Scalping the NAS100: How We Trade US Tech Indices

The NAS100 (US Tech 100, NASDAQ) is one of the most traded indices in the world — and one of the most dangerous for unprepared traders. Here's how we approach it at CleanHits.

Why NAS100?

The NAS100 offers what traders want: volatility and liquidity.

• Average daily range of 200-400 points
• Tight spreads during US hours (often under 1 point)
• Clear trending behavior — when it moves, it moves
• Reacts strongly to US economic data and Fed policy

The same volatility that creates opportunity also creates risk. A 100-point move against you happens fast. That's why our approach is built around timing and structure — not prediction.

The Sessions That Matter

Not all hours are equal for trading NAS100. Here's how we break down the trading day:

Pre-Market (08:00-09:30 ET)

Futures are open, but liquidity is thin. Price can spike on relatively small orders. We rarely signal during this window — too much noise, not enough follow-through.

Opening Range (09:30-10:30 ET)

This is where we focus. The first hour after the cash market opens sees the most volume and the cleanest moves. Institutional orders execute, gaps fill or extend, and the day's direction often establishes.

Most of our NAS100 signals come during this window.

Midday Chop (10:30-14:00 ET)

Volume drops. Price ranges. Breakouts fail. We avoid this period unless there's a clear trend established from the open. Most signals during midday are traps.

Power Hour (14:00-16:00 ET)

Volume returns as traders position for the close. If the day has a trend, it often accelerates here. If it's been choppy, the close can force a resolution. We take signals during this window, but with tighter targets — less time for trades to develop.

After Hours (16:00+)

Liquidity disappears. We don't signal after the cash close except in rare circumstances (major earnings, Fed announcements).

The Setup: Opening Range Breakout

Our primary NAS100 strategy is a variation of the opening range breakout (ORB):

1. Mark the first 15-minute range after 09:30 ET — the high and low of that candle.
2. Wait for a break above the high (for longs) or below the low (for shorts).
3. Enter on the retest of the broken level. We don't chase the initial breakout.
4. Stop loss goes on the other side of the opening range.
5. Target is 1:1 for TP1, 2:1 for TP2.

This setup works because the opening range captures the initial battle between buyers and sellers. When one side wins decisively, the other side's stops get triggered, adding fuel to the move.

Filters We Use

Not every opening range breakout is a signal. We filter for:

Pre-Market Direction

If futures have been trending in one direction all pre-market, we bias our signals that way. A pre-market uptrend followed by an ORB long is higher probability than an ORB long against the overnight trend.

Gap Size

Large gaps (more than 1% from previous close) often reverse or consolidate before continuing. We're more cautious on big gap days — the opening range may not be representative.

Economic Calendar

If CPI, NFP, FOMC, or major earnings drop within the first two hours, we skip the opening range entirely. The data release creates a second "open" that invalidates the first range.

VIX Level

When VIX is above 25, NAS100 becomes harder to trade. Moves are larger but less directional — more chop, more reversals. We widen stops and reduce position size on high-VIX days.

Risk Management

NAS100 position sizing is critical. A standard lot on US100 CFD is $1 per point — meaning a 100-point stop is $100 risk per lot.

Our rules:

• 1% account risk per trade — calculate your lot size based on stop distance
• Minimum 30-point stops — anything tighter gets stopped by noise
• Maximum 80-point stops — if the setup needs more room, we skip it
• Scale out at TP1 — close half, move stop to break-even, let the rest run

What Doesn't Work

Approaches we've tested and abandoned:

• Scalping 5-10 point moves: Spread eats too much of the profit. Need at least 30-40 points to make the risk/reward work.
• Holding overnight: NAS100 can gap 100+ points. Overnight risk isn't worth it for day trading strategies.
• Trading every session: Asian and early London sessions have poor NAS100 liquidity. Stick to US hours.
• Counter-trend trading: When NAS100 trends, it trends hard. Fighting the trend is a losing game.

Sample Trade

October 8, 2026:

• Pre-market: Futures up 0.3%, grinding higher
• 09:30 open: 15-minute range forms at 15,240 - 15,285
• 09:52: Break above 15,285, quick move to 15,310
• 10:05: Price pulls back to 15,288 — we signal BUY
• Stop: 15,235 (53 points)
• TP1: 15,340 (52 points — 1:1)
• TP2: 15,395 (107 points — 2:1)
• Result: TP1 hit at 10:28, TP2 hit at 11:15. Full profit.

Clean setup, clear levels, disciplined execution. That's what NAS100 trading looks like when it works.