Trading CME Group Products

Customer Service
Product inquiries, website issues, and specific questions
Phone: 312-930-2316
Toll Free: 800-331-3332
E-mail:info@cmegroup.com

More CME Group Direct Lines
Click for phone list by department

Getting Connected

The CME Globex platform was the first global electronic trading system for futures and options and is now the world's premier marketplace for derivatives trading. That may sound impressive but what really sets the platform apart from the crowd are its simple front-end and network connectivity requirements.

First, we need to make sure you already have a futures trading account. If you do not, you may wish to view Find a Broker. In many cases, your broker will provide both front-end and network connectivity for you.

The following two questions are designed to help you understand the options available and determine the best one for your needs.

1. What kind of front-end trading application would you like to use?

You have four choices:

Use a third-party application provided by your broker, futures commission merchant (FCM), trading arcade, clearing firm or data center.

Interested in advanced functionality? See what our CME Globex Partners (PDF) offer. These companies support various types of advanced functionality, but three support the entire suite of enhanced options functionality, including full User-Defined Spreads (UDS).

License a third-party application from an Independent Software Vendor (ISV)

To see what your choices are, check out our ISV finder.

You might also wish to view our CME Globex Access Directory (PDF), a complete listing of third-party application providers including ISVs, brokers, clearing firms and data centers that offer front-end trading access to our platform.

These companies provide trading and market data applications that are certified for compliance with CME Globex and keep current with platform enhancements and changes.

Many also offer network access in addition to front-end trading applications.

Please note that:

Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) provide front-end applications for trading on the CME Globex platform.
Data Centers (DCs) provide both front-end applications and network connectivity for connecting and trading on the CME Globex platform.

Use a CME Group-provided solution.

If your FCM or ISV does not currently support enhanced options functionality on CME Globex, you may wish to consider CME EOS Trader – a Web-based front-end system with basic futures functionality.

Defining and trading unique strategies on the fly
Credit controls
Fast order entry
Shared order book and real-time market data
Customizable workspace and DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) link to Microsoft Excel
Automated book keeping feature with clearing and account balances

Keep in mind, however, that third-party applications offer more extensive futures functionality.
CME EOS Trader Resources
CME EOS Trader New Functionality Overview (PDF)
CME EOS Trader demo

Develop your own proprietary front-end system.

We will work with you throughout the process of becoming CME Globex-certified
There are specific Steps for Developing to CME Globex.

2. What kind of network connectivity would you like to use?
You can connect directly or indirectly.

Indirect connectivity means that your broker, futures commission merchant (FCM), clearing firm or data center is sending your trades to the CME Globex platform for you. You need only to enter your trades – connectivity is taken care of.

Direct connectivity means that you have a line directly to the platform.

If you choose to connect directly, your first decision is who you would like to manage the connection?

Do you want CME Group to manage your connection?

CME DIRECTLink

High capacity Ethernet access of 20Mbps, 40Mbps, or 100Mbps; or
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)/Wide Area Network (WAN) of 256K to T1

More information is available online

Do you want to manage your own connectivity?

Jackson Direct

A client-managed 40 or 100Mbps direct connectivity solution to the CME Globex fiber network from the Chicago Board of Trade building at 141 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604.

40 or 100Mbps via CME Group-approved fiber provider
Must be a tenant of record in the Chicago Board of Trade building

More information is available online.

LNet

A client-managed 40 or 100Mbps direct connectivity solution to the CME Globex fiber network via a CME Group-approved facility.

40 or 100Mbps via CME Group-approved third party facility
Must house the CME Group-certified trading applications at an approved facility

More information is available online.

Client INTERNETLink

A client-managed access via a secure VPN tunnel over the Internet.

Customer chooses a Tier 1 Internet provider
Bandwidth available in increments of 0.5 to 20mbps

More information is available online.

CME Globex Hubs

The hubs allow for client-managed connections to redundant data centers in

Amsterdam
Dublin
London
Milan
Paris
Seoul
Sao Paulo
Singapore

Ethernet bandwidth subscription
Client manages connection to CME Globex Hub

More information is available online.

Order Management Tools

We offer FirmSoft, a premier order management tool, to assist your trading on the CME Globex platform.

SMART Click

The SMART Click tool is a secure web-based interface that can be used by CME Globex customers to create a SMART Click user ID and manage your profile information, including contact details. SMART Click user IDs can be used in conjunction with CME Group systems.

Risk Management Services

We offer three risk management systems designed to protect CME Globex customers and clearing firms.

Support from the CME GCC

The CME Globex Control Center (GCC) is the Market Operations and Customer Service desk for trading on CME Globex.

Choosing a Trading Application

The CME Globex platform is designed with open architecture that accommodates a wide variety of trading and market data interfaces.