Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)
The world's largest and most diverse derivatives marketplace
About CME Group
CME Group is the world's leading derivatives marketplace, operating four exchanges: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and Commodity Exchange (COMEX). Founded in 1898, CME Group serves the risk management needs of customers around the globe.
Major Product Categories
Equity Index Futures
- E-mini S&P 500 (ES)
- E-mini NASDAQ-100 (NQ)
- E-mini Dow Jones (YM)
- E-mini Russell 2000 (RTY)
- S&P 500 (SP)
Interest Rate Futures
- Eurodollar (GE)
- 10-Year Treasury Note (ZN)
- 30-Year Treasury Bond (ZB)
- 5-Year Treasury Note (ZF)
- 2-Year Treasury Note (ZT)
Currency Futures
- Euro FX (6E)
- Japanese Yen (6J)
- British Pound (6B)
- Canadian Dollar (6C)
- Swiss Franc (6S)
Agricultural Futures
- Corn (ZC)
- Soybeans (ZS)
- Wheat (ZW)
- Live Cattle (LE)
- Lean Hogs (HE)
Energy Futures
- Crude Oil (CL)
- Natural Gas (NG)
- Heating Oil (HO)
- RBOB Gasoline (RB)
- Brent Crude (BZ)
Metals Futures
- Gold (GC)
- Silver (SI)
- Copper (HG)
- Platinum (PL)
- Palladium (PA)
Trading Hours
CME Group offers nearly 24-hour trading across most product lines. Here are the key trading sessions:
Equity Index Futures
Electronic: Sunday 5:00 PM - Friday 4:00 PM CT
Maintenance: Daily 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CT
Interest Rate Futures
Electronic: Sunday 5:00 PM - Friday 4:00 PM CT
Open Outcry: Monday-Friday 7:20 AM - 2:00 PM CT
Currency Futures
Electronic: Sunday 5:00 PM - Friday 4:00 PM CT
Maintenance: Daily 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CT
Energy Futures
Electronic: Sunday 5:00 PM - Friday 4:00 PM CT
Open Outcry: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM CT
Popular CME Contracts
E-mini S&P 500 (ES)
The most actively traded equity index futures contract in the world. Each contract represents $50 times the S&P 500 index value.
- Contract Size: $50 × S&P 500 Index
- Minimum Price Movement: 0.25 index points = $12.50
- Initial Margin: Approximately $13,200 (varies)
- Contract Months: March, June, September, December
Crude Oil (CL)
The benchmark for oil pricing worldwide, representing 1,000 barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil.
- Contract Size: 1,000 barrels
- Minimum Price Movement: $0.01 per barrel = $10.00
- Initial Margin: Approximately $5,500 (varies)
- Contract Months: All 12 months
Gold (GC)
The premier precious metals contract, representing 100 troy ounces of gold.
- Contract Size: 100 troy ounces
- Minimum Price Movement: $0.10 per ounce = $10.00
- Initial Margin: Approximately $8,900 (varies)
- Contract Months: February, April, June, August, October, December
How to Trade CME Futures
1. Choose a Broker
Select a broker that offers CME futures trading with competitive commissions and reliable platforms. Popular choices include:
- Interactive Brokers
- TD Ameritrade
- E*TRADE
- Charles Schwab
2. Fund Your Account
Ensure you have sufficient capital to meet margin requirements and manage risk effectively.
3. Choose Your Platform
CME futures can be traded through various platforms:
- CME Globex: Electronic trading platform
- Broker Platforms: Proprietary trading software
- Third-party Platforms: NinjaTrader, TradingView, etc.
4. Develop a Strategy
Create a comprehensive trading plan including:
- Risk management rules
- Entry and exit criteria
- Position sizing guidelines
- Market analysis methods
Risk Management
Trading CME futures involves substantial risk. Consider these risk management principles:
- Never risk more than you can afford to lose
- Use stop-loss orders to limit potential losses
- Diversify across different markets and timeframes
- Maintain adequate margin to avoid forced liquidation
- Stay informed about market news and events
- Start small and gradually increase position sizes