How to trade the Nasdaq 100 (US100): 6 steps from contract spec to written plan
The Sahm Markets team · 29 October 2026 · 6 min read · How we write
In short
- US100 is concentrated in large technology companies, so a few names can move it.
- Point value varies by broker: read the contract spec and test it on a demo.
- The size comes from the stop, never from the target.
The Nasdaq 100 is the index most Gulf traders meet first, usually as US100, NAS100 or USTEC on a CFD platform. It moves fast, it is heavy in technology and it reacts to US rates within seconds. Before any setup, six things are worth knowing about it.
1. Know what is inside the index
The Nasdaq-100 holds the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. It is weighted by market value, so a handful of the largest technology names carry a large share of the index. When two or three of them report earnings in the same week, the whole index can move with them. That concentration is why US100 usually swings more in percentage terms than the broader S&P 500.
2. Find the real contract value on your platform
This is the step most beginners skip. There is no single "US100 point value": it depends on the product and the broker.
| Product | What one point is worth |
|---|---|
| E-mini Nasdaq-100 future (CME) | $20 per contract |
| Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 future (CME) | $2 per contract |
| US100 CFD | set by the broker; often $1 per point per 1.0 lot, but some use $10, $0.10 or other sizes |
To check yours, open the symbol's specification window (in MetaTrader: right-click the symbol in Market Watch, then Specification) and read the contract size and tick value. Then confirm with a tiny demo trade: open 0.10 lot, watch the profit change over a 10-point move and divide.
3. Size the trade from the stop
Once the point value is known, the size follows from the stop, never from the target:
Lot = money at risk ÷ (stop in points × value of one point per 1.0 lot)
| Account | Risk | Money at risk | Stop | Point value (1.0 lot) | Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | 1% | $20 | 80 points | $1 | 0.25 |
| $5,000 | 0.5% | $25 | 120 points | $1 | 0.20 |
| $5,000 | 0.5% | $25 | 120 points | $10 | 0.02 |
Illustrative calculation, not an expectation of results. The last two rows show why the contract spec matters: the same plan needs a lot ten times smaller on a broker that uses $10 per point. The lot size calculator handles the arithmetic, and the risk-reward calculator checks the target against the stop.
4. Trade the hours, not the whole day
US100 CFDs often quote almost around the clock, but most of the volume arrives with the New York cash session: 18:30 to 01:00 UAE time in US winter and 17:30 to 00:00 in US summer. The first 15 to 30 minutes after the open are often the most volatile of the day, and spreads may be wider before it. The full timetable, including the pre-market and US holidays, is in US market hours in Gulf time.
5. Mark the news that moves it
US100 is especially sensitive to interest-rate expectations, because much of its value sits in companies priced on future growth. Inflation (CPI), jobs (NFP) and Federal Reserve decisions can all move it sharply. Earnings from its largest members matter almost as much. What moves indices explains each driver.
6. Write the rules before the open
A Nasdaq plan usually answers five questions on one page: which session, which setup, where the stop is, what size that stop allows, and what daily loss ends the day. Many plans also add a rule about not holding through the results of the index's biggest companies.
In short
US100 is a concentrated, fast index. Check the contract spec on your own platform, size from the stop, focus on the New York session and write the plan before the opening bell.
Questions people also ask
How much is one point on US100?
It depends on the product. The E-mini future is $20 per point and the Micro $2; on CFDs the broker sets it, often $1 per point per 1.0 lot. The symbol's specification window shows yours.
Are US100, NAS100 and USTEC the same thing?
They are different broker names for a CFD on the Nasdaq-100 index. The contract size, decimals and hours can still differ between brokers.
When is US100 most active in Gulf time?
Usually during the New York cash session: 18:30 to 01:00 UAE time in US winter and 17:30 to 00:00 in US summer, with the first half hour often the most volatile.
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