Micro Contract Sizing Explained in TradersPost
Micro futures (MNQ) trade at the same market price as full-sized E-mini futures (NQ) but have 1/10th the contract size and risk exposure. TradersPost reflects market price, so traders must adjust position sizing based on contract multipliers.
Marketing
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Readers ask what an MNQ or NQ contract is worth, so the guidance now corrects contract values, adds tick values, and says what TradersPost leaves to the exchange.
When trading micro futures contracts on TradersPost, some traders notice unexpected contract values and wonder why their positions seem larger than expected. Understanding contract size, tick value, and market price is key to properly managing futures trades.
How TradersPost Handles Futures Contract Pricing
TradersPost does not adjust contract values—it simply reflects the market price of each contract. This means:
• If you enter a Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ) contract, its displayed price will be the same as the full-sized E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ).
• TradersPost does not change a contract's price or multiplier; both come from the exchange.
Micro vs. E-mini Contract Sizing
• E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) represents $20 per point in price movement.
• Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ) represents $2 per point—or 1/10th the size of NQ.
Even though MNQ and NQ trade at the same market price, the contract value and tick value differ:
• One NQ contract controls $20 times the Nasdaq-100 index level.
• One MNQ contract controls $2 times the Nasdaq-100 index level.
• A 1-point move in NQ = $20, while a 1-point move in MNQ = $2.
Why Does the Market Price Look the Same for Both?
The price of MNQ and NQ appears identical because both track the Nasdaq-100 Index. The difference lies in contract multipliers, which affect position sizing and risk exposure.
For example:
• If MNQ is trading at 22,100, its market value is $44,200 per contract1.
• If NQ is trading at 22,100, its market value is $442,000 per contract2.
The price is the same, but the contract size and risk exposure differ. Both contracts have a minimum tick of 0.25 index points, which is worth $0.50 on MNQ and $5.00 on NQ12.
How to Manage Micro Futures Sizing in TradersPost
• Remember that contract values are based on multipliers, not displayed price.
• Use the correct position sizing—trading 1 NQ contract is equivalent to 10 MNQ contracts in terms of exposure. See our guide on automatic position sizing in TradersPost.
• Check with your broker to confirm the margin and tick values for different contract types. For a deeper look at building futures systems, see our futures trading system development guide.
Final Thoughts
Micro futures contracts (MNQ) trade at the same price as full-sized contracts (NQ) but have 1/10th the size and risk exposure. TradersPost does not adjust these values—traders must account for contract multipliers when managing their trades.
References
1 help.metrotrade.com, Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 Futures (MNQ) Contract Specifications
2 help.metrotrade.com, E-mini Nasdaq-100 Futures (NQ) Contract Specifications
