E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures (September 2026) (NQU6) Options Chain
The options chain displays all available contracts with end-of-day quotes, Greeks, volume, and open interest for each strike and expiration, and streams live quotes for traders who connect a broker. It is the primary tool for options trade selection.
E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures (September 2026) (NQU6) operates in the Equity Index Futures sector, specifically the Equity Index Futures industry, listed on CME. E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures September 2026 contract: CME E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ): tracks the Nasdaq 100 large-cap technology and growth index.
Snapshot as of Sep 9, 2026.
- Spot Price
- $29447.50
- Total OI
- 115.9K
- Total Volume
- 90.5K
- Front Expiration
- 9 days
- ATM IV
- 17.9%
- Avg Bid/Ask Spread
- 41.25%
As of Sep 9, 2026, E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures (September 2026) (NQU6) has 115.9K open contracts and 90.5K contracts traded. The nearest expiration is 9 days out. ATM implied volatility is 17.9%. Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 41.25%: wider spreads, size positions conservatively. The options chain aggregates every listed strike and expiration, letting traders evaluate skew, term structure, and liquidity in a single view.
How NQU6 options chain Data Feeds Strategy Selection
Strategy selection on E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures (September 2026) options does not derive from any single metric in isolation. The options chain view above sits inside a broader read: ATM IV currently sits at 17.9% and dealer gamma exposure is positive, so dealer hedging is mechanically mean-reverting. Combine the options chain data here with the volatility-skew surface, dealer-gamma exposure, max-pain level, and upcoming-events calendar to build a positioning thesis. Risk-defined structures (credit spreads, debit spreads, iron condors) are usually safer than naked positions while the regime is uncertain; the data on this page anchors the inputs but does not by itself constitute a trade thesis.
How to read the NQU6 chain depth
The listed-expirations table above shows every expiration available for E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures (September 2026) options with its days-to-expiration count and ATM implied volatility. Front-month expirations carry the most volume, the highest gamma, and the tightest bid-ask spreads; longer-dated tenors carry less liquidity but more vega exposure. NQU6 front expiration sits at 9 days - the typical hedging horizon for monthly options.
NQU6 chain mechanics and execution
Options are listed at standardized strike intervals (typically $1 for sub-$25 underlyings, $2.50-$5 for mid-cap, $10-$50 for large-cap), and the deltas of each listed strike are determined by where IV lies relative to the strike's moneyness. Average bid/ask spread on the NQU6 chain is 41.25% - a measure of liquidity. Tighter spreads on liquid strikes mean lower transaction costs; wider spreads on long-dated or far-OTM strikes mean execution drag can dominate the math. The chain table on the SPA side shows the full per-strike, per-expiration grid; this SSR page summarizes the listed expirations and the front-month context to anchor the structural read.
Using the NQU6 chain to build structures
Strategy selection starts with the chain: directional theses use single-leg calls or puts, range-bound theses use credit spreads or iron condors, vol theses use straddles or strangles, calendar theses use diagonal spreads. NQU6's current 5.13% expected move anchors wing placement - structures with wings at the implied band collect the modal-outcome premium under lognormal assumptions. Cross-reference with the gamma-exposure profile to understand where dealer hedging will reinforce or fight your position, and with the volatility-skew chart to confirm the strikes you're trading sit at the IV levels your strategy assumes.
Learn how the options chain is reported and how to read the data →
NQU6 listed expirations
Per-expiration ATM implied volatility for NQU6 options. Each row is one listed expiration with its days-to-expiration count and ATM IV pulled from the same term-structure feed that powers the SPA's expiration filter. Front-month expirations carry the highest gamma, the tightest bid-ask spreads, and the most volume; longer-dated tenors carry less liquidity but more vega.
| Expiration | DTE | ATM IV |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2026 | 1 | 17.9% |
| Sep 11, 2026 | 2 | 20.9% |
| Sep 14, 2026 | 5 | 16.3% |
| Sep 15, 2026 | 6 | 16.9% |
| Sep 16, 2026 | 7 | 18.5% |
| Sep 17, 2026 | 8 | 19.1% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | 9 | 18.7% |
Frequently asked NQU6 options chain questions
- What does the NQU6 options chain show right now?
- As of Sep 9, 2026, E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures (September 2026) (NQU6) has 115.9K contracts outstanding and 90.5K traded today, with ATM IV of 17.9%. The full chain spans every listed strike and expiration with bid/ask, Greeks, volume, and open interest per contract.
- What expirations are available for NQU6 options?
- The nearest expiration is 9 days out. Listed expirations typically extend monthly with weeklies between, plus LEAPS one to two years out for liquid names.
- How tight are NQU6 options bid/ask spreads?
- Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 41.25%. Wider spreads warrant conservative sizing; mid-market fills are unreliable for retail-size orders.