Skip to content

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Trade of the week: short NASDAQ 100

Given the subdued rally in the NASDAQ 100 following last week's exceptionally strong US jobs report, and that the index is trading close to September resistance, we would like to short it with a downside target around 17,100.

Video poster image

We would place a stop and reverse order above the September high at 20,320; i.e. we would go long on a rise above 20,320, expecting new record highs to be made in this case.

(Partial video transcript)

Previous trading outcomes

Axel Rudolph: Hello and welcome to this week's "Trade of the week" on Monday the 7th of October 2024. Let's begin by having a look at our previous trades and the first one we did on the 9th of September, where we went short soybeans at around 1,020, I believe, and we had a wide stop on it because we weren't quite sure that this might actually have been the top.

And you can see here we were trading in the direction of the previous trend of this downtrend we've seen since May of this year and had a wide stop on there at 1,150, up there, simply because it was above the April low and above the July high. And, we made the right decision because basically, you can see here we did rally, towards 1,083 here at the end of September, but now we're starting to come off again and testing the current August-to-October uptrend line.

So you can see we're still short, up from our 1,020 area, so still underwater short. But now our stop loss level we could perhaps lower from 1,150 to just above, not the highs you have seen at the end of September, but the one slightly above that, the late July high at 1,089. So maybe lower you stop on that trade to 1,090, and see where it takes us over the coming days and weeks.

Last week, this trade worked out better as we went long the volatility index, the VIX. You can see here we did so around, I believe it was, 18.76. This horizontal line here. And we had a stop loss below the lows seen back in August. Now what we can do is either, because we are still in profit, raise our stop loss to our entry level - thereby we have a free trade on - and if we get stopped out at 18.76 or whatever (level) you got in, then fine, we don't lose any money. But if we continue to get it right and the VIX, increases further, then you could make money, on the upside. Or what you could do, if you want to still keep a stop, then maybe raise it to the late September low at 17.55 or so, just below there. So we've tightened our stops on this one as well.

This week's trading opportunity

And this week, what I would like to do is perhaps quite risky. But, I want to go against the grain. I want to sell the NASDAQ 100. I was hoping to do it, so, earlier this morning at 20,000. Right now, the market's already a bit lower, but I still want to sell it, with the idea being that we had really, really good, positive data out of the US jobs data and the NASDAQ rallied, but we didn't see any follow through today. So that could potentially mean that the sentiment is not as positive as people think.

So if you go short the NASDAQ , if I'm right, this could be a big ABC Elliott wave correction. And we could actually be heading all the way back down again towards the, the 17,100 area or so, or even lower going forward.

This week's "Trade of the week" is to go short the NASDAQ 100 around current levels, around 19,900, with the downside target around 17,100, and a stop and reverse order above last week's high at around 20,320.

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Seize your opportunity

Deal on the world’s stock indices today.

  • Trade on rising or falling markets
  • Get one-point spreads on the FTSE 100
  • Unrivalled 24-hour pricing

See opportunity on an index?

Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re on to something.

  • Log in to your demo
  • Try a risk-free trade
  • See whether your hunch pays off

See opportunity on an index?

Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.

  • Get spreads from one point on the FTSE 100
  • Trade more 24-hour indices than any other provider
  • Analyse and deal seamlessly on smart, fast charts

See opportunity on an index?

Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take your position.

Live prices on most popular markets

  • Equities
  • Indices
  • Forex
  • Commodities


Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All share prices are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.

Plan your trading week

Get the week’s market-moving news sent directly to your inbox every Sunday. The Week Ahead gives you a full calendar of upcoming economic events, as well as commentary from our expert analysts on the key markets to watch.


For more info on how we might use your data, see our privacy notice and access policy and privacy webpage.

You might be interested in…

Find out what charges your trades could incur with our transparent fee structure.

Discover why so many clients choose us, and what makes us a world-leading provider of spread betting and CFDs.

Stay on top of upcoming market-moving events with our customisable economic calendar.