CME Group May Volume Hits New Record of 33.2 Million Contracts, Up 15% Year Over Year

Rhea-AI Summary

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) reported record May 2026 average daily volume (ADV) of 33.2 million contracts, up 15% year over year.

Interest Rate ADV reached 18.8 million, Equity Index 8 million, Energy 2.7 million, Agricultural 1.9 million, Metals 930,000, FX 901,000 and Cryptocurrency 224,000 contracts.

International ADV rose 18% to 10.2 million contracts, while BrokerTec average daily notional value increased 16% to $1.076 trillion.

Positive

• Record May ADV of 33.2 million contracts, up 15% year over year
• Interest Rate ADV increased 16%, including record 2-Year U.S. Treasury futures ADV of 1.9 million
• Equity Index ADV increased 21%, led by 47% growth in Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures
• Agricultural ADV increased 16%, with corn futures ADV up 17% and soybeans up 10%
• International ADV rose 18% to 10.2 million contracts, EMEA up 20%, APAC up 11%
• BrokerTec ADNV increased 16% to $1.076 trillion, including U.S. Repo up 15% and European Repo up 18%

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – CME

-2.80%

-2.80% Session close to close

In the Jun 2 session, CME declined 2.80%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights record May activity, with average daily volume of 33.2 million contract...

Analysis

This announcement highlights record May activity, with average daily volume of 33.2 million contracts, up 15% year over year, and broad growth across Interest Rate, Equity Index, Agricultural and cryptocurrency products. International ADV also rose to 10.2 million contracts. In context of prior updates on new crypto products and strong quarterly earnings, this reinforces a theme of robust trading conditions. Investors may watch whether elevated volumes persist across cycles and how mix shifts among asset classes influence future revenues and margins.

Key Figures

Record May ADV: 33.2 million contracts ADV growth: 15% Interest Rate ADV: 18.8 million contracts +5 more

8 metrics

Record May ADV 33.2 million contracts May 2026 average daily volume, record and up 15% YoY

ADV growth 15% Year-over-year increase in total May 2026 ADV

Interest Rate ADV 18.8 million contracts May 2026 ADV in Interest Rate products

Equity Index ADV 8 million contracts May 2026 ADV in Equity Index products

Cryptocurrency ADV 224,000 contracts May 2026 crypto ADV, tied to $14.9B notional

Crypto notional $14.9 billion Notional value corresponding to May 2026 crypto ADV

International ADV 10.2 million contracts May 2026 international ADV, up 18% YoY

BrokerTec ADNV $1.076 trillion May 2026 overall average daily notional value on BrokerTec

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 01 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Jun 01	Crypto trading launch	Positive	-5.8%	Launch of 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options.
May 29	Conference appearance	Neutral	-1.4%	CEO scheduled to present at Piper Sandler exchange and fintech conference.
May 21	Community initiative	Neutral	-0.3%	Awarding 25 Star Scholarships to Chicago graduates pursuing four-year degrees.
May 14	Annual meeting results	Neutral	+0.2%	Shareholders elected directors, ratified auditor, and approved executive compensation.
May 14	New crypto futures	Positive	+0.2%	Planned launch of Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures pending regulatory review.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive product and volume-related announcements have sometimes coincided with negative next-day moves, while routine corporate updates have generally seen modest or mixed reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the last several weeks, CME issued multiple operational and product updates. On May 14, it announced plans to launch Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures and reported preliminary 2026 annual meeting results. On May 21, it highlighted scholarship awards, and on May 29, it detailed an upcoming CEO presentation. Most recently, on June 1, CME launched 24/7 cryptocurrency futures and options trading, which was followed by a notable negative price reaction. Today’s record May volume report extends this theme of strong activity metrics.

Key Terms

average daily volume, notional, performance bond, collateral, +4 more

8 terms

average daily volume technical

"today reported its highest May average daily volume (ADV) on record at 33.2 million"

Average daily volume is the typical number of shares or contracts of a security traded each day, calculated by averaging daily trading amounts over a recent period. It matters to investors because it indicates how easy it is to buy or sell without moving the price—like traffic on a road: high volume is a busy freeway that lets many cars pass smoothly, while low volume can make large orders cause big price changes and higher costs.

