NAS100 trading: Nasdaq 100 CFDs

What is NAS100?

NAS100 is the trading name for the Nasdaq-100 index. It holds the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Technology dominates, with large software, chip, internet and consumer technology firms, and health care and retail names make up much of the rest.

A NAS100 CFD lets you take a view on the whole group in one position.

How does NAS100 differ from US30?

NAS100 is weighted by company size, adjusted so no single name can dominate. US30 is price-weighted and holds only 30 firms. The result is a few mega-cap companies drive a large share of NAS100's daily move.

That concentration makes the index more sensitive to a handful of earnings reports. It also leans toward growth companies, which are valued on profits far in the future. See the US30 guide for the contrast.

What moves NAS100?

Interest rate expectations are the biggest swing factor. Growth companies are valued on distant cash flows, and higher yields reduce what those flows are worth today. When markets expect rate cuts, NAS100 often rallies. When they expect higher rates, it often falls harder than the Dow.

Earnings from the largest members, spending plans on artificial intelligence and data centres, chip demand, and regulation or trade limits on technology all feed in. Semiconductor and software sector news can move the whole index even on a quiet macro day.

When is NAS100 most active?

NAS100 is busiest in the US cash session, from 14:30 to 21:00 GMT, with the open and close usually the most active. Earnings are mostly released just after the US close or before the open, which can create gaps at the next session.

Check the hours shown for NAS100 in your platform, since index CFDs can trade for longer than the cash market but with thinner liquidity.

How does a point work on NAS100?

NAS100 is quoted in index points. A move from 18,000 to 18,001 is one point. On the sample specification on our indices page the value is $1 per point per lot, but confirm the contract in the platform. Because the index level is high and moves fast, a day's range can be hundreds of points.

What are the risks of trading NAS100?

Higher volatility is the main risk. NAS100 often swings by a larger percentage than the Dow, and a bad earnings report from one giant can drag the whole index. Gaps at the open are common.

Leverage can turn a quick 3 percent drop into a large loss of margin, and losses can exceed your deposit. Keep position sizes smaller than you would on a calmer index.

Which events should you watch?

The economic calendar covers the macro dates. Add earnings dates yourself.

How do traders approach NAS100?

Because the index moves a lot, many traders use smaller lots than on other indices and rely on wider stops. A common routine is to mark the previous day's high and low and the overnight range, then wait for a break during the US session.

Some trade the index around earnings of its biggest members, expecting a move the day after. Others avoid those days because gaps can skip stops. Neither choice suits everyone, so write down which you are using.

The index often moves with chip makers, so a strong or weak semiconductor result can set the tone for the day. Following US30 beside it helps you see when technology is leading or lagging.

Is NAS100 linked to other markets?

It often moves with other risk assets, including Bitcoin and the broader US market, and against the yen during sell-offs. A rise in Treasury yields often presses on the index.

Correlations change, so treat them as a guide. If you hold NAS100 and Bitcoin in the same direction, a single risk-off day can hit both positions at once.

How do you trade NAS100 as a CFD?

AQ Markets offers NAS100 with other index CFDs on MetaTrader 4 and 5. Read the spread, swap, margin and hours in the platform specification, as these are set per instrument and may change.

Test your stop distances on a demo account first, then compare account types.