CME Group to Expand 24/7 Trading for WTI Crude Oil and Gold

Rhea-AI Summary

CME Group (CME) will expand 24/7 trading access for energy and metals products, pending regulatory review. A new 10-Barrel WTI Crude Oil cash-settled contract, sized at 1/10th of Micro WTI futures, launches August 30 on NYMEX. Around-the-clock trading for existing 1-Ounce Gold cash-settled futures on COMEX begins July 26.

WTI Crude Oil options reached a record Q1 2026 ADV of 320,000 contracts, while Micro WTI futures ADV hit 272,000 in May, up 317% versus May 2025. CME’s gold benchmark saw about $100 billion notional traded daily in 2025, and the new 1-Ounce Gold contract averaged 90,000 contracts ADV in 2026.

Positive

• Launch of 10-Barrel WTI contract at 1/10th Micro WTI size, August 30
• 24/7 trading for 1-Ounce Gold futures beginning July 26
• WTI options ADV 320,000 contracts in Q1 2026, a record level
• Micro WTI futures ADV 272,000 in May 2026, up 317% year over year
• $100 billion notional gold futures traded daily on average in 2025
• 1-Ounce Gold futures ADV 90,000 contracts in 2026

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – CME

+2.80%

+2.80% Session close to close

In the Jun 12 session, CME gained 2.80%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement expands CME’s 24/7 framework to a new 10-barrel WTI contract and its existing 1-Ou...

Analysis

This announcement expands CME’s 24/7 framework to a new 10-barrel WTI contract and its existing 1-Ounce Gold futures, targeting more precise hedging and continuous price discovery. It follows earlier launches in crypto and volatility futures and record ADV metrics, reinforcing CME’s multi-asset growth theme. Investors may track adoption via ADV in the new contracts and how this complements existing record WTI options volume of 320,000 contracts and Micro WTI ADV of 272,000.

Key Figures

WTI options ADV: 320,000 contracts Micro WTI futures ADV: 272,000 contracts Micro WTI YoY change: 317% +4 more

7 metrics

WTI options ADV 320,000 contracts WTI Crude Oil options ADV in Q1 2026

Micro WTI futures ADV 272,000 contracts Micro WTI Crude Oil futures ADV in May 2026

Micro WTI YoY change 317% Increase in Micro WTI Crude Oil futures ADV vs May 2025

Gold notional traded $100 billion per day Notional in gold futures traded daily in 2025

1-Ounce Gold futures ADV 90,000 contracts ADV for 1-Ounce Gold futures in 2026

10-Barrel WTI size 10 barrels Size of new WTI Crude Oil contract

Gold contract size 1 ounce Size of existing 1-Ounce Gold futures contract

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 09 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Jun 09	Earnings call notice	Neutral	+3.1%	Announced Q2 2026 earnings release timing and investor conference call details.
Jun 09	Product launch	Positive	+3.1%	Launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures expanding regulated digital asset exposure.
Jun 05	Crypto futures launch	Positive	+0.5%	First trades in Bitcoin Volatility Index futures within a 24/7 trading framework.
Jun 02	Macro sentiment data	Negative	-2.8%	Ag Economy Barometer showed weaker farmer sentiment and high input-cost concerns.
Jun 02	Volume record	Positive	-2.8%	Reported record May 2026 ADV of 33.2M contracts, up 15% year over year.

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

Pattern Detected

Recent CME news tied to new products or strong volumes has usually seen price gains, while one record-volume update coincided with a selloff, showing mostly aligned but occasionally contrarian reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the past few weeks, CME has highlighted new crypto-related products, record volumes, and strong Q1 2026 financial performance. Product launches such as Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures and Bitcoin Volatility Index futures, alongside record May ADV of 33.2 million contracts, underscore growth in trading activity. Today’s WTI and gold 24/7 trading expansion fits this pattern of broadening the derivatives suite across asset classes. One prior record-volume release coincided with a negative price move, showing that strong operational metrics do not always translate into immediate price gains.

Key Terms

futures, options, average daily volume, cash-settled, +3 more

7 terms

futures financial

"CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, today announced that it will offer 24/7 trading for new, smaller-sized crude oil and gold contracts..."

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

"In the first quarter of 2026, WTI Crude Oil options reached a record ADV of 320,000 contracts."

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

average daily volume financial

"In the first quarter of 2026, WTI Crude Oil options reached a record ADV of 320,000 contracts."

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

cash-settled financial

"The 10-Barrel WTI contract will be cash-settled, and it will be listed on and subject to the rules of NYMEX."

