Nikkei 225 Live Trading Singapore: Monday 8AM SGT & Trading Research
Watch Matthew Jackson, founder of GradTraders.com, trade around the Tokyo cash-market open every Monday in the GradTraders £200 simulated-funds Nikkei 225 Challenge. In Singapore, the livestream begins shortly before 8:00 AM SGT on Monday, just before Tokyo opens at 9:00 AM JST and around 30 minutes before the SGX securities pre-open begins.
This page brings together the GradTraders partners and trading solutions that make the most sense for Singapore traders, with a locally licensed broker route, differentiated prop-firm choices, trading software, free tools and direct MAS checks.
Day 1 shows the Challenge from its starting balance, with entries, exits, stops, risk decisions and the result left visible.
For the longer view: the Matthew Jackson Trading Record keeps weekly results, replays and chart evidence together so the Challenge is not judged from one session.
A particularly convenient Asian-market session for Singapore traders
Tokyo opens at 9:00 AM JST every Monday, which is 8:00 AM SGT. Singapore and Japan do not use daylight saving time, so the conversion stays fixed throughout the year. The GradTraders livestream begins shortly beforehand.
That gives Singapore viewers a clean sequence from the Tokyo open into the SGX opening routine without needing an overnight replay.
The Challenge uses simulated funds, with its performance updated weekly on the website through the livestream trading archive and the Matthew Jackson Trading Record.
Important risk information
GradTraders provides general education and research only. Nothing on this page is personal financial, investment, tax or legal advice, or a recommendation to use a particular provider. Some links below are commercial partner links, and GradTraders may earn a commission from an eligible account opening or purchase at no additional cost to the reader. Commercial relationships do not determine our editorial conclusions.
CFDs and other leveraged products carry a high risk of loss. Prop-firm evaluations involve separate fees, rules and eligibility requirements, and those fees can be lost. Check the provider’s current terms, legal documents and risk warnings before opening or funding an account, or paying an evaluation fee.
Plus500 leads for a user-friendly local CFD route; specialist platform traders should compare the wider broker research
For Singapore readers who want a self-contained web and mobile CFD platform rather than an MT5 or cTrader workflow, Plus500 is the clearest commercial broker fit on this page. Its Singapore service is provided by Plus500SG Pte. Ltd., which the Monetary Authority of Singapore lists as a Capital Markets Services Licensee for dealing in over-the-counter derivatives contracts.
Traders who specifically want MT5, cTrader, TradingView or automation should still compare IC Markets in GradTraders research. The current global entity is Raw Trading Ltd under Seychelles FSA licence SD018, so that route should not be treated as though it carried the same Singapore licence as Plus500SG.
Plus500 Singapore
Why it fits: Plus500 offers a user-friendly proprietary web/mobile platform and demo environment for traders who prefer a self-contained account experience rather than building around MT5 or cTrader.
Singapore entity: Plus500SG Pte. Ltd. is incorporated in Singapore and appears in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory as a Capital Markets Services Licensee for dealing in OTC derivatives. Plus500 identifies licence number CMS100648.
Current Singapore risk wording: CFDs are leveraged products and can result in the loss of your entire capital. Trading CFDs may not be suitable for some investors.
IC Markets
Why it remains useful: IC Markets is the stronger platform comparison if MT5, cTrader, TradingView, automation and a more specialist active-trader workflow matter more than a proprietary platform.
Regulatory distinction: the reviewed global legal material identifies Raw Trading Ltd under Seychelles FSA licence SD018. That is not MAS supervision, so Singapore readers should match the exact account entity and legal documents before opening an account.
Singapore check: MAS licensing is entity- and activity-specific. Match the legal company in the account documents to the MAS Financial Institutions Directory before funding an account.
FTMO is the benchmark; The5ers, Funded Trading Plus and E8 offer different programme styles
FTMO is the strongest first comparison for structured evaluation rules and risk objectives. The5ers is the more patient scaling comparison, Funded Trading Plus adds programme flexibility, and E8 offers a newer programme and platform structure. Singapore does not appear on the current published restricted-country lists reviewed for these providers, although KYC, payment, platform and payout rules can change.
