Trading hours
Futures and CFDs typically trade from Sunday 23:00 UK to Friday 22:00 UK with a one hour daily break at 22:00 UK; the stock market session that sets the index runs 14:30 to 21:00 UK.
| When | UK time | New York time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly open (Sunday) | 23:00 (22:00 in the gap weeks) | 18:00 ET Sunday | Futures reopen on CME Globex. Many CFD brokers open NAS100 at 01:00 server time on Monday, which is the same moment. |
| Daily break | 22:00 to 23:00 (21:00 to 22:00 in the gap weeks) | 17:00 to 18:00 ET, Monday to Thursday | A one hour pause each day. No prices print, and spreads are often wide just before and after. |
| Daily close (new trading day starts) | 22:00 (21:00 in the gap weeks) | 17:00 ET | The daily candle on most broker charts closes here. |
| Friday close | 22:00 (21:00 in the gap weeks; CFDs typically stop a few minutes earlier) | 17:00 ET Friday | Many CFD brokers close at 23:55 server time, which is about 21:55 UK. |
| US stock market session (Nasdaq) | 14:30 to 21:00 (13:30 to 20:00 in the gap weeks) | 09:30 to 16:00 ET | The stock market session. Opening auction at 09:30 ET and closing auction at 16:00 ET. |
| Busiest hours | 13:30 to 16:00, then 20:00 to 21:00 | 08:30 to 11:00 and 15:00 to 16:00 ET | Typically the most movement comes around US data at 08:30 ET, the cash open at 09:30 ET and the last hour before the cash close. |
Most of the year London is 5 hours ahead of New York, so the UK times above hold. The US and UK change clocks on different Sundays: in 2026 the US moved forward on 8 March and the UK on 29 March, and the UK moved back on 25 October and the US on 1 November. In those gap weeks (roughly the second half of March and the last week of October) London is only 4 hours ahead, so every New York based time on this page happens one hour earlier on a UK clock. In 2027 the gaps run from 14 to 28 March and from 31 October to 7 November. Times on your broker's chart follow its server clock, which is often set to GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 in summer so that the daily candle closes at 17:00 New York time. Check your broker's own contract page.
What is NAS100 (Nasdaq 100)?
The Nasdaq-100 tracks 100 of the largest companies listed on the Nasdaq stock market, leaving out banks and other financial companies. It is weighted by company size (a modified market value weighting), so the very largest technology companies make up a big share of the index and can move it on their own.
The official index is calculated by Nasdaq while the US stock market is open. Outside those hours, NAS100 at your broker follows the E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures (NQ) on CME Group, which trade almost around the clock.
The trading sessions
Typically quieter, with smaller candles. Moves often come from overnight news or Asian markets.
Activity picks up as European traders arrive. Futures can set the day's first real high or low here.
Typically the busiest stretch: US data at 13:30 UK, the cash open at 14:30 UK and both centres trading at once.
The stock market session. Moves tend to slow around midday New York time and pick up again into the 21:00 UK close.
Contract facts
One point is a move of 1.0 in the index level (for example from 20,000.0 to 20,001.0). Prices are often shown to one or two decimals.
Index CFD lot sizes differ between brokers. A common setup is 1 lot = 1 contract worth 1 unit of the index currency per point, but some brokers use 10 per point or 0.1 per point. Check the contract specification in your platform.
On a CFD where 1 lot is worth 1 US dollar per point, a 1 point move on 1 lot is worth 1 dollar. On one E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures contract a 1 point move is worth 20 dollars.
E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures (NQ) on CME Group: 20 US dollars times the index, minimum move 0.25 points. Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures (MNQ) are 2 dollars times the index.
How far it usually moves
Varies with conditions; check the Average daily range indicator on WickSpeak for the current figure. We have not published a fixed number because we could not verify one from an official source.
What moves NAS100 (Nasdaq 100)
Earnings from the largest technology companies: a handful of firms carry a large share of the index weight.
US interest rate expectations: growth companies tend to be sensitive to rates, so NAS100 often reacts more than US30.
US Treasury yields: rising yields have tended to weigh on technology shares.
US inflation and jobs data, through their effect on rate expectations.
Federal Reserve decisions and speeches.
Technology news: chip export rules, regulation and big product or spending announcements.
Global risk mood: NAS100 tends to fall harder than broader indices when traders cut risk.
Scheduled events to watch
What it tends to move with
S&P 500 (US500): moves in the same direction most days, with NAS100 usually making the bigger percentage move.
US30: usually the same direction, but less so on days led by technology shares.
US 10 year Treasury yields: NAS100 has tended to move against sharp rises in yields.
US dollar: a strongly rising dollar sometimes coincides with weaker technology shares, but this is loose.
Tips for trading NAS100 (Nasdaq 100)
Mark the opening range from 14:30 to 14:45 UK. A close above its high is a long idea; a close back inside the range proves it wrong.
NAS100 often moves more points than other indices, so set stops in points from structure and size down rather than squeezing the stop.
Check the earnings calendar. A big member reporting after 21:00 UK can gap the index when the session resumes.
Treat the previous day high and low as reference levels. A rejection at the previous day high is a short idea; a 5 minute close above it proves it wrong.
Avoid entering in the seconds before US data at 13:30 UK; wait for the first candle after the release to close.
Connect a cTrader account once and NAS100 appears on WickSpeak at your broker's own prices. Trades are placed only from a Playbook play where you switch live trading on; otherwise WickSpeak just reads the chart. Session separators mark the 14:30 UK cash open, and key levels show the previous day high and low, pivots, round numbers and average daily range levels with their distance in points. Every indicator writes a plain-English reading on the live candle, including what would prove it wrong.
Related markets
Sources: indexes.nasdaqomx.com, cmegroup.com, cmegroup.com, nyse.com, pepperstone.com, bls.gov, federalreserve.gov. Checked 2026-11-05. Broker hours follow your broker's server clock and can differ.
Questions traders ask
What time does NAS100 open in the UK?
NAS100 futures and most CFDs open on Sunday at 23:00 UK. The Nasdaq stock market session opens at 14:30 UK. In the gap weeks when US and UK clocks change on different dates, both are one hour earlier on a UK clock.
What time does the Nasdaq close in the UK?
The Nasdaq stock market session closes at 21:00 UK. NAS100 futures and most CFDs keep trading until 22:00 UK, pause for an hour, then reopen at 23:00 UK. On Friday they close at 22:00 UK or a few minutes before.
Is NAS100 the same as US100 and USTEC?
Yes, they are broker names for a CFD that follows the Nasdaq-100 index. Different brokers use different tickers. Outside stock market hours, the price follows the E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures.
Why does NAS100 move more than US30?
NAS100 is dominated by large technology companies, whose shares tend to react strongly to interest rate expectations and earnings. Its index level is also measured in larger numbers of points. So a typical day often covers more points on NAS100 than on US30 or the S&P 500.
What is the best time to trade NAS100?
Typically 13:30 to 16:00 UK, covering US data and the first part of the stock market session. The last hour before 21:00 UK can also be active. The Asian session is usually quieter.