundedNext’s 40% cap on funded news profits.
Low cost: Funding Pips
Funding Pips combines a static drawdown with low prices and weekly payout options.
A day trader’s schedule in SAST
| Window (SAST) | What to trade |
|---|---|
| 09:00/10:00 – 12:00 | London open: EUR, GBP pairs, DAX |
| 14:00/15:00 – 18:00/19:00 | London–New York overlap: majors, gold |
| 15:30/16:30 – 19:00 | US cash open: NAS100, US30, ES and NQ futures |
See our SAST trading hours guide for daylight-saving changes.
Prop firms we currently recommend
-
1
FTMO Best overall
- Max account
- $200,000 (more via scaling)
- Profit split
- 80%, up to 90%
- Fee from
- €89 (≈ $10K account)
- Our rating
- 4.6 out of 5
-
2
FundedNext Best for MetaTrader users
- Max account
- $200,000 (up to $4M through scaling)
- Profit split
- 80%, up to 95%
- Fee from
- $59.99 USD (confirm at checkout)
- Our rating
- 4.4 out of 5
-
3
Funding Pips Best budget pick
- Max account
- $100,000 per account (scales to $2M)
- Profit split
- 60–100% (depends on payout cycle)
- Fee from
- About $29–$36 USD ($5K)
- Our rating
- 4.3 out of 5
FAQ
What is the best prop firm for day trading in South Africa?
For futures, Topstep and Apex; for forex and index CFDs, FTMO and FundedNext. Funding Pips is the budget option.
Can I day trade NAS100 with a prop firm?
Yes, as a CFD at forex prop firms or as Nasdaq futures (NQ/MNQ) at futures firms.
What time should South Africans day trade?
The London open in the morning and the London–New York overlap and US cash open in the afternoon.