No, you can't trade the NDX - it's just an index, I use the NDX for charting purposes and to see what the major trends and reversals are. Since i'm mostly a daytrader in futures, what matters most to me is a 5/15 minute chart. But, the NDX I use to plot out pivots and major support resistance levels.
The NQ trades virtually 24 hours a day. When you see the NDX gap up when market opens, it's because the NQ has already traded above where the NDX closed yesterday.
Suppose NQ is up +100 points right this moment, you'll see NDX jump almost as much points to match NQ (I'm oversimplifying things).
QUOTE]Quote from jonbig04:
I was looking at a mini chart from quote.com it was delayed but it would plot by minutes...kind of. Do you mean that you base your TA on the NDX instead of the actual NQU8? I never even though to do that...ive only been thinking about it for the last 24 hours though haha. Does the ndx trade at night?
off topic but i was wondering, since the NQ is traded at night as well, what happens in the moring when the nasdaq opens and it maybe it jumps up, does the NQ jump to match it? in which case the mornings could be typically volatile? Stupid question i know but i couldnt find the answer via google. [/QUOTE]