E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ)
It concentrates exposure to US technology and growth mega-caps, and typically shows a wider daily range than the S&P 500 contract. It trades on CME, tracking the Nasdaq-100 index of large non-financial Nasdaq-listed companies, and is most active during the us cash session, from the 9:30 a.m. et equity open to the 4:00 p.m. et close. We publish free educational analysis on NQ before each session — bias, key levels and one setup — and compare the brokers and prop firms that give access to it.
Latest NQ analysis
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2026-07-27
⚪ Neutral- 🔴 Short scenario at 28580–28620
- 🟢 Long scenario at 27850–28000
- 🔴 Short scenario at ~29000
Educational scenarios showing where price has reacted — not financial advice, not a signal, and not a recommendation to trade.
NQ contract specifications
| Ticker | NQ |
|---|---|
| Asset class | Index futures |
| Traded on | CME |
| Underlying | the Nasdaq-100 index of large non-financial Nasdaq-listed companies |
| Contract size | $20 × Nasdaq-100 Index |
| Tick size | 0.25 index points |
| Tick value | $5.00 |
| Smaller contract | MNQ — Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100, $2 × index, tick 0.25 pts = $0.50 |
| Trading hours | Sunday 6:00 p.m. – Friday 5:00 p.m. ET, with a daily maintenance break 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET |
| Most active | During the US cash session, from the 9:30 a.m. ET equity open to the 4:00 p.m. ET close |
Contract specifications are set by the exchange and can change — confirm the current specs on CME Group’s own site. Margin requirements are set by your broker and are deliberately not listed here.
What moves NQ
- Mega-cap technology earnings (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia and peers)
- US interest-rate expectations and long-duration valuation shifts
- Semiconductor and AI capital-expenditure news
- US CPI and other inflation data
Where to trade NQ
Advertising disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you open an account through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Providers we list are ones we have — or are seeking — an affiliate relationship with, so this is not a survey of the whole market. Commission never affects our editorial rankings, which are our own assessment — see how we rate. Trading involves significant risk of loss.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products carry a high risk of rapid loss. The majority of retail investor accounts lose money trading them. Futures brokers are priced by commission per contract, not spreads, so “pips” and “commission-based” are not directly comparable — and a 0.0-pip raw spread never includes the commission charged on top. Minimum deposits, leverage caps, product availability and investor protection depend on the entity that serves your country, and several brokers listed do not accept clients from every jurisdiction. Educational information only — not financial advice.
Brokers offering NQ
About prop-firm evaluations: these are simulated/demo trading environments. Most participants do not pass the evaluation, challenge fees are typically non-refundable, and passing does not guarantee a payout. Educational information only — not financial advice.
Prop firms offering NQ
Tracked payouts are all-time totals confirmed on-chain by Payout Junction, which covers only firms paying via Rise wallets — an absent figure does not mean a firm has not paid. Totals are aggregate across all traders, not an indication of individual outcomes.
Compare all prop firms →Learn how NQ trades
How to Trade Nasdaq 100 Futures (NQ): 2026 Guide
A structured, educational walkthrough of how to trade Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ) on CME Group: what the contract is, its published specifications, how disciplined traders analyze it with volume profile and key levels, and how to access it via a broker or prop firm. Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss.
Read the full guide →
NQ — frequently asked questions
› Where can I trade NQ?
You need an account with a broker or a prop firm that offers E-mini Nasdaq-100. We list 11 brokers and 10 prop firms covering this market, compared on cost, regulation and client eligibility.
› What moves NQ?
Mega-cap technology earnings (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia and peers), US interest-rate expectations and long-duration valuation shifts, Semiconductor and AI capital-expenditure news, US CPI and other inflation data. Our daily analysis maps the levels where price has historically reacted, rather than predicting direction.
› Does Dindou Trading give NQ signals?
No. We publish educational analysis — bias, key levels and one educational setup per session. We never tell anyone what to buy or sell, and there is no signal service.
› Is NQ analysis free?
Yes. NQ is one of the 7 markets we break down before each session, published free on Telegram at @dindoutrading and mirrored on this site.
Free NQ analysis, every session
Bias, key levels and one educational setup — before the open.
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