Traders Are Getting a New Tool to Wager on the Biggest US Stocks

CME Group launches single-stock futures Monday, giving traders a new leveraged instrument to wager on individual names including Nvidia and SpaceX without holding shares. The Chicago-based exchange operator is rolling out futures contracts tied to some of the market's most-watched stocks, expanding beyond its traditional index and commodity offerings.

Single-stock futures allow traders to take positions with margin requirements typically lower than buying shares outright, while offering the ability to go long or short with built-in leverage. The product targets active traders seeking exposure to high-volatility names like NVDA, which has dominated tech-sector flows, and privately-held SpaceX, for which liquid derivative products have been scarce.

CME's move comes as retail and institutional interest in alternatives to direct equity ownership has surged. The exchange is betting that demand for targeted, capital-efficient bets on individual stocks will mirror the growth seen in index futures and options markets.