International derivatives marketplace CME Group will launch event contracts with quarter- and year-end expiries for E-mini S&P 500 and E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures on January 29, pending regulatory review.

The new longer-horizon contracts will provide market users with another unique opportunity to express their views on the direction of these equity indices.

“Event contracts on E-mini S&P 500 and E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are among the most highly traded of our event product suite, representing 33% and 20% of the volume, respectively,” said Tim McCourt, Global Head of Financial & OTC Products at CME Group. “These new contracts featuring longer expiries at quarter- and year-end will give traders a way to express their views on market direction at key economic-cycle intervals – with the added benefit of more opportunities to trade in and out of a position leading up to expiry. We’re pleased that our expanded suite of event contracts will continue to provide innovative, lower-cost tools for participating in CME Group’s futures markets.”

CME Group event contracts enable individuals to take a position on up or down price moves in some of the world’s most widely quoted benchmark futures markets with the certainty of knowing their maximum potential profit or loss when placing a trade. Also effective January 29, the maximum payout for event contracts will be $100.

CME Group event contracts are listed with and subject to the rules of CME.