View in glossary

notional financial

"Cryptocurrency ADV of 224,000 contracts ($14.9 billion notional)"

Notional refers to the reference amount used to calculate payments or measure the size of a financial contract, without representing actual cash that changes hands. For investors it shows the scale of exposure — like the mileage used to compute a car rental bill even though you don’t buy the miles themselves — and helps compare risk and potential gains or losses across instruments.

performance bond financial

"collateral balances to meet performance bond requirements for rolling 3-months"

A performance bond is a guarantee from a bank or surety that a contractor will finish a job or meet contract terms; if the contractor fails, the guarantor steps in to pay or complete the work. Think of it like a large security deposit or insurance policy that protects the project owner and lenders from the cost of delays or non‑performance. For investors, its presence lowers project risk but can tie up collateral or add fees that affect cash flow and returns.

collateral financial

"were $151.8 billion for cash collateral and $174 billion for non-cash collateral"

Collateral is an asset a borrower pledges to a lender as security for a loan; if the borrower fails to repay, the lender can take the asset to recover losses. For investors, collateral matters because it reduces lender risk, influences interest rates and loan terms, and determines who gets paid first if a company faces financial trouble—think of it like a pawned item that gives the lender extra protection.

View in glossary

central counterparty clearing technical

"operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing"

A central counterparty clearing (CCP) is a specialized financial intermediary that sits between buyers and sellers of securities or derivatives, becoming the buyer to every seller and the seller to every buyer to guarantee trades are completed. Like an insurance-backed referee, it manages the risk of someone failing to pay by requiring collateral, pooling resources, and simplifying many trades into smaller net payments, which helps investors by lowering the chance of loss from a counterparty default and improving market stability and liquidity.

futures financial

"enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets"

A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell an asset (like a commodity, currency, or stock index) at a fixed price on a specific future date. Think of it like locking in the price of a house today for a move-in years from now: it lets buyers and sellers protect themselves against price swings or bet on which way prices will move. For investors, futures matter because they provide a cheap way to manage risk, amplify returns through leverage, and signal market expectations that can move cash prices.

View in glossary

options financial

"enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets"

Options are contracts that give investors the right to buy or sell an asset at a specific price within a certain time frame. They function like a reservation or a ticket that allows for potential profit or protection against price changes, making them useful tools for managing investment risks or speculating on market movements.

View in glossary

OTC markets financial

"enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets"

Over-the-counter (OTC) markets are trading venues where buyers and sellers deal directly through dealers or electronic networks instead of on a formal exchange; think of a neighborhood flea market versus a supermarket. They matter to investors because OTC-listed stocks often represent smaller or international companies with fewer reporting requirements, which can mean lower liquidity, wider price swings and higher risk but sometimes earlier access to growth opportunities.

View in glossary

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• Record ADV in 2-year U.S. Treasury futures
• International ADV grew 18% to 10.2 million contracts

CHICAGO, June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, today reported its highest May average daily volume (ADV) on record at 33.2 million contracts, an increase of 15% year-over-year. Market statistics are available in greater detail at https://cmegroupinc.gcs-web.com/monthly-volume.

May 2026 ADV across asset classes includes:

• Interest Rate ADV of 18.8 million contracts
• Equity Index ADV of 8 million contracts
• Energy ADV of 2.7 million contracts
• Agricultural ADV of 1.9 million contracts
• Metals ADV of 930,000 contracts
• Foreign Exchange ADV of 901,000 contracts
• Cryptocurrency ADV of 224,000 contracts ($14.9 billion notional)

Additional May 2026 product highlights compared to May 2025:

