S&P 500 Index Futures

Focusing on 500 large-cap common U.S. stocks, the S&P 500 is a narrower market indicator than the Russell 2000. The second-most followed index for large-cap stocks after the DJIA, the S&P 500 is given attention for its ability to predict and influence future market trends. The S&P 500 is the most popular product in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and it can be traded as a futures contract either in an open outcry auction or on electronic platforms.

S&P 500 Contract Specifications
Ticker Symbol	SP SP=Clearing
Contract Size	$250 x S&P 500 futures price
Tick Size (minimum fluctuation)	OUTRIGHT: 0.10 index points=$25 CALENDAR SPREAD: 0.05 index points=$12.50
Trading Hours	CME Globex: Mon-Fri 5:00pm previous day – 4:15pm CT Trading halt from 8:15am-3:30pm CT
	Open Outcry: Mon-Fri 8:30am-3:15pm CT
Contract Months/Symbols	CME Globex: One month in the March Quarterly Cycle (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec)
	Open Outcry: Eight months in the March Quarterly Cycle (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec) plus three additional Dec contracts
Last Trade Date	CME Globex: On the rollover date (typically eight days prior to last trade date for open outcry) when the lead month goes off the screen and the deferred month becomes the new lead month. View rollover dates
	Open Outcry: 3:15 p.m. on Thursday prior to 3rd Friday of the contract month
Settlement Procedure	Daily S&P Settlement Procedure Final S&P Settlement Procedure
Daily Price Limit	View price limits details
Exchange Rules	These contracts are listed with, and subject to, the rules and regulations of CME.
Source: CME

Last updated May 2013

Additional Info

Recent Posts on S&P 500

• Using Futures to Capitalize on the Coronavirus Pandemic Panic (3/25/2020) - The 2020 outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has driven unprecedented participation in the global financial markets. Heavy daily traded volumes and extreme pricing volatility have become new norms. Although the risk profile is greatly enhanced, active traders are privy to rare opportunities.
• How to Capitalize on S&P 500 Futures in 2020 (3/6/2020) - Since its inception circa 1957, the Standard and Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) has measured the performance of America’s largest companies. During times of boom and bust, investors from around the globe have looked to the S&P 500 for clues on the state of American prosperity.
• Can You Make a Living Trading E-mini Futures? (2/21/2020) - Any veteran of the financial markets will likely agree to the common saying, “Active trading is the hardest way to make an easy buck.” You may or may not agree with this sentiment, but it is difficult to argue with the empirical data. In fact, washout rates for new traders of all types are estimated… Read more.