CME launches single stock futures enabling investors to trade SpaceX, Micron and others 23 hours a day

CME Group launched cash-settled single-stock futures on 55 U.S. equities Monday, plus micro-sized contracts on 22 names, offering nearly 24-hour trading access. The new instruments include names like SpaceX and Micron Technology, giving traders extended-hours exposure to stocks typically confined to regular market sessions.

The single-stock futures expand CME's equity derivatives suite beyond traditional index products, allowing position-taking and hedging on individual names outside the 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET window. The cash-settled structure means no physical delivery of shares at expiration—contracts close based on the underlying equity's reference price.

The inclusion of SpaceX is notable because the private aerospace company has no publicly traded shares, making this futures contract one of the few liquid instruments tied to Elon Musk's privately held venture. Micron Technology (ticker MU) joins 53 other publicly traded equities in the new offering.

Extended-hours futures trading runs Sunday evening through Friday afternoon with minimal overnight gaps, aligning with CME's index futures schedule. The micro contracts provide smaller notional exposure for retail traders and those looking to fine-tune position sizing.