The S&P 500 Index is a broad-based market capitalization weighted index that tracks 500 of the largest companies in leading industries in the US economy. This index also serves as a key indicator of the health of the US stock market. The S&P 500 is a futures contract that allows market participants to take positions on the performance of the S&P 500 index electronically in an active and liquid marketplace.
Equity Index futures are “futures contracts” on equity indices. They are cash settled contracts and the majority have quarterly expiration dates scheduled for the months of March, June, September, and December.
With a single transaction, investors can use equity index futures products to manage risk or seek profits based on whether they think the stock market will rise or fall.
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H, M U, Z (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec)
Sunday – Friday 5:00pm – 4:00pm CT with a trading halt from 3:15pm – 3:30pm CT
Daily Maintenance period Monday - Thursday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
E-mini S&P 500
$50 X S&P 500 Index
CME offers electronic trading almost 24/6
0.25 index points
ES
$12.50 U.S. Dollars
Financially Settled
Quarterly, Serial, Weekly
Trading terminates at 9:30 a.m. ET on the 3rd Friday of the contract month BTIC trading terminates at 4:00 p.m. ET on the Thursday before the 3rd Friday of contract month TACO trading terminates at 9:30 a.m. ET on the Thursday before the 3rd Friday of the contract month
E-mini S&P 500
Weekly (M,W,F), Monthly, Quarterly
Monthly - EW
Weekly Monday - E1A-E5A
Weekly Wednesday - E1C - E5C
Weekly Friday - EW1- EW4
Quarterly - ES
Globex
Sunday – Friday 5:00pm – 4:00pm CT with a trading halt from 3:15pm – 3:30pm CT; Daily Maintenance period Monday - Thursday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
American
Outright: 0.25=$12.50 for premium >5.00 Reduced Tick: 0.05=$2.50 for premium < or =5.00
