Derivatives marketplace operator CME Group has announced the launch of options on its Micro E-mini S&P 500 and Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures contracts. The Micro E-mini Options become available for trading today.

Options on the Micro E-mini S&P 500 and Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are 1/10th the size of their E-mini options counterparts. The mini future give traders more flexibility and precision in pursuing trading strategies.

The listing cycle for the new options consists of five Friday weekly options, three end-of-month options and two quarterly options contracts.

CME stated that successful options contracts require a robust, liquid underlying futures market.

Since launching one year ago, Micro E-mini Equity futures have rapidly developed round-the-clock liquidity and become the most successful new product in CME Group’s history. Some highlights include:

• Since launch, 186 million cumulative Micro E-mini S&P 500 futures contracts traded and 131 million cumulative Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures contracts traded,
• 1.5 million contracts traded across both futures products combined, on average, each day in 2020,
• 30% of Micro E-Mini S&P 500 and Micro E-Mini Nasdaq-100 futures trading volume originated outside of the U.S. year-to-date in 2020, and
• 93,000+ unique accounts have traded both futures contracts since launch.

Micro E-mini Equity options are listed by and subject to the rules of CME.