NAS100 is the ticker most brokers use for a CFD that tracks the Nasdaq-100 — the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq, dominated by mega-cap tech. As a CFD, you trade its price without owning any shares.
NAS100 is the ticker most brokers use for a CFD that tracks the Nasdaq-100 — the index of the 100 biggest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq, and one dominated by mega-cap tech. Trading it as a CFD lets you take a position on the index's price without owning any of the underlying shares.
Open a trading platform and you'll spot "NAS100" sitting in the watchlist next to EUR/USD and gold. This guide is for the moment you wonder what it actually is. We'll cover what the Nasdaq-100 tracks, how the CFD differs from the cash index and from futures, why a few tech giants call the shots, and how it's traded on MetaTrader 5 — plus the risks, because NAS100 is one of the punchier instruments you'll find on any platform.
None of this is advice, and there are no signals here. It's a plain explanation of the instrument.
What does NAS100 actually track?
It tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) — the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. Membership follows rules rather than opinion: companies classed as financials under the Industry Classification Benchmark are left out, and the list stops at 100. (Nasdaq)
Two things shape the index. First, no financials — no banks, no insurers — which is exactly why it leans so heavily toward technology, communication services and consumer names. Second, it's weighted by market cap (with caps we'll get to), so the biggest companies count the most.
The index is quoted in points, not dollars. Through mid-2026 it has traded roughly in the 28,000–30,000-point region; for the live figure, glance at any Nasdaq-100 chart. When NAS100 shows a price on your platform, it's built to shadow that number tick for tick.
NAS100 vs the Nasdaq Composite — not the same thing
People mix these up constantly, so it's worth being clear.
| | Nasdaq-100 (NAS100) | Nasdaq Composite |
|---|---|---|
| Companies | 100 largest non-financial | 3,000+ (all Nasdaq-listed) |
| Financials? | Excluded by rule | Included |
| Weighting | Modified market cap | Market cap |
| Broker ticker | NAS100 / US100 | Rarely offered as a CFD |
The Composite is nearly everything on the Nasdaq — over 3,000 companies, financials and all. (Nasdaq) The Nasdaq-100 is the top 100 non-financial names carved out of it. Since those names are the heavyweights, the two track each other closely day to day — but it's the Nasdaq-100 that brokers quote as NAS100.
Index, futures, CFD: three things wearing the same name
"NAS100" can point to three related-but-different things, and the difference decides how you trade.
The cash index is just a calculated number, updated live from the prices of its 100 members. You can't place an order on it directly — only on products that reference it.
Nasdaq-100 futures trade on the CME. The E-mini Nasdaq-100 is worth $20 per index point, with a minimum move of 0.25 points; the Micro E-mini is a tenth of that at $2 per point. (CME Group) Fixed contract sizes, set expiries and exchange margins make them a bigger, less flexible tool for a lot of retail traders.
The NAS100 CFD is an agreement between you and your broker to settle the difference in the index's price between the moment you open and the moment you close. No shares, no futures contract. What you get is flexibility — small position sizes, shorting that's as easy as buying, and leverage. The catch is that it's leveraged and high-risk, and you're trading on your broker's price rather than the exchange. If the mechanics are new to you, the education hub walks through them.
Why a few tech names run the whole thing
If you remember one thing about NAS100, make it this: a small group of giant tech companies drives most of its moves.
The index is weighted by market cap, so the biggest companies get the biggest slices — and Nasdaq's rules are built to manage that concentration, not remove it. At each quarterly rebalance, no single company is allowed to sit above 24% of the index, and the companies weighing more than 4.5% can't add up to more than 48% between them. Cross that 48% line and a "special rebalance" can be triggered to bring it back. (Nasdaq methodology) Nasdaq also refreshed the methodology on 1 May 2026 after a public consultation, tweaking how companies enter the index and how weights are handled. (Nasdaq)
Put simply: the rules let the largest names occupy close to half the index by design. So when a few mega-cap tech or communications companies rally — or sell off together — NAS100 swings far harder than a broad, evenly weighted benchmark would. It isn't "the market." It's a concentrated, tech-heavy, high-beta instrument, and that's the whole character of it.
What moves the NAS100 price?
Three forces do most of the work.
Big-tech earnings. With so much weight in so few names, quarterly results from the largest members can jerk the entire index around within seconds of the print. One blockbuster — or one miss — from a top holding often outweighs dozens of smaller companies combined.
