Three symbols, different contracts
NAS100 identifies a Nasdaq 100 CFD series in the TotalTrade catalogue. Other providers use names such as US100 or USTEC. NQ is the E-mini Nasdaq-100 future; MNQ is the Micro E-mini. A similar underlying market does not make the contracts or execution prices identical.
A CFD follows the broker’s terms. A future has a defined multiplier and an expiry. To transfer a strategy between instruments, separately check sessions, costs, price differences and expiry handling.
Point value for NQ and MNQ
NQ is worth 20 USD per point with a tick size of 0.25 points, equivalent to 5 USD per contract. MNQ is worth 2 USD per point with the same 0.25 price increment, equivalent to 0.50 USD. Ten Micros therefore have the same monetary value per point as one E-mini, before costs.
With a 25-point stop, risk per contract is 500 USD for NQ and 50 USD for MNQ. With a budget of 100 USD, the calculation without commissions allows 2 MNQ and no NQ. Zero is not an error; one whole NQ contract would exceed the budget.
Why a CFD needs a specification profile
In the FTMO CFD Global profile, US100.cash uses a value of 1 USD per point per lot, verified against public specifications on 26 September 2026. A 25-point stop therefore represents 25 USD per lot before costs. That value does not follow from the Nasdaq name and must not be applied to a different contract without checking it.
The Lot Calculator handles this CFD; the Futures Contract Calculator handles NQ and MNQ. Copying the quantity from one instrument to the other changes the risk: CFD lots and futures contracts are different units.
Comparing backtests
Use matching periods and define the session with its time zone. For futures, document the expiry or how the continuous series is constructed: switching between contracts can create discontinuities. For a CFD, consider the account’s spreads and financing charges.
First compare results in multiples of risk, then reconstruct costs and P&L in the account currency. A strategy with a tight stop can change significantly when costs per trade represent a larger share of the initial risk.