• Interest Rate ADV increased 16%
  • Record monthly 2-Year U.S. Treasury Note futures ADV of 1.9 million contracts, including a single-day record of 7 million contracts on May 26
  • Record monthly Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond futures ADV of 783,000 contacts
  • 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note futures ADV increased 30% to 3.6 million contracts
  • Ultra 10-Year Treasury Note futures ADV increased 27% of 1.2 million contracts
    • Single-day record of 4.8 million contracts on May 26
  • SOFR futures ADV increased 11% to 4.4 million contracts
• Equity Index ADV increased 21%
  • Micro E-Mini Nasdaq-100 futures ADV increased 47% to 2.2 million contracts
  • E-Mini S&P 500 futures ADV increased 12% to 1.5 million contracts
  • Micro E-Mini S&P 500 futures ADV increased 2% to 1.3 million contracts
• Energy ADV increased 3%
  • WTI Crude Oil futures ADV increased 4% to 932,000 contracts
  • Micro WTI Crude Oil futures ADV increased 317% to 272,000 contracts
• Agricultural ADV increased 16%
  • Corn futures ADV increased 17% to 478,000 contracts
  • Soybean futures ADV increased 10% to 257,000 contracts
• International ADV increased 18% to 10.2 million contracts, with EMEA ADV up 20% to 7.6 million contracts and APAC ADV up 11% to 2.2 million contracts
• Micro Products ADV
  • Micro E-mini Equity Index futures and options ADV of 3.8 million contracts represented 48% of overall Equity Index ADV, Micro Energy futures accounted for  11% of overall Energy ADV and Micro Metals futures accounted for 55% of overall Metals ADV
• BrokerTec overall average daily notional value (ADNV) increased 16% to $1.076 trillion
  • U.S. Repo ADNV increased 15% to $406 billion
  • European Repo ADNV increased 18% to €360 billion     
• Customer average collateral balances to meet performance bond requirements for rolling 3-months ending April 2026 were $151.8 billion for cash collateral and $174 billion for non-cash collateral

As the world's leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, energy, agricultural products and metals.  The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform.  In addition, it operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. 

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.  NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.  COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec is a trademark of BrokerTec Americas LLC and EBS is a trademark of EBS Group LTD. The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC ("S&P DJI"). "S&P®", "S&P 500®", "SPY®", "SPX®", US 500 and The 500 are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones®, DJIA® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. These trademarks have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Futures contracts based on the S&P 500 Index are not sponsored, endorsed, marketed, or promoted by S&P DJI, and S&P DJI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CME-G

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cme-group-may-volume-hits-new-record-of-33-2-million-contracts-up-15-year-over-year-302788424.html

SOURCE CME Group

FAQ

What May 2026 trading record did CME (CME) report?

CME reported record May 2026 average daily volume of 33.2 million contracts, up 15% year over year. According to CME, this record covers all asset classes, including interest rates, equity index, energy, agricultural, metals, foreign exchange and cryptocurrency products.

How did CME (CME) Interest Rate futures volumes perform in May 2026?

CME Interest Rate ADV increased 16% in May 2026 versus May 2025. According to CME, highlights included record 2-Year U.S. Treasury futures ADV of 1.9 million contracts and a single-day record of 7 million contracts on May 26, plus growth across 10-Year and SOFR futures.

What was CME (CME) International ADV in May 2026 and its growth rate?

CME International ADV reached 10.2 million contracts in May 2026, up 18% year over year. According to CME, EMEA ADV rose 20% to 7.6 million contracts, while APAC ADV increased 11% to 2.2 million contracts, reflecting broad-based international participation.

How did CME (CME) Micro E-mini and other micro products trade in May 2026?

CME Micro E-mini equity index futures and options ADV was 3.8 million contracts in May 2026. According to CME, these represented 48% of overall Equity Index ADV, while Micro Energy futures accounted for 11% of Energy ADV and Micro Metals 55% of Metals ADV.

What were BrokerTec average daily notional values within CME (CME) in May 2026?

BrokerTec overall ADNV increased 16% to $1.076 trillion in May 2026. According to CME, U.S. Repo ADNV rose 15% to $406 billion, while European Repo ADNV grew 18% to €360 billion, indicating higher activity in secured funding markets on the platform.

How did CME (CME) Energy and Agricultural futures volumes change in May 2026?

CME Energy ADV increased 3% and Agricultural ADV rose 16% in May 2026. According to CME, WTI crude oil futures ADV grew 4% to 932,000 contracts, Micro WTI surged 317% to 272,000, while corn futures ADV increased 17% and soybean futures 10%.