Nasdaq Futures | CME: NQ | Currency: USD | Type: Index Futures
Key Statistics
About Nasdaq Futures
Nasdaq Futures (the CME E-mini Nasdaq-100, ticker NQ) track the Nasdaq-100 index of the largest non-financial Nasdaq companies. At US$20 per index point, NQ is the primary vehicle for expressing leveraged views on US mega-cap technology outside cash-market hours. It is typically the most volatile of the big three US index futures.
Instrument Details
| Ticker | NQ |
| Exchange / Market | CME |
| Instrument type | Index Futures |
| Quote currency | USD |
Underlying & Contract Specifications
| Underlying asset | Nasdaq-100 Index |
| Exchange | CME (Globex) |
| Contract unit | US$20 × index points |
| Tick size | 0.25 point (US$5) |
| Expiry cycle | Quarterly — Mar / Jun / Sep / Dec |
Contract specifications are indicative — always verify against the exchange's official contract page before trading.
Trading Hours
Nasdaq Futures trades nearly 23 hours a day on CME Globex-style sessions — from roughly 03:30 AM IST Monday through 02:30 AM IST Saturday, with a one-hour daily maintenance break around 03:30 AM IST. Outside those hours this page shows the last traded level, with change figures measured against the previous official close. All session times are expressed in Indian Standard Time (IST).
How to Read Nasdaq Futures
The gap between Nasdaq Futures and the underlying index's last close is often monitored as a guide to the possible opening move of the cash market. Overnight trends in the futures reflect reactions to news released outside regular hours. Traders also watch the futures premium or discount to fair value for sentiment cues.
52-week range: 22,961.5 – 30,968. Trailing 12-month change: 25.06%.
By Liveworldmarket Editorial Team · Last reviewed 17 August 2026
Nasdaq Futures (E-mini NQ) — A Practical Guide
Nasdaq-100 futures (CME ticker NQ) track the Nasdaq-100 index, which holds the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The contract multiplier is $20 × the Nasdaq-100 index — roughly the same notional size as the S&P 500 E-mini despite NQ's higher price, because the index level is around four times that of the S&P 500.
NQ is the 'tech proxy' of the global market. The Nasdaq-100 is roughly 60% Information Technology by weight and includes nearly every mega-cap US technology name — Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Google, Meta, Tesla. That heavy concentration means NQ moves dramatically in response to AI-cycle news, semiconductor-export controls, US interest-rate expectations, and individual mega-cap earnings.
History & contract origins
The Nasdaq-100 index was launched on 31 January 1985 by Nasdaq, eight years after the broader Nasdaq Composite. NQ futures launched on 10 April 1996. The contract has been continuously CME-listed since and has expanded from a niche tech-trader product to the second-most-liquid equity-index future after ES.
Trading hours & session layout
Standard CME Globex schedule applies (IST):
| Weekly open | Sun 04:30 IST |
| Daily break | 03:30 – 04:30 IST |
| US cash open | 19:00 / 20:00 IST (DST) |
| Weekly close | Sat 02:30 IST |
How to read this tape
NQ is the most volatile of the three big US index futures. A 1% intraday move in ES is meaningful; a 1% move in NQ is normal. When reading the Liveworldmarket tape, compare the NQ % to the ES % — an NQ that's down 0.5% with ES flat can indicate tech-specific weakness, while NQ down 0.5% with ES down 0.4% points to a broader risk-off move.
Earnings sensitivity: NQ has by far the most concentrated single-stock exposure of the major US index futures. The top 5 holdings together exceed 35% of the index. That means a Nvidia or Apple earnings beat / miss after the cash close can swing NQ by 1–2% in extended-hours trading, with the move surviving into the next session.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Nasdaq-100 different from the Nasdaq Composite?
The Nasdaq Composite includes ALL Nasdaq-listed stocks (~3,000+). The Nasdaq-100 strips out financials and keeps only the 100 largest non-financial names. NQ futures track the latter.
Is NQ a leveraged tech ETF?
No. NQ is a futures contract — it gives notional 1× exposure to the Nasdaq-100 with a small margin requirement. Leveraged ETFs (TQQQ, SQQQ) layer 2–3× daily leverage on top, with attendant decay risk. They are not equivalent.
Related markets
Editorial article. Information only — not investment advice. Read our Risk Disclaimer before acting on any market data shown here.