Schwab Trading Index Drops 2.23% to 56.04, Plans Bitcoin Trading
Charles Schwab’s proprietary Trading Activity Index plunged 2.23% to 56.04 in March, marking its steepest drop since May 2025 as clients rotated into ETFs as geopolitical tensions rose. The firm plans to roll out direct cryptocurrency trading for Bitcoin as the digital asset rebounds toward $70,000.
1. Steepest STAX Monthly Decline Since 2025
The Schwab Trading Activity Index fell to 56.04 in March from February’s 57.32, a 2.23% decline and the sharpest monthly drop since May 2025. Geopolitical tensions in Iran, a more than 7% slide in the S&P 500 and persistent oil prices above $100/barrel prompted clients to rotate into diversified ETFs, five of which ranked among the top ten net buys, while bullish sentiment across age groups and trader segments weakened and Information Technology and Energy saw the largest net outflows.
2. New Direct Cryptocurrency Trading Service
As Bitcoin rebounds toward $70,000, Charles Schwab will introduce direct Bitcoin trading within its brokerage platform, allowing clients to execute cryptocurrency transactions alongside equities and ETFs. This service expands Schwab’s product suite into digital assets by integrating Bitcoin trading into its established account infrastructure.