Indices trading journal (US30, NAS100, GER40) for MT5
Index CFDs move in points and follow exchange sessions. Here is what to record for them, and how to stop typing the trades in.
Why index CFDs deserve their own journal view
Index CFDs such as US30, NAS100 and GER40 move in points, open and close on exchange sessions, and can gap. Brokers that offer MetaTrader 5 often list dozens of them; for example, Pepperstone's MT5 page lists 26 index CFDs, checked on 7 October 2026. If you trade them, the way you record trades should reflect how they behave.
What to record for index trades
- Symbol and direction. Brokers name indices differently (US30, DJ30, USTEC), so record the symbol as your broker shows it.
- Lot size and contract size. Point value differs by broker. Check the symbol Specification in MT5 and note it.
- Open and close time. The cash market open and close, and overnight sessions, behave very differently.
- Entry, exit, stop and target in points. Index stops are usually quoted in points.
- News or event. A one-line note when you traded around a major data release.
- Whether you followed your plan.
What to review
- Results by session, such as the first hour after the cash open versus the rest of the day.
- Whether your stops are sized to the instrument's usual range or copied from a forex habit.
- Whether gap or overnight positions treat you differently from intraday trades.
- Your biggest losing trades and the size you used on them.
A hypothetical example entry
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Symbol, direction | An index CFD, sell |
| Size | 1.0 lot (point value checked in the symbol Specification) |
| Open and close | 14:32 to 14:51, just after the cash open |
| Stop and target | 40 points and 80 points |
| Result | +60.00 |
| Why | Failed breakout at the opening range high |
| Followed plan? | Yes |
The numbers are made up. The point is to record the session and the stop and target in points, so you can later compare how opening-hour trades behave against the rest of the day.
Common mistakes when journaling index trades
- Treating points like pips. A 20-point stop on one index is not the same risk as 20 points on another, so record the point value.
- Ignoring the session. The first hour after the open often behaves differently from midday.
- Skipping event days. Data releases and central bank days can dominate a result; note them.
- Comparing different symbols as if equal. Review US30, NAS100 and GER40 separately before combining them.
Weekly review questions for index traders
- Which session produced most of my profit or loss?
- Did my stops sit inside the day's normal range or get hit by noise?
- How did trades around scheduled news compare with the rest?
- Did I size up after a loss?
Letting the journal fill itself
AI Trading Journal reads your closed index trades from your MT5 terminal and saves each one in your own journal on your PC (with an optional copy in your own Notion workspace) about every 5 minutes, with open and close times so you can group by session. Your login stays on your PC, and your trades do not pass through our servers. It is Windows-only, with a 7-day free trial and a one-time $19.99. Start with the setup guide.
Sizing index trades
Size from your stop distance, not from a habit. The position size calculator works with a custom contract size, so enter your broker's index contract size, and check the point value in MT5 first.
See also the forex journal guide, the gold trading journal and the Pepperstone MT5 notes.
This page is general education. It is not trading or investment advice.
Points, point value and stop size (hypothetical contract sizes)
How much a point is worth depends on your broker's contract specification. These examples use two made-up cases, so check the Specification of your own symbol in MT5 before you rely on them:
| Contract | Value of 1 point per 1.0 lot | 40-point stop at 1.0 lot | 40-point stop at 0.10 lots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract A | $1 | $40 | $4 |
| Contract B | $10 | $400 | $40 |
The same 40-point stop risks ten times more money on contract B. This is why the journal should record the point value or contract size, and why sizing from habit is dangerous across brokers or symbols.
Lot size from a stop in points
| Account | Risk | Stop | Point value per lot | Lot size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 1% | 40 points | $1 per point | 1.25 |
| $5,000 | 1% | 40 points | $10 per point | 0.12 |
| $10,000 | 0.5% | 60 points | $1 per point | 0.83 |
| $10,000 | 0.5% | 60 points | $10 per point | 0.08 |
Lot size = risk amount / (stop in points x value of one point per lot), rounded down. Enter your broker's contract size as a custom value in the position size calculator to do the same thing.
Sessions and gaps
- Cash open. Index behaviour often changes around the open of the underlying exchange. Tag trades by whether they were opened in the first hour or later, using the actual cash-session hours of the index you trade, converted to your broker's server time.
- Gaps. If you hold across a close, the next price can differ from the last. A stop does not guarantee a fill at its level. Record the gap size on trades where it happened.
- Futures-based pricing. Some brokers price index CFDs from futures contracts and roll them from time to time, which can show up as a price jump or a swap-like adjustment. Note the roll date if you hold across it.
- Events. Scheduled releases and central bank decisions can dominate a result. Mark them so you can compare event and non-event days.
Review table for an index journal (hypothetical)
| Slice | Trades | Win rate | Net | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First hour after the cash open | 24 | 38% | -$210 | Stops hit by opening noise |
| Rest of the session | 31 | 52% | +$340 | Better selection |
| Event days | 9 | 33% | -$160 | Few trades, large losses |
A table like this suggests a specific experiment: skip the first hour for a month and compare. A journal only pays off when it leads to a test like that. See the forex journal guide and the gold journal for how the same approach works for other instruments.
Closer look at the most-searched index CFDs: US30 and NAS100 trading journal for MT5.
South African readers can convert the cash opens with US30, NAS100 and GER30 hours in South Africa.
Survey releases near the cash open: how to journal PMI and ISM days.
Frequently asked questions
What should I record in an indices trading journal?
Can I journal US30 and NAS100 trades from MT5?
Why record the session?
Related guides
- A local trading journal for MT5
- P&L calendar for MT5
- Trade notes, ratings and screenshots
- Trading progress and goals
- Back up your journal and move it to a new PC
- An offline trading journal for Windows
- How to set monthly trading goals
- Import your whole MT5 history
- How to tag trades
- Trade screenshots for your journal
- All trading journal comparisons
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