CME Handheld, Tablet and Headset Policies

This document is being issued to provide an overview of the handheld, tablet and headset policies applicable to CME members and their employees on the trading floor, including information on those markets where the use of handhelds, tablets or headsets remains conditioned or prohibited.  These policies are applicable to CME members and their employees only.

I.          Handheld Devices & Trading Tablets

The use of handheld trading devices or trading tablets to access CME Globex is permitted for all CME members on the trading floor with the exception of members standing on the broker top step of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Price Index futures (“SP”) or NASDAQ 100 Index futures (“ND”) pits.  Members standing on the broker top step of the SP and ND pits remain prohibited from using any handheld device or trading tablet to enter orders into CME Globex while standing on the top step.

Additionally, CME nonmember employees on the trading floor remain prohibited from operating Galax-C handheld devices from any location on the trading floor.

II.         Headsets

A.        Agricultural, Interest Rate and FX Quadrants

All members and their employees active in the Agricultural, Interest Rate and FX quadrants may use Exchange-issued headsets provided that all regulatory and audit trail requirements are met.

B.        Equity Quadrant

The following headset usage restrictions remain in effect in the equity quadrant:

1.         While standing on the SP and ND top broker step, members may not use headsets to place orders for their own accounts, accounts they control, or accounts in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.

2.         While standing on the SP top local step, members may not use headsets to place orders for their own accounts, accounts they control, or accounts in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.

3.         During non-rollover time periods, members in the back month area of the SP pit may not use headsets to place front month E-mini Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Price Index futures (“ES”) orders for their own accounts, accounts they control, or accounts in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.  This restriction does not apply during rollover time periods (defined as the first business day that the lead month contract becomes the spot month – i.e., beginning the first business day of March, June, September and December).

If you have any questions concerning these policies, please contact Robert Sniegowski, Associate Director, Market Regulation, at 312.341.5991 or Erin Schwartz, Senior Rules and Regulatory Outreach Specialist, at 312.341.3083. 

For media inquiries concerning this Special Executive Report, please contact CME Group Corporate Communications at 312.930.3434 or news@cmegroup.com.