Key facts
- CME Group will offer 24/7 trading for new, smaller WTI crude oil and existing gold futures contracts.
- The new WTI contract will be 1/10th the size of Micro WTI futures and launches August 30.
- 24/7 trading for 1-ounce gold futures begins July 26.
- Both contracts are cash-settled and require regulatory approval.
- The initiative aims to provide continuous liquidity and risk management for global market participants.
CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange operator, announced plans to expand trading hours for its WTI crude oil and COMEX gold futures and options, pending regulatory approval. The initiative aims to provide continuous liquidity and enable round-the-clock risk management for global participants.
The new oil contract, set to debut August 30, will be 1/10th the size of CME Group's existing Micro WTI futures, allowing for more precise hedging and expanded market access. The 10-barrel contract will be cash-settled and listed on NYMEX.
Twenty-four-hour trading for CME's existing 1-ounce gold futures will commence on July 26. This gold contract is also cash-settled and will be listed on COMEX. This move is expected to provide always-on access for continuous price discovery.
Derek Sammann, CME Group Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Commodities Markets, stated that traders are increasingly seeking to diversify portfolios amid geopolitical uncertainty and that the new contracts offer regulated, right-sized, and 24/7 available products for managing exposure.
In the first quarter of 2026, WTI Crude Oil options reached a record average daily volume (ADV) of 320,000 contracts. Micro WTI Crude Oil futures ADV reached 272,000 contracts in May 2026, a 317% increase compared to May 2025. In 2025, $100 billion notional was traded daily in CME Group's gold futures, and the new 1-ounce gold futures contract launched in January 2025 has seen 90,000 contracts ADV traded in 2026.
The expansion follows CME's recent efforts to extend trading hours for energy options and futures, including 24/5 expiries for several WTI contracts. The exchange expects to submit a formal proposal to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the coming weeks.