Cash-settled describes a financial contract that is resolved by paying the monetary difference between agreed and actual prices, instead of delivering the underlying asset. For investors, it matters because it simplifies trades—like settling a bet with cash rather than handing over the item—and affects liquidity, tax treatment, and counterparty exposure, since you receive or pay only the value change rather than owning or transferring the actual security or commodity.

central counterparty clearing technical

"it 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.

derivatives financial

"CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, today announced that it will offer 24/7 trading..."

Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on the price or performance of another asset, such as a stock, bond, commodity, currency or interest rate. Investors use them to hedge against risk, to speculate on future price moves, or to gain exposure without owning the asset — like buying insurance or placing a leveraged bet — so they can both protect portfolios and magnify gains or losses, affecting risk and market liquidity.

View in glossary

clearing financial

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

Clearing is the behind-the-scenes process that confirms a securities trade, organizes the exchange of money and shares, and ensures both sides get what they agreed to. Think of it like an escrow service or a cashier who checks the receipt, holds the cash and goods until everything is correct, and steps in if one party can’t pay — a function that reduces risk, prevents failed trades, and keeps markets running smoothly for investors.

View in glossary

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

• New 10-Barrel WTI Crude Oil contract allows for more precise hedging and expanded market access 
• 24/7 gold will provide always-on access for continuous price discovery

CHICAGO, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, today announced that it will offer 24/7 trading for new, smaller-sized crude oil and gold contracts, pending regulatory review. 

The new oil contract will be 1/10th the size of CME Group's existing Micro WTI futures and will launch on August 30. 24/7 trading for the company's existing 1-Ounce Gold futures will begin on July 26.

"Traders are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolios across commodity markets in the face of geopolitical uncertainty," said Derek Sammann, CME Group Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Commodities Markets. "Our new WTI and Gold futures provide regulated products that are right-sized and available 24/7, ensuring traders can manage exposure whenever news breaks."

WTI is the global benchmark for price discovery and risk management for crude oil. In the first quarter of 2026, WTI Crude Oil options reached a record ADV of 320,000 contracts. In addition, Micro WTI Crude Oil futures ADV reached 272,000 contracts in May, which was a 317% increase compared to May 2025. 

CME Group offers the world's leading benchmark futures contract for gold, with $100 billion notional traded each day in 2025. CME Group's new, cash settled 1-Ounce Gold futures contract launched in January 2025, with 90,000 contracts ADV traded in 2026.

The 10-Barrel WTI contract will be cash-settled, and it will be listed on and subject to the rules of NYMEX. To learn more, visit here.

1-Ounce Gold is also cash-settled and is listed and subject to the rules of COMEX. To learn more, visit here.

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-to-expand-247-trading-for-wti-crude-oil-and-gold-302798592.html

SOURCE CME Group

FAQ

What new WTI crude oil product did CME Group (CME) announce on June 11, 2026?

CME Group announced a new cash-settled 10-Barrel WTI Crude Oil futures contract. According to CME Group, it is 1/10th the size of Micro WTI futures and is scheduled to launch on August 30, 2026, subject to regulatory review.

When will CME Group (CME) start 24/7 trading for 1-Ounce Gold futures?

CME Group plans to begin 24/7 trading for its 1-Ounce Gold futures on July 26, 2026. According to CME Group, this cash-settled contract is listed on COMEX and supports continuous price discovery for gold around the clock.

How large is the new 10-Barrel WTI futures contract from CME Group (CME)?

The new WTI contract represents 10 barrels, or 1/10th of a Micro WTI futures contract. According to CME Group, it is cash-settled, listed on NYMEX, and is designed to offer more precise hedging and broader market access.

What recent trading volume records has CME Group (CME) reported for WTI crude oil products?

CME Group reported record WTI Crude Oil options ADV of 320,000 contracts in Q1 2026. According to CME Group, Micro WTI futures ADV reached 272,000 contracts in May 2026, a 317% increase compared with May 2025.

How active is CME Group’s (CME) gold futures market based on recent data?

CME Group reports its gold benchmark averaged about $100 billion notional traded daily in 2025. According to CME Group, the cash-settled 1-Ounce Gold futures launched in January 2025 and reached 90,000 contracts ADV in 2026.

What does CME Group’s (CME) move to 24/7 commodity trading mean for investors?

The move offers investors around-the-clock access to WTI crude and gold futures markets. According to CME Group, right-sized, cash-settled contracts and 24/7 trading aim to help traders manage risk whenever market-moving geopolitical or economic news occurs.