Nikkei 225 Live Trading US: Sunday Evening £200 Challenge & US 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 the United States, the livestream begins shortly before Sunday 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT during daylight saving time, or shortly before 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT during standard time.
This page brings together the GradTraders partners and trading solutions that make the most sense for US traders, with wider broker, prop-firm, software and trading research available whenever you want to compare the alternatives in more depth.
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 series is not judged from one stream.
What time does the Nikkei livestream start in the United States?
Tokyo opens at 9:00 AM JST every Monday. The GradTraders livestream starts shortly beforehand. Japan does not use daylight saving time, while most of the United States does, so US viewing times move by one hour through the year.
Arizona, Hawaii and some US territories use different daylight-saving rules, so check the local conversion if you are outside the four main continental US time zones.
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.
Futures, options and other leveraged products carry substantial risk and may not be suitable for every investor. Prop-firm evaluations involve separate fees, rules and eligibility requirements, and those fees can be lost. Check the provider’s current terms, registration, legal documents and risk warnings before opening or funding an account, or paying an evaluation fee.
Plus500 US is the clearest first choice for US traders who want listed futures
The practical fit comes first: Plus500 US offers a self-contained futures platform with both Nikkei futures (NKD) and Micro Nikkei USD futures (MNK), alongside Micro and E-mini S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Dow and Russell contracts. That gives a US reader a direct way to connect the Sunday Nikkei session with exchange-traded futures rather than an offshore CFD workaround.
The account is offered through Plus500US Financial Services LLC, a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the CFTC and a member of the NFA under NFA ID 0001398. For US readers, that distinction matters because this is a US futures service; the international Plus500 CFD offering is a different product and legal-entity setup.
Plus500 US Futures
Why it is useful: traders who prefer a user-friendly, integrated native platform can access listed US futures, including Nikkei and Micro Nikkei contracts, without building the account around MT4, MT5 or cTrader.
US entity: Plus500US Financial Services LLC d/b/a Plus500 is a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and NFA member, NFA ID 0001398. Trading privileges are subject to review and approval.
Risk: futures and options carry substantial risk of loss and are not suitable for every investor; losses can exceed the original investment.
FTMO US leads the partner comparison; E8 adds the strongest US futures angle
FTMO US is the strongest first partner comparison because US residents now have a dedicated FTMO service built around a structured simulated evaluation and Rewards Account. E8 Markets is the most natural futures-focused alternative because it is US-based and its current futures instrument list includes NKD Nikkei alongside ES, NQ, MES and MNQ.
The5ers and Funded Trading Plus remain useful alternatives, but US platform availability differs from their global offering. For a wider futures-first comparison, the GradTraders US prop research also covers specialist US futures firms rather than assuming one partner model suits everyone.
FTMO US
Why it leads: US residents and US-incorporated legal entities have a dedicated service combining FTMO’s structured evaluation model with a US-specific setup.
JV Prop Corporation provides the Evaluation Process and OANDA Prop US Corporation provides the FTMO Rewards Account. Both stages use simulated trading, and FTMO states that participants are not OANDA Corporation brokerage clients and do not receive OANDA customer regulatory protections.
E8 Markets
Why it fits the US particularly well: E8 Funding LLC is based in Dallas and the current simulated futures programme includes NKD Nikkei, ES, NQ, MES, MNQ and other CME contracts.
E8 is a simulated trading service, not a Futures Commission Merchant or customer brokerage account. Programme, platform and payout terms should be checked again before purchase.
The5ers
Why it remains useful: the United States is not in the current Forbidden Territories list, and The5ers gives patient/scaling-focused traders a different programme style from FTMO US and E8.
MetaQuotes platforms are currently prohibited for US residents, so US platform availability is narrower than in many other countries. GradTraders code: UR06YMJ — check the current platform and programme at checkout.
Funded Trading Plus
Why it earns a place: FT+ offers several evaluation structures for traders who value programme flexibility, and the United States is not on the current prohibited-country list.
MT5 is currently unavailable to US users, so the available platform should be checked before paying. GradTraders code: GRADTRADERS10 — confirm current checkout applicability.
TradingView and TraderSync lead; backtesting and US-hosted VPS tools fill specialist roles
Each tool has a different job. TradingView covers charting and exchange-traded futures analysis, TraderSync records and reviews trading behaviour, Forex Tester provides historical backtesting across US indices and futures, and the two VPS partners are specialist infrastructure options for traders who genuinely need an always-on remote trading environment.
TradingView
Why it leads: TradingView covers US stocks, indices and CME futures in one charting environment and connects to a broad range of futures brokers. It also supports paper trading and Bar Replay, so a US trader can research the Nikkei session and then move into the US trading week without changing analysis platform.
TraderSync
Why it is especially useful here: TraderSync supports stocks, equity options, futures and futures options and can sync with widely used US-oriented platforms including Interactive Brokers, Thinkorswim, TradeStation, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic and Tradovate.
Its value is behavioural: keep entries, exits, screenshots, mistakes and recurring patterns together so performance is judged from a larger sample rather than one trade.
Forex Tester
Why it fits: the current data library includes US30, NAS100, SPX500, USA500 and US futures datasets as well as JAPAN225. That makes it useful for turning an idea from the Nikkei livestream or a US index setup into a repeatable historical test.
ForexVPS.net
Why it has a real US role: ForexVPS.net lists New York and Chicago among its financial data-centre locations, alongside other US sites. An always-on VPS can be useful for compatible automated or remote trading workflows when the platform and broker actually benefit from it.
Choose by measured latency to the trading server, not by your home address. A VPS is unnecessary for many manual traders.
