S&P 500 futures

Category: Equity Index Futures / US Index Futures

About S&P 500 futures

The S&P 500 futures have been developed to track the price (performance) of the S&P 500 index (SPX). They were introduced and become available for trading in 1982 year. The S&P Futures are traded on the Chicago Merchandise Exchange (CME).

The S&P 500 futures belongs to the group of the "US Index" futures from the "Equity Index" futures category.

The value of the one S&P 500 futures contracts is $250 times the value of the S&P 500 index. If for example, the S&P 500 index (SPX) is traded at $1,100, the value of one future contracts gives to a furfures trader a buying power that is equivalent to $275,000 (250 times bigger). Furthermore, if the S&P 500 index moves up or drops down for one point, the S&P Futures contract increase or decline in its value by $250. The tick size (minimum price fluctuation) of the S&P 500 futures contract is 0.1 which correspond to $25.00.

The S&P 500 futures are traded under the "SP" symbol and the regular trading hours for futures are from 5 p.m. EST to 3:15 p.m. EST on the next trading day. The SP futures contracts are classified by the month of expiration. The SP futures expire on the third Friday of March, June, September and December. Based on the expiration, the year's number and month's letter are added to the futures symbol for its identification.

The SP futures that expire in March have "H" letter added, June expiration futures have "M" letter added, for September expiration futures "U" letter is used and those futures that expire in December have "Z" letter added at the end. Furthermore, the S&P 500 futures that expire in December 2024 are traded under the "SP4Z" symbol, the March 2025 expiration contracts are traded under the "SP5H" symbol, June 2025 expiration S&P Futures have "SP5M" symbol and the ones that expire in September 2025 are listed under the "SP5U" symbol.

S&P 500 futures Contracts