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NQ and MNQ futures: E-mini and Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100
NQ and MNQ track the Nasdaq-100 in 0.25-point ticks. One NQ tick is worth $5.00 and one MNQ tick $0.50, so a full point is $20 on NQ and $2 on MNQ.
NQ and MNQ contract specs
Both contracts are listed by CME and trade on CME Globex. MNQ has one-tenth the multiplier of NQ and the same 0.25-point tick.
| Spec | NQ (E-mini Nasdaq-100) | MNQ (Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100) |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange | CME (CME Globex) | CME (CME Globex) |
| Multiplier | $20 × Nasdaq-100 index | $2 × Nasdaq-100 index |
| Tick size | 0.25 index points | 0.25 index points |
| Tick value | $5.00 | $0.50 |
| Point value | $20 (4 ticks) | $2 (4 ticks) |
| CME trading hours | Sunday–Friday, 6:00 PM–5:00 PM ET, daily break 5:00–6:00 PM ET | Same as NQ |
| At FundedHero Futures | From 6:00 PM ET; positions closed at 4:10 PM ET | Same as NQ |
What a point and a tick are worth
- A 30-point move is 120 ticks. One NQ makes or loses 120 × $5.00 = $600. One MNQ: 120 × $0.50 = $60.
- A 10-point stop is 40 ticks: $200 on one NQ, $20 on one MNQ.
- Notional size: at an index level of 20,000, one NQ controls $400,000 of Nasdaq-100 exposure (20,000 × $20). One MNQ controls $40,000.
An NQ tick is worth less than an ES tick ($5.00 against $12.50), but NQ usually covers far more points in a day, so its dollar swings per contract are typically larger.
Tick sizes and values are the exchange's contract specifications (CME Group). Results leave out commissions and fees. This is a calculator, not trading advice.
tickspoints1 tick1 point=Sizing NQ and MNQ on a funded account
This example uses the Hero X 1-Step $50K account. The evaluation has a $2,200 end-of-day trailing max drawdown and no daily drawdown limit. You can hold up to 4 minis / 40 micros, and the plan’s rules say the cap is the same in the evaluation and on the funded account.
| Hero X account | Max open | Evaluation max drawdown | 1 NQ | 1 MNQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | 2 minis / 20 micros | $1,250 | 250 ticks (62.5 points) | 2,500 ticks (625 points) |
| $50K | 4 minis / 40 micros | $2,200 | 440 ticks (110 points) | 4,400 ticks (1,100 points) |
| $100K | 6 minis / 60 micros | $3,300 | 660 ticks (165 points) | 6,600 ticks (1,650 points) |
| $150K | 10 minis / 100 micros | $4,500 | 900 ticks (225 points) | 9,000 ticks (2,250 points) |
At full size on the $50K (4 NQ or 40 MNQ), each point is worth $80, so a 27.5-point move against you equals the whole $2,200. Once funded, the $50K Hero X max drawdown is $2,000: 400 NQ ticks (100 points) or 4,000 MNQ ticks (1,000 points).
- Know your roomWith no daily limit, the only line is the trailing level, $47,800 at the start. It is checked at the end of the day, but anything you are down at 4:10 PM ET is locked in when positions auto-close.
- Set a per-trade riskYour choice, not a firm rule. Say $200.
- Price the stopA 10-point stop is 40 ticks: $200 per NQ, $20 per MNQ. That is 1 NQ or 10 MNQ.
- Use MNQ for wider stopsA 15-point stop (60 ticks) costs $300 per NQ, over budget. At $30 per MNQ, 6 MNQ ($180) fits.
Volatility and session behaviour
The Nasdaq-100 is weighted toward large technology and growth companies, so NQ reacts sharply to interest-rate expectations, inflation data and big-tech news. Most volume comes in the US cash session, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, with the opening hour usually the most active.
Data at 8:30 AM ET and Federal Reserve decisions at 2:00 PM ET can move NQ dozens of points quickly. Many large-cap earnings come out after the 4:00 PM ET cash close; with the 4:10 PM ET auto-close you will be flat for them. The overnight session is thinner, and liquidity right after the 6:00 PM ET open is usually thin, especially on Sundays and holidays.
How FundedHero Futures rules apply to NQ and MNQ
Products and contract limits
NQ and MNQ are on the available products list under CME indices. Each plan sets a contract cap: the most you can have open at one time.
Hours and the 4:10 PM ET auto-close
Trading is permitted from the 6:00 PM ET Globex open, on evaluations and funded accounts alike. All positions close automatically at 4:10 PM ET, so nothing is held overnight or over the weekend, and pushing orders after 4:10 PM ET can lead to disqualification. The trading day resets at 6:00 PM ET. On early-close holidays positions are not closed for you.
News trading
News trading is allowed, including NFP, CPI and FOMC. Plan for slippage.
The 30-second rule and scalping
After every execution, wait at least 30 seconds before your next execution on the same account. Adjusting stops and taking partials on an open position is fine. Up to four violations keeps the account active but pays only 25% of the eligible profit split; five or more breaches the account and resets it to its original phase (full policy). MNQ scalpers should also note the prohibited practices list, which includes consistently opening and closing trades in under two minutes for tiny gains, especially without a clear setup.
End-of-day trailing drawdown
All drawdown is end-of-day trailing. On the Hero X $50K evaluation the level starts at $47,800. Close a day at $51,000, a new high, and it rises to $48,800. It never moves down, and only the balance at the 6:00 PM ET rollover is checked.
Frequently asked questions
How much is one tick on NQ and MNQ?
Both tick in 0.25 index points. One tick is $5.00 on NQ and $0.50 on MNQ, which makes a full point $20 and $2.
How many NQ contracts can I trade on a Hero X $50K account?
Up to 4 minis or 40 micros open at one time. The Hero X rules say the cap is the same in the evaluation and on the funded account.
Is NQ more volatile than ES?
Usually, yes. The Nasdaq-100 is concentrated in large tech and growth stocks, so NQ tends to move more points and more dollars per contract than ES on a typical day.
Can I scalp MNQ at FundedHero Futures?
Short-term trading is possible within the rules. You must wait at least 30 seconds between executions on the same account, and consistently opening and closing trades in under two minutes for tiny gains is a prohibited practice.
Can I hold NQ through an earnings report after the close?
No. Every position closes automatically at 4:10 PM ET, and the trading day resets at 6:00 PM ET, so you cannot carry NQ or MNQ past the auto-close.
Contract specifications are from CME Group and can change; confirm them at cmegroup.com before trading. Price levels and trade sizes above are examples, not recommendations. FundedHero Futures accounts are simulated, and payouts depend on following the rules. Futures trading involves substantial risk.
Trade the Nasdaq-100 with clear limits
Choose the plan and account size that give your NQ or MNQ stops room to work.
