What Are E-mini S&P 500 Futures?
E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) are one of the most popular and liquid equity index futures contracts globally. These contracts provide traders with exposure to the S&P 500 Index, a benchmark of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. They are an excellent choice for traders and investors looking to hedge portfolio risk or speculate on the U.S. stock market.
Contract Size
- Contract Size: $50 multiplied by the S&P 500 Index value.
Trading Hours
The E-mini S&P 500 Futures contract trades nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, offering continuous access to the U.S. equity markets.
- Trading Hours: Sunday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 4:00 PM CT (with a 1-hour daily trading halt from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT).
- Time Zone: Central Time (CT).
Tick Value and Increment
- Tick Size: 0.25 index points.
- Tick Value: $12.50 per tick.
- Minimum Price Fluctuation: 0.25 points.
This makes E-mini S&P 500 Futures an ideal choice for traders seeking liquidity and leverage in equity index markets.
Trading Symbol
- Platform Symbol: ES
Margins
To trade E-mini S&P 500 Futures, you’ll need to meet specific margin requirements. Check out Ironbeam’s Margins Page for the latest margin rates and details.
Why Trade E-mini S&P 500 Futures?
- Liquidity: Extremely high liquidity ensures tight spreads and efficient execution.
- Accessibility: A smaller contract size compared to full-size S&P 500 Futures makes ES accessible to a wider range of traders.
- Diversification: Gain exposure to a broad basket of U.S. equities within a single instrument.
- Flexibility: Ideal for both short-term traders and long-term investors.
- Hedging Opportunities: Protect your portfolio against volatility in the U.S. stock market.
Start Trading ES with Ironbeam
Ironbeam provides a robust trading platform and API to help you access E-mini S&P 500 Futures with ease. Trade confidently with free real-time Level 2 market data and personal broker support.
DISCLAIMER: There is a substantial risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options products. Losses in excess of your initial investment may occur. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Please contact your account representative with concerns or questions.