FXVM
Why it belongs in the US comparison: FXVM has dedicated futures-VPS material, lists both New York and Chicago locations and supports trading platforms including NinjaTrader. It gives futures traders a second infrastructure option rather than assuming one VPS provider will have the best latency for every setup.
Compare measured latency, stability and required resources before paying for either VPS service.
Two useful tools before you pay for an evaluation or increase risk
Prop Firm Offer Finder
Filter more than 140,000 possible combinations by firm, programme, account size and conditions, then verify the current US-specific rules 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.
For futures and derivatives, verify the exact US entity first
The CFTC and NFA provide direct registration and background checks for US derivatives firms. A global brand name is not enough: the legal entity, registration category and product must match the account you are actually opening.
1. Use the CFTC registration check
The CFTC directs customers to verify registration before opening or funding an account. This is a basic first step for futures, retail forex and other CFTC-regulated activity.
2. Check NFA BASIC
NFA BASIC provides registration and disciplinary-history information for many firms and individuals in the US derivatives industry. Use the legal entity or NFA ID, not only the consumer-facing brand.
3. Keep brokerage accounts and simulated prop evaluations separate
Plus500US Financial Services LLC is a registered FCM. FTMO US, E8 Markets, The5ers and Funded Trading Plus are different types of services with simulated/evaluation structures. Provider availability does not turn a prop evaluation into a regulated futures brokerage account.
Important note for US residents
Futures and options can move rapidly and unpredictably. Plus500 US states that losses can exceed the original investment and that trading privileges are subject to review and approval. Verify the exact US legal entity and registration before funding any derivatives account.
Prop-firm evaluations are separate services with their own fees, rules and simulated-account structures. Evaluation fees can be lost, and a simulated account size is not cash owned by the trader or a regulated brokerage balance.
The GradTraders £200 Nikkei 225 Challenge is a separate simulated-funds educational trading series. Its sessions and results are documented through the livestream archive and the Matthew Jackson Trading Record.
GradTraders United States FAQs
What time is the Nikkei 225 livestream in the United States?
The livestream begins shortly before the Monday 9:00 AM Tokyo open. During US daylight saving time, that Tokyo open is Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT, 6:00 PM MT and 5:00 PM PT. During standard time those times are one hour earlier.
Why is the Tokyo Monday session on Sunday in the US?
Tokyo is far enough ahead of the United States that Monday morning in Japan is still Sunday afternoon or evening in America.
Is the £200 Nikkei 225 Challenge real-money trading?
No. It is a separate GradTraders simulated-funds trading series, with sessions and results documented through the livestream archive and the Matthew Jackson Trading Record.
Why does Plus500 US lead the broker section?
Because the US service is offered through Plus500US Financial Services LLC, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and NFA member, and its current index-futures list includes Nikkei and Micro Nikkei contracts as well as major US index futures.
Is Plus500 US the same as the international Plus500 CFD service?
No. The US service discussed here is the futures service offered through Plus500US Financial Services LLC. The international CFD service is a different product and legal-entity setup.
Why does FTMO have a separate US route?
FTMO US is available to US residents and US-incorporated legal entities. JV Prop Corporation provides the Evaluation Process and OANDA Prop US Corporation provides the FTMO Rewards Account; both stages use simulated trading and do not create an OANDA Corporation brokerage-client relationship.
Why is E8 Markets especially relevant for US traders?
E8 Funding LLC is based in Dallas and its current simulated futures offering includes CME instruments such as NKD Nikkei, ES, NQ, MES and MNQ. It is a simulated trading service rather than a Futures Commission Merchant or customer brokerage account.
Can US traders use The5ers?
The United States is not in The5ers’ current Forbidden Territories list, but MetaQuotes platforms are prohibited for US residents. Check the platform available to US users before purchase.
Can US traders use Funded Trading Plus?
The United States is not on the current Funded Trading Plus prohibited-country list. Its current platform information says MT5 is not available in the US, so check the available platform before purchase.
Why is TradingView the strongest software fit?
TradingView combines US stocks, indices and futures research with CME data, paper trading, Bar Replay and a broad futures-broker ecosystem, making it useful across both the Sunday Nikkei session and the US trading week.
Why is TraderSync useful for US traders?
TraderSync supports stocks, equity options, futures and futures options and integrates with a wide range of US-oriented futures and brokerage platforms, helping traders review entries, exits, mistakes and recurring patterns.
What can Forex Tester add for a US trader?
Its current historical library includes major US indices and futures datasets as well as JAPAN225, so ideas from the Nikkei livestream or US index trading can be tested over a larger historical sample.
Why are ForexVPS.net and FXVM included?
Both provide US server locations including New York and Chicago for traders who genuinely need an always-on remote trading environment. Choose a VPS by measured latency to the actual trading server, platform compatibility and required resources rather than geography alone.
Where can I check a US futures firm's registration?
Use the CFTC registration check and NFA BASIC, searching by the exact legal entity or registration identifier rather than only the brand name.
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 US financial or legal advice?
No. GradTraders provides education, research and general information, not personal financial, investment, tax or legal advice.
Primary references: Plus500 US terms and futures contract list, CFTC and NFA registration resources, FTMO US, current The5ers and Funded Trading Plus US platform/eligibility information, E8 Markets US/futures material, TradingView futures research, TraderSync futures support, Forex Tester historical markets, and current ForexVPS.net and FXVM US server locations.
Plus500 US Terms · Plus500 US Index Futures · CFTC Check · NFA BASIC
FTMO US · The5ers Terms · FT+ Countries · FT+ Platforms · E8 About · E8 Futures Instruments
TradingView Futures · TraderSync Futures Journal · Forex Tester Markets · ForexVPS Locations · FXVM Futures VPS