The NAS100, NASDAQ 100, or NDX100 is an equity index that tracks the performance of the 100 largest non-financial stocks on the NASDAQ stock exchange based on their market capitalization.
Due to its weighting toward technology businesses, this index is sometimes known as the US Tech 100. NASDAQ Financial stocks are tracked by a different index, the NASDAQ Financial 100.
The NASDAQ Composite Index, which includes all NASDAQ-listed stocks, should not be confused with the NAS100.
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The NASDAQ Stock Exchange: A Brief History
After the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ is the largest stock exchange in the world (NYSE).
Almost 50 years ago, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) was in charge of starting up the exchange.
When the NASD sold its last share of NASDAQ in 2006, it became a public company.
While the exchange kept the NASDAQ moniker, the NASD changed its name the next year to become the self-regulatory body FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
The NASDAQ exchange was the first online stock market and the first electronic stock market, making it a natural home for the world’s top technology stocks. Originally, it was only a quote system.
Starting at the NAS100
Both the NASDAQ Financial Index and the NASDAQ-100 were introduced in 1985. These new products were the first step in the NASDAQ’s quest to catch up to the NYSE and the S&P500 index, two much larger and more established entities. The NASDAQ eventually hoped to launch its own suite of futures and derivatives markets, which would fuel the growth of both the exchange and the index.
The index has gone from strength to strength, returning a compound annual growth rate of 13.6% per year since inception without even factoring in dividends, thanks to the rapid advances in technology over the coming decades and the associated explosion of tech stocks through the dot-com bubble and beyond.
The makeup of the NDX100
The NAS100 is a portfolio of 102 securities representing the 100 largest non-financial stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock market. Almost each large technology company you can think of is included in the index (and that’s just the A’s): Activision Blizzard, Alphabet (Google), Advanced Micro Devices, and Amazon. In addition to these technological titans, there are a wide variety of other businesses spanning industries, transportation, and the media.
Companies can be removed from the index at any moment if their weight falls below 0.1%, with the largest not-yet-indexed business replacing the fallen stock’s position in the index.
Trading the NASDAQ 100: A Guide
Because stock markets tend to move in an upward direction over the long term, trend-following is the preferred trading method for stocks and indices.
In order to make money, trend-followers follow the herd rather than try to beat it in the market.
When the market turns negative, you won’t be stuck with a bunch of undesired stocks like you would be with a buy-and-hold strategy, which is where trend-following methods shine.
A buy-side only trend-following strategy is the easiest way to start trading the NAS100.
Once you know how to do this, you can add shorting to your strategy to make money from falling markets, or you can ignore this option and just go on vacation when the NDX100 index falls.
Since trend-following is a long-term strategy, the daily chart is likely to be a suitable location to begin your quest for an edge. Moving averages, Bollinger bands, and Keltner channels are some indicators you might want to look into and use in your NAS100 trend-following strategy.
One of the best things about trading using a daily trend-following strategy is how quick and easy it is to implement; since you’ll only be trading once a day, at the start of the new trading session, you can complete all of your transactions in less than five minutes. This method is ideal for investors who must balance trading with other responsibilities, such as work, family, or school.
How do I trade the NAS100 from South Africa?
Opportunities to trade the market are abundant on the NASDAQ, the world’s second-largest stock exchange, and the NAS100, one of the most actively traded indexes. However, trading the market directly from South Africa may be challenging if you are not already set up with a US stock brokerage.
The NAS100 is just one of many indices and markets on which contracts for difference, a type of derivative product, are traded.
Most of the time, these products have reasonable fees because they let experienced traders and investors bet on market movements without buying the stock or index.
A further perk of CFD trading is the availability of leverage, which multiplies your gains or losses relative to what you could do trading in the cash market.
If you choose a CFD broker, you can start trading the NAS100 with very little money and put your new trend-following method to the test in real market conditions without taking on too much risk.
After you’ve tried out your plan and figured out what could go wrong, you’ll be able to use leverage to increase your NAS100 trading volume right away, no matter what the market is doing.
The best place to start trading NAS100 trends is with a reputable and well-established CFD broker in South Africa, like Blackstone Futures.