US30 and NAS100 trading journal for MetaTrader 5

Index CFDs are quoted in points, differ by broker and gap at the open. Here is what to log so your index results mean something.

Index CFDs such as the Dow (often US30), the Nasdaq (often NAS100 or US100) and the DAX (often GER40) behave differently from forex pairs in ways that matter for a journal. They are quoted in points, not pips, their contract sizes and tick values differ from broker to broker, they gap at the open, and their busiest hours are tied to cash-market sessions. A journal that records only 'win or loss' hides most of that. This page sets out what to log when you trade indices on MetaTrader 5, how to avoid mixing results from instruments that are not comparable, and how to read the figures that MT5 gives you.

It builds on our general indices trading journal guide with a closer look at the US index CFDs most MT5 traders mean when they search. Symbol names, lot rules and trading hours are set by your broker, so every figure below is something to check in your own terminal.

Names differ, so record the exact symbol

The same market can appear as US30, US30.cash, DJ30, WS30 or something else, and the Nasdaq as NAS100, US100, USTEC or similar. Some brokers list a cash index and a futures-based index with different spreads and expiry behaviour. Write the exact symbol string in the journal, because two names that look alike can have different contract sizes. If you later add up 'US30' trades from two brokers, you may be adding two different instruments.

Points, not pips

Index quotes move in points. Whether one point is worth one dollar per lot, ten cents, or something else depends on the contract size and tick value your broker sets. Open the symbol specification in Market Watch (right-click, then Specification) and note the contract size, tick size and tick value. Our guides on lot and contract size and tick value and tick size explain how to read them.

What to log on an index trade

• The exact symbol and the lot size, plus the money value of one point on that symbol.
• Session of entry. Pre-market, the cash open, mid-session or the close. Index behaviour changes sharply around the open, so labelling the session lets you compare like with like. Remember trades are dated on the broker's server clock, see MT5 server time explained.
• Event context. A scheduled release or a central bank day changes spreads and slippage. Our journals for CPI days, NFP days and FOMC days suggest what to note.
• Stop distance in points and the risk in money. Index stops tend to be wider than forex stops, so the same account risk means a smaller lot.
• Gap or slippage notes. If your stop was filled far from its level, say so. MT5 history shows the price you were filled at, but the app does not record your intended price, so a short note is how you capture the difference.
• Setup, emotion and plan followed. The usual fields. Fast markets are where discipline slips.

Sizing an index trade

Position size works the same way as anywhere: decide the money you are willing to lose, divide by the stop distance in money per lot, and round down to the broker's lot step. The unusual part is the money per point, so the sizing is only as good as the contract specification you read. The position size calculator accepts a pip or point value, so you can enter the value per point from your specification. Always recheck after changing broker or account type.

A hypothetical example: you risk 50 on a trade, the stop is 40 points away, and the specification says one point is worth 1 per lot. Loss per lot at the stop is 40, so the size is 50 / 40 = 1.25 lots, which you would round down to the allowed step, for example 1.2. If your broker's point value were 0.1 per lot, the same stop would cost 4 per lot and the size would be 12.5 lots. The numbers are invented, but the lesson is real: never copy a lot size from someone else's account without checking the specification.

Separate your instruments when you review

Indices, gold and forex behave differently, so pooled statistics mislead. A strong week on the Nasdaq can hide a weak week on gold. Review each instrument or each market group on its own before combining. In AI Trading Journal you can tag trades by setup and filter the journal by symbol, and the Excel report breaks net P&L down by symbol, weekday and close hour. It records closed positions from your MT5 history, so the symbol, lots, prices, times and result come from the terminal and the tags, notes and screenshots come from you.

Spreads, commissions and overnight costs on indices

Index CFDs often carry a wider spread than major forex pairs, and the spread widens at the open and around releases. Some accounts add commission, and holding overnight can carry a financing charge that is not the same as a forex swap. The trading cost calculator puts commission, spread and swap into one cost per trade, which is useful when you compare a quick scalp with a position held for days. Dividend adjustments on some index CFDs can also appear as small balance operations; check your broker's notes.

Limits of this page

• Symbol names, contract sizes, hours and costs are set by each broker. Verify every figure in your own terminal.
• The examples use invented numbers.
• This page covers journaling, not what to trade or when. It is not trading advice.
• The app works with MetaTrader 5 on Windows only, so index trades on other platforms are outside its scope.

Converting the cash open to your own clock: US30, NAS100 and GER30 hours in South Africa.

Frequently asked questions

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