Nasdaq Futures Explained

NQ is the standard E-mini, $20 per point. MNQ is the micro contract, $2 per point, and is ideal for smaller accounts or risk management. NDX is the cash index, not a futures contract, but it is what the futures derive from.

CME equity index futures trade nearly around the clock. The New York RTH session is 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, but the overnight session creates the levels that RTH often re-tests first. FTS packages cover both sessions.

Margin is the amount of capital required to hold a position. It changes with volatility. A single NQ point is $20, so a 50-point stop loss costs $1,000 per contract before commissions. Position sizing is more important than entry timing.