E-mini Equity Index Frequently Asked Questions

The E-mini and the standard-sized contracts are based on the same S&P 500 index.

• The E-mini and the standard-sized contracts are cash-settled to the same index values on quarterly expirations (the Special Opening Quotation).
• The E-mini S&P 500 settles daily to standard-sized S&P 500 contracts' counterpart settlement price. Both contracts have the same tick size for calendar spread trades of .05 index points.

• The E-mini contract values are one-fifth the size of the larger contracts.
• The E-mini tick sizes are different:
  • E-mini S&P 500 tick size is .25, or $12.50 per tick (.05 for calendar spreads = to $2.50 per tick) versus a tick size of .10, or $25 per tick (.05 for calendar spreads = $12.50 per tick) for the big S&P 500 futures contract.

• E-mini futures have only five quarterly contracts listed for trading.
• An order for any quantity may be accepted for E-mini outright futures.
  • However, orders exceeding a specified number of contracts as indicated below must be entered on the CME Globex system as multiple entries, each of which must not exceed the specified number of contracts.
    • E-mini S&P 500: 2,999 for outrights and 5,000 for calendar spreads

E-mini S&P 500 Index Futures contracts expire at the same time and to the same price as their larger counterpart contracts. For quarterly futures contracts, trading can occur up to 8:30 a.m., Chicago time, on the third Friday of the month.

No.

Calendar spread orders for E-minis of any quantity may be accepted for entry on CME Globex.

• However, calendar spread orders exceeding 5,000 contracts per contract month must be entered on CME Globex as multiple entries, each of which must not exceed 5,000 contracts.
• Trading in the calendar spreads may occur at .05-point increments for the E-mini S&P 500.

Yes. CME Group updated the electronic equity options functionality available on CME Globex to enable trading of standard listed and user-defined spreads (including covered) for E-mini options. Check with your CME Globex access provider to see if they offer this functionality on your trading platform of choice. This functionality is also available through CME EOS Trader.

E-mini FLEX options are not currently available.

Yes. The daily settlement prices for the E-mini futures contracts are the same as the settlement prices for the corresponding contracts months of the regular-size contracts. Accordingly, a customer who has a long position of five E-mini futures contracts and a short position of one regular-sized futures contract in the same contract month is perfectly hedged. 

Yes. With the customer's consent, a clearing member may offset and liquidate E-mini futures positions against offsetting standard-sized futures positions held in the same account in a 5:1 ratio of E-mini to regular-sized futures contracts. The positions shall be offset at the previous day's settlement price. The clearing member shall notify CME Clearing of offsetting positions by submitting reports to the clearing house through a special online entry screen designed for that purpose.

Please consult the CME Position Limits in the Position Limits section of the website for the latest information.

View position limits and reportable positions.