FTMO
Why it leads: FTMO remains the main GradTraders benchmark for structured simulated evaluations, clear risk objectives and a mature programme framework.
Singapore is not in FTMO’s current published exclusion list. FTMO Challenge and FTMO Account use simulated trading environments and are not MAS-regulated brokerage accounts.
The5ers
Why it belongs beside FTMO: The5ers is better suited to traders who want a more patient progression and scaling proposition rather than another version of the same evaluation structure.
Singapore is not in the current Forbidden Territories. GradTraders code: UR06YMJ — verify current programme conditions before purchase.
Funded Trading Plus
Why it earns a place: its clearest distinction is programme flexibility across several simulated evaluation structures, giving traders another way to compare rules rather than only headline account sizes.
Singapore is not on the prohibited-country list updated August 26, 2026. GradTraders code: GRADTRADERS10 — check current checkout and programme conditions before purchase.
E8 Markets
Why it completes the selection: E8 gives Singapore traders a newer programme and platform structure to compare with the more established firms above.
Singapore does not appear on E8’s current restricted lists for Forex+Crypto or Futures. Eligibility still depends on KYC and third-party payment or payout-provider rules.
TradingView leads; journaling, backtesting, automation and Singapore VPS options cover the rest of the workflow
The software section should solve different problems rather than repeat the same pitch. TradingView connects Tokyo and Singapore market analysis, TraderSync records the process, Forex Tester supports historical testing, EA Builder Pro is the specialist automation route, and both ForexVPS.net and FXVM currently offer Singapore infrastructure for traders who genuinely need an always-on environment.
TradingView
Why it leads: TradingView has dedicated Singapore market coverage for the STI, Singapore-listed shares and local sectors alongside Nikkei and other global markets.
That makes it the cleanest charting bridge from the Tokyo session into SGX trading later that morning without tying the analysis to one broker.
TraderSync
Why it earns a place: a journal is useful regardless of account provider. TraderSync lets a Singapore trader record entries, exits, screenshots, mistakes and recurring patterns instead of judging performance from a handful of sessions.
It fits the same transparency principle as the Matthew Jackson Trading Record: review the process over time, not just the final P&L.
Forex Tester
Why it fits: if the Monday morning session produces an idea, Forex Tester gives traders a way to turn that idea into rules and test it across historical data before risking capital.
That makes it a useful bridge between watching one Nikkei session and deciding whether a trading rule has held up over a much larger sample.
EA Builder Pro
Why it is a specialist rather than a default recommendation: EA Builder Pro is for traders who already have clearly defined rules and want to build MT4 or MT5 Expert Advisors without hand-coding the strategy. It is most relevant to Singapore readers already using a compatible MetaTrader workflow.
Automation should follow a defined and tested rule set. Building an EA does not make an untested strategy reliable.
ForexVPS.net
Why it has a genuine local advantage: ForexVPS.net currently lists Singapore among its trading data-centre locations, giving automated and always-on setups a local infrastructure option.
Choose a VPS by measured latency to the actual broker server, not simply by the trader’s home location.
FXVM
Why it gives a real second infrastructure choice: FXVM also offers Singapore-hosted trading VPS plans, including infrastructure designed for trading terminals and automated strategies.
Compare the measured broker-server latency, resources, stability and current pricing rather than assuming either Singapore VPS provider is automatically the better fit.
Two tools to use before opening an account or paying an evaluation fee
Prop Firm Offer Finder
Filter more than 140,000 possible combinations by firm, programme, account size and conditions, then recheck current Singapore eligibility before purchase.
Compound Interest Calculator
Model starting capital, regular contributions, time and assumed returns directly in the browser. It is free and requires no email address or account.
Use the MAS Financial Institutions Directory and match the exact activity
Singapore’s regulator makes this relatively straightforward: search the exact legal company in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory, then check the licence type and the specific activity the firm is authorised to conduct.
1. Check the company, not just the brand
The current MAS entry for Plus500SG Pte. Ltd. shows a Capital Markets Services Licence for dealing in OTC derivatives contracts. That is more useful than a generic statement that a global brand is regulated somewhere.
