E-mini S&P 500 Futures
What Are E-mini S&P 500 Futures?
E-mini S&P 500 futures are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and allow traders to gain exposure to the S&P 500 index, a widely recognized barometer of the U.S. stock market. E-mini S&P 500 futures have made futures trading more accessible to traders and they are the most commonly traded U.S. stock index future offered at the CME. In recent years, CME Group has introduced the Micro E-mini S&P 500 futures contract which is 1/10th of the size of the standard E-mini S&P 500 futures contract.
How to trade E-mini S&P 500 futures
E-mini S&P 500 futures and micro E-mini S&P 500 futures can be traded nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week on the thinkorswim® trading platforms.
E-mini S&P 500 futures contract specifications
Considering trading E-mini S&P 500 futures? Here are the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract specifications.
| Exchange, Symbol | Chicago Mercantile Exchange, /ES |
| Multiplier | 50 |
| Minimum Tick Size | 0.25 = $12.50 |
| Settlement | Cash |
| Trading Hours | Sunday 6 pm - Friday - 5 pm ET (5 pm - 4 pm CT) with a daily maintenance period from 5 pm - 6 pm ET (4 pm - 5 pm CT) |
At Schwab, you also get access to advanced trading platforms and education, where you can take advantage of market research, real-time E-Mini S&P 500 futures quotes, and other specialized tools.
Why trade E-mini S&P 500 futures?
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E-mini S&P 500 futures can provide investors and traders with an efficient way to gain speculative exposure to the U.S. stock market, or they may be used to hedge stock portfolios against overall market risk. E-mini S&P 500 futures may also be spread against other popular stock index futures, like Dow futures, or against futures on individual stocks. Options on E-mini futures and Micro E-mini S&P 500 futures are also available.
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It is important to understand the benefits and risks involved with E-mini S&P 500 futures before placing a futures trade. With E-mini S&P 500 futures you can trade nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week and take advantage of potential trading opportunities regardless of market direction. E-mini S&P 500 futures also provide the ability to trade with greater leverage and can allow a more efficient use of trading capital. However, trading leveraged products like E-mini S&P 500 futures is not suitable for all investors. It involves risks that greater losses can occur with smaller market movements, and more than your initial investment can be lost.
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About CME E-mini S&P 500 futures
Just getting started with futures? Learn more about futures and the unique advantages and risks of futures trading.