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Futures Basics·Beginner· 3 min

What is the Nasdaq-100?

The index that NQ and MNQ track — and why it moves the way it does.

What it is

The Nasdaq-100 is the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange — heavily weighted toward tech (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, Google, Tesla).

Why it moves fast

Because a handful of mega-cap tech stocks dominate the index, earnings, guidance, or news from any of them can swing the whole index in seconds.

When it trades

NQ/MNQ futures trade nearly 24 hours a day, Sunday evening to Friday afternoon (US time), with the highest volume during the US cash session (9:30am – 4:00pm ET).

Watch it on the chart
Chart breakdown
NASDAQ-100 · top holdings drive the indexAAPL10.0%MSFT9.3%NVDA8.7%AMZN6.7%META6.0%GOOGL5.3%TSLA4.0%AVGO3.3%
NQ intraday chart with vertical lines marking Apple and Nvidia earnings.
Key takeaways
  • Nasdaq-100 = 100 biggest non-financial Nasdaq companies.
  • Top 7 tech names drive most of the movement.
  • Highest volatility is during the US cash session.
  • News on a single mega-cap can move the whole index.
Quick check

Which sector dominates the Nasdaq-100?

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