NASDAQ-100

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The NASDAQ-100 is a stock market index of 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange based on market capitalization with certain rules capping the influence of the largest components. It does not contain financial companies, and includes companies incorporated in Canada (e.g. Research In Motion) and Sweden (e.g Ericsson); both of these factors differentiate this index from the S&P 500. The index established a weekly close above the 1800 point level for the first time in 5 1/2 years on November 17, 2006.

NASDAQ-100 is often abbreviated as NDX. Its corresponding futures contracts are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The regular futures are called ND, as in NDM6 for the June 2006 expiration. The e-mini versions are called NQ. ND and NQ are among the most heavily traded futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

[edit] ETFs

The NASDAQ-100 Trust Series 1 Exchange-traded fund trades under the ticker NASDAQ: QQQQ. On December 1, 2004, it was moved from the American Stock Exchange where it had the symbol QQQ to the NASDAQ and given the new four letter code QQQQ. It is sometimes referred to as the "Quad Qs," "Cubes," or simply as "the Qs." On November 15, 2006, the ETF closed above $44 for the first time since early 2001.

Note: Since the NASDAQ-100 is a capitalization-weighted average, companies with larger market capitalizations will generally affect the index value more than those with lower capitalizations.