Rates and the dollar. Growth and tech companies are unusually sensitive to interest-rate expectations. When the Federal Reserve leans hawkish, future profits get discounted harder, richly valued tech tends to slip, and the US Dollar Index (DXY) often firms up. Dovish signals tend to do the reverse. (Federal Reserve)
Risk appetite. NAS100 is a textbook risk-on gauge. When confidence is high, money chases growth and the index climbs; when a shock hits — geopolitics, credit stress, a liquidity scare — it usually drops quickly, because leveraged, high-valuation positions are the first to get cut. On any given day it's worth knowing which of these three is in the driver's seat, though none of them guarantees direction.
How do you trade NAS100 on MT5?
In MetaTrader 5, NAS100 turns up in Market Watch as a symbol you trade much like a currency pair. The specifics come from your broker's contract specification, but the shape of it is consistent:
- Long or short. Buy if you think the index rises, sell if you think it falls. Shorting a CFD is no harder than buying one.
- Contract size. NAS100 trades in lots, with the value per point set by the contract spec. Right-click the symbol and open "Specification" to see contract size, tick value and margin.
- Leverage. It lets you control a position larger than your deposit, within your broker's limits — and it magnifies losses just as much as gains. That's the core reason CFDs are high-risk.
- Spreads and costs. You pay the spread, and positions left open overnight usually carry a swap charge. On index CFDs the spread often widens around the daily break and big news.
- Sessions. NAS100 CFDs generally run nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, tracking the futures schedule with a short daily break and a weekend close. Liquidity and volatility tend to peak during US cash-market hours.
- Risk controls. Set a stop-loss and take-profit as you open the trade. Given how fast NAS100 can move on earnings or a Fed headline, predefined limits aren't optional.
Whatever you read here, confirm the live specification in your own platform first — contract details, margin and hours are set by the broker, not the index.
Trading NAS100 at NAMH Global
NAMH Global lists index CFDs including NAS100 on MetaTrader 5 (web and mobile), within a range of 2,100+ instruments across forex, commodities, indices, crypto and equities. You can trade it alongside other major indices, apply leverage within your account limits, and use MT5's charts, order types and risk tools to manage a position. Support is available 24/7.
Client funds are held in segregated accounts, and NAMH provides negative balance protection — so your losses on an account are capped at your balance and can't run past it. You can line NAS100 up against other benchmarks on our indices page, and cover the basics in the education hub before you place a trade.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Is NAS100 the same as the Nasdaq-100?
Not quite. The Nasdaq-100 is the underlying index of 100 large non-financial companies. NAS100 is the ticker most brokers give to a CFD whose price tracks that index. The index is the reference point; the CFD is the thing you actually buy or sell.
What is the difference between NAS100 and US100?
Usually nothing. NAS100 and US100 are two common broker symbols for the same product — a CFD on the Nasdaq-100. Which one you see comes down to the broker's naming convention, not a different market. Check your platform's contract specification if you're unsure.
What moves the NAS100 price?
Mostly three things — big-tech earnings, US interest-rate expectations and the dollar, and overall risk appetite. Because a few huge companies carry most of the weight, one earnings report or Fed signal can move the whole index sharply in minutes.
Can you trade NAS100 on MT5?
Yes. Most brokers that offer it list NAS100 as a CFD in MetaTrader 5, where it shows up in Market Watch like a currency pair. You can go long or short, use leverage within your broker's limits, and set stop-loss and take-profit orders. Check the contract size, spread and margin first.
Is trading NAS100 risky?
Very. NAS100 CFDs are leveraged, and leverage cuts both ways — it magnifies losses as much as gains. The index's concentration in a handful of tech names also means it can move fast and hard. Only trade money you can afford to lose.
What are NAS100 trading hours?
NAS100 CFDs usually trade nearly around the clock, five days a week, following the index-futures schedule, with a short daily break and a weekend close. Moves are typically biggest during US cash-market hours. Exact times and holiday changes are set by your broker.
Ready to explore index trading?
NAS100 is one of the most heavily traded index CFDs anywhere — fast, tech-driven, and watched closely for a reason. To put the idea to work, you can trade NAS100 and 2,100+ other instruments on MetaTrader 5 with NAMH Global. Start on the indices page and build the groundwork in the education hub.
Open an account with NAMH Global
Risk warning: CFDs are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money quickly. NAS100 can be especially volatile because so much of its weight sits in a few large technology companies. You can lose your entire deposit; NAMH Global provides negative balance protection, so your losses on an account won't exceed your balance. This is educational content, not investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to trade. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
NAMH Global Ltd is a company registered in Saint Lucia (Registration No. 2024-00372).