2. Match the authorised activity
A licence can cover some capital-markets activities and not others. Read the MAS entry alongside the product and account agreement you are actually using.
3. Keep overseas entities separate from MAS supervision
If a provider’s legal documents identify an overseas entity, its overseas licence should not be described as MAS regulation. Provider acceptance of a Singapore address is not the same thing as a Singapore capital-markets licence.
GradTraders Singapore FAQs
What time is the Nikkei 225 livestream in Singapore?
The GradTraders livestream begins shortly before 8:00 AM SGT on Monday. Tokyo opens at 9:00 AM JST, which is exactly 8:00 AM in Singapore. Neither country uses seasonal daylight saving time.
How does the livestream fit around SGX trading hours?
Tokyo opens at 8:00 AM SGT. SGX securities pre-open begins at 8:30 AM and normal morning trading begins at 9:00 AM, so Singapore viewers can move directly from the Nikkei session into the local opening routine.
Is the £200 Nikkei 225 Challenge real-money trading?
No. It uses simulated funds, with its sessions and results documented through the livestream archive and the Matthew Jackson Trading Record.
Why does Plus500 lead the Singapore broker section?
Plus500 combines a user-friendly proprietary platform with a Singapore-incorporated serving entity. Plus500SG Pte. Ltd. is listed by MAS as a Capital Markets Services Licensee for dealing in OTC derivatives contracts and Plus500 identifies licence number CMS100648.
What should Singapore traders check when comparing an overseas broker entity?
Match the exact legal company in the account documents to its home regulator and check whether that company appears in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory. An overseas licence is not the same as MAS supervision.
Which prop firm is the strongest first comparison?
FTMO. It remains the main GradTraders benchmark for structured simulated evaluations and risk objectives, while The5ers, Funded Trading Plus and E8 offer different programme styles.
Are The5ers, Funded Trading Plus and E8 Markets currently available for Singapore comparison?
Singapore does not appear on the current published restricted-country lists reviewed for those providers. KYC, payment, platform and payout-provider rules can still change.
Why is TradingView especially useful in Singapore?
TradingView has dedicated Singapore market coverage for the STI, Singapore-listed shares and local sectors alongside Nikkei and other global markets.
Why include TraderSync?
A trading journal is useful regardless of the account provider. TraderSync can keep entries, exits, screenshots, mistakes and recurring patterns together so the trader can review process over a larger sample.
What is Forex Tester useful for?
It lets traders turn an idea into explicit rules and test those rules across historical data rather than judging the idea from one livestream or a handful of trades.
Who is EA Builder Pro for?
It is a specialist tool for traders who already use MT4 or MT5 and want to turn clearly defined rules into Expert Advisors without hand-coding the strategy.
Do ForexVPS.net and FXVM both offer Singapore VPS locations?
Yes. Both currently offer Singapore infrastructure. The better choice depends on measured latency to the actual broker server, resources, stability and current pricing rather than geography alone.
Where can I verify a Singapore broker or capital-markets firm?
Use the Monetary Authority of Singapore Financial Institutions Directory and search the exact legal company, licence type and authorised activity.
Is the Prop Firm Offer Finder free?
Yes. It can filter more than 140,000 possible combinations and is free to use.
Does the Compound Interest Calculator require an account?
No. It is free and works in the browser without an email address or account.
Is GradTraders giving financial advice in Singapore?
No. GradTraders provides education, research and general information, not personal financial, investment, tax or legal advice.
Primary references: MAS Financial Institutions Directory, Plus500 Singapore legal documents, IC Markets Global entity information, SGX trading rules, current FTMO, The5ers, Funded Trading Plus and E8 eligibility material, TradingView Singapore, TraderSync, Forex Tester, EA Builder Pro, ForexVPS.net and FXVM.
MAS · Plus500SG · Plus500 Singapore Terms · IC Markets Entity Information · SGX Trading Hours
FTMO Eligibility · The5ers Terms · FT+ Countries · E8 Countries
TradingView Singapore · TraderSync · Forex Tester · EA Builder Pro · ForexVPS Locations · FXVM Singapore