CME Group to Launch Cash‑Settled Single‑Stock Futures on 50+ Major U.S. Equities

CME Group launches cash‑settled Single Stock futures for major U.S. equities

CME Group announces plans to introduce financially settled Single Stock futures (SSF) beginning this summer, subject to completion of regulatory review and processes. The contracts will cover more than 50 of the largest U.S. names drawn from the S&P 500, Nasdaq‑100 and Russell 1000, including Alphabet, Meta, NVIDIA and Tesla, and provide the flexibility and capital efficiency associated with cash‑settled futures rather than physical delivery.

Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, says the SSF offer "a simpler, more cost‑effective way to take a view on a stock or hedge potential price movements without buying shares outright." The product targets both institutional and retail participants and supports strategies such as directional exposure, hedging, basis and spread trades, and size customization, while leveraging CME's electronic execution and price transparency.

The launch comes amid rising demand for equity derivatives, with combined futures and options average daily volume (ADV) hitting 7.4 million contracts in 2025 and combined open interest (OI) reaching 9.8 million contracts. Futures ADV specifically averages 6.0 million contracts, up 15% year‑over‑year, and futures OI records a 5.6 million average, up 19% year‑over‑year. CME says the SSF will be listed on and subject to CME rules, with further product details to be posted at cmegroup.com/ssf.

Clearing, execution and market structure

CME positions the SSF within its global trading and post‑trade infrastructure, offering electronic execution via CME Globex, fixed income trading through BrokerTec, FX trading on EBS and central clearing through CME Clearing. The exchange highlights central clearing as a means of risk management and default protection that underpins the product’s appeal to a broad set of clients.

Regulatory path and market implications

CME emphasizes that the timetable is contingent on regulatory approvals and internal processes. Market participants and intermediaries are likely to evaluate the SSF for capital efficiency and operational fit, while regulators will assess market‑structure and surveillance arrangements tied to cash‑settled equity futures.