Nasdaq 100 US Session — Automated Nasdaq Trading Robot for MetaTrader 5
Two independently researched strategies. One EA. Free to download and test.
Built from a quantitative study of over 6 years of Nasdaq 100 tick-quality data (2020–2026), the NDX US Session EA implements two distinct, non-overlapping systematic strategies that trade automatically around the US market open. Both strategies have been backtested across multiple broker feeds and market regimes including COVID recovery, the 2022 rate-hike selloff, the AI bull run, and the 2025 correction.
What the research found
OR Breakout
First-Hour Momentum
Run together, the two strategies produced +3,736 index points over 6 years with a combined peak drawdown of 693 points. Because they fire at different times and have different strong years, they partially offset each other — 2022's worst year for one was partially offset by the other.
Results shown are from quantitative research on historical data. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always test on a demo account first.
How the strategies work
We don't publish the exact entry logic — but here is what each strategy does conceptually.
Analyses the 60 minutes of price action immediately before the NYSE open to define a reference range. When the opening bar closes with a strong directional move beyond that range, the EA enters in the direction of the breakout. The trade is managed with a fixed stop and target.
Fires once per session at the NYSE open (15:30 or 16:30 broker time depending on US daylight saving time).
Monitors the first full hour of trading after the NYSE open to identify the emerging directional bias. When a strong-bodied signal bar closes beyond the first-hour range, the EA enters in the direction of that momentum.
Fires once per session approximately 60 minutes after the NYSE open. Non-overlapping with Strategy 1.
Requirements
- MetaTrader 5 (any broker)
- Nasdaq 100 instrument — works with NDX (Darwinex) and USTEC (IC Markets) and most standard broker Nasdaq CFD names
- M5 (5-minute) chart
- EA input: set your broker's GMT offset (default is 2 for GMT+2 brokers)
- Minimum recommended balance: check position sizing carefully for your account type
EA Inputs — quick reference
Click a section header to expand.
Understanding the on-screen dashboard
Shows the EA name, your ForexAlgoTrading.com branding, the symbol name, and the number of decimal places plus broker GMT offset. This confirms the EA has loaded correctly on the right instrument.
Shows the current session's NYSE open time in broker time (automatically adjusted for US daylight saving time). The coloured badge shows whether US DST is currently active — green for ON (EDT, UTC-4), red for OFF (EST, UTC-5). The EA handles this automatically.
Shows the pre-open range high, low and size in index points. The state badge shows: IDLE (waiting), RANGING (building pre-open range), SIGNAL (checking entry), IN TRADE (position open with direction and entry price), DONE (session complete).
Shows the first-hour range high, low and size. Same state badge system as above. This section only becomes active approximately 60 minutes after the NYSE open once the first-hour range has been established.
Shows the current open profit or loss in account currency (+green, -red). The progress bar maps the current price between stop loss (left) and take profit (right) — giving a visual sense of how the trade is progressing.
Running totals for the current day's trading activity across both strategies.
Cumulative trade count, wins, losses and P&L since the EA was last loaded. Resets when the EA is reloaded or recompiled.
Download the EA — free
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Compatible with MetaTrader 5 only. Attach to an M5 chart of your Nasdaq instrument. For support or questions, contact us via ForexAlgoTrading.com