CME Group Set to Introduce Quarterly and Annual Event Contracts for E-mini Futures

January 09, 2024 - CME Group has announced the upcoming launch of event contracts with quarter- and year-end expirations for E-mini S&P 500 and E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures, set to debut on January 29, subject to regulatory clearance. These additions to CME Group's product offerings will allow traders to speculate on the settlement points of these futures at significant economic intervals.

Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Financial & OTC Products, said, “Event contracts on E-mini S&P 500 and E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are among the most highly traded of our event product suite, representing 33% and 20% of the volume, respectively. These new contracts featuring longer expiries at quarter- and year-end will give traders a way to express their views on market direction at key economic-cycle intervals – with the added benefit of more opportunities to trade in and out of a position leading up to expiry. We're pleased that our expanded suite of event contracts will continue to provide innovative, lower-cost tools for participating in CME Group's futures markets."

From the industry, Ryan Duckworth, CEO of Akuna Capital – U.S., commented on the growth of CME Group’s event contracts, "The quarterly and annual contracts will give investors the opportunity to choose the best time frame for their strategies without worrying about opening a new position daily. We are honored to be a part of CME Group's success as a liquidity provider in event contracts."

Steve Sanders, EVP of Marketing and Product Development at Interactive Brokers, also welcomed the launch, "Event contracts give investors a simple way to access key futures markets, and our active trader clients seeking to trade event contracts on these popular equity indices will benefit from the greater flexibility offered by the new quarter- and year-end expiries."

Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader, expressed his company’s continued support for the initiative, "We are confident in the market appeal of these products, which offer both a cost-effective and straightforward way for retail traders to access dynamic financial markets. This evolution of the product suite will continue to broaden the appeal of these new and innovative products."

Event contracts from CME Group provide market participants with the means to position themselves relative to the price movements in some of the most recognizable benchmark futures markets, along with the assurance of a predetermined maximum profit or loss at the time of trade placement. Additionally, starting January 29, the maximum payout for event contracts has been set at $100.

CME Group event contracts are offered in accordance with CME rules. For further details about this new product, visit: www.cmegroup.com/ecfaq.