How do mini futures work?
The market value of a mini-future is equal to its intrinsic value, i.e. the difference between its strike price (the financing level) and the price of the underlying asset. Unlike an option, its value does not reflect any time value (as the certificate has no expiration date) or volatility.
There is no legal minimum on what balance you must maintain to day trade futures, although you must have enough in the account to cover all day trading margins and fluctuations which result from your positions. These can vary by broker however some require as little as $500 to open an account.
It is also referred to as e-mini because it is a part or a fraction of the total value of an underlying standard futures contract, hence the name e-“mini.” Hence, when a standard futures contract is broken down into various smaller parts, the fractional values of the total value of a standard futures contract is an e- ...
S&P 500 futures, either E-mini or micro E-mini futures, allow investors to hedge or speculate on the future movement of the S&P 500 Index. These futures contracts allow for immediate investment in the S&P 500 index with the benefits of a regulated exchange and liquidity.
Micro E-mini futures contract specifications. S&P 500 futures: 0.25, worth $1.25 per contract.
This can be a risky form of trading, but it also has the potential to generate large profits. If you are starting with a small amount of capital, such as $10 to $100, it is still possible to make money on futures trading.
Some small futures brokers offer accounts with a minimum deposit of $500 or less, but some of the better-known brokers that offer futures will require minimum deposits of as much as $5,000 to $10,000.
E-mini contracts are traded and offered widely on the CME for a number of different assets, but the E-mini S&P 500 contract is by far and away the most popular. The E-mini S&P 500 futures contract is 1/5 the size of the full S&P 500 futures contract and is one of the most popularly traded contracts in the world.
What Are E-mini S&P 500 Futures? E-mini S&P 500 futures are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and allow traders to gain exposure to the S&P 500 index, a widely recognized barometer of the U.S. stock market.
It's easy to get started with your futures trading account! Futures trading generally has a lower initial account opening capital requirement than stock trading. With stocks, there are day trading rules that require a trader to maintain minimum account balance of $25,000 which can be a high bar for new traders.
How much does one E-mini contract cost?
The E-mini moves in 0.25-point increments, and each one of those increments equates to $12.50 on one contract.
Trading with the Free Account Plan has an associated commission rate of $0.35 per contract, per side for the Micro-Emini Futures. Please review the all-in-rates table for a breakdown of total fees per product for each Tradovate Account Plan.
| Standard E-mini S&P 500 Index Futures | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | ES |
| Exchange | CME GLOBEX |
| Contract point value | $50 USD |
| Minimum price fluctuation | .25, (50 * .25 = $12.50 per contract per-minimum move) |
Keep in mind speculating on futures can result in you losing more than your initial investment. Learn about the uses and risks of speculating with futures: "How to Speculate with Futures."
This efficiency is one of the primary reasons that this index future has been so successful. For example, the full cash value of the E-mini is equal to the S&P 500 index price * $50. In other words, if the E-mini is trading at 2,380.00, the full cash value would be $119,000/ contract (2,380.00 * $50.00).
- Best for Professional Futures Traders: Interactive Brokers.
- Best for Dedicated Futures Traders: NinjaTrader.
- Best for Futures Education: E*TRADE.
- Best for Desktop Futures Trading: TradeStation.
Minimum Account Size
A pattern day trader who executes four or more round turns in a single security within a week is required to maintain a minimum equity of $25,000 in their brokerage account. But a futures trader is not required to meet this minimum account size.
With a $10,000 account, a good day might bring in a five percent gain, which is $500. However, day traders also need to consider fixed costs such as commissions charged by brokers. These commissions can eat into profits, and day traders need to earn enough to overcome these fees [2].
A day trade is when you purchase or short a security and then sell or cover the same security in the same day. Essentially, if you have a $5,000 account, you can only make three-day trades in any rolling five-day period.
making $500 to $5,000 + A DAY is Not Unreasonable… I myself have made this and Much Much More. Many Times with less than $30K, or $40K in My Account… as anyone with $25,000+ qualifies as a Margin Trader…OK..
What is the 80 20 rule in futures trading?
In investing, the 80-20 rule generally holds that 20% of the holdings in a portfolio are responsible for 80% of the portfolio's growth. On the flip side, 20% of a portfolio's holdings could be responsible for 80% of its losses.
By focusing on a single market, you can get up to speed quicker. Trading futures for a living is a compelling idea — but to do it successfully, you'll need sufficient startup capital and a well-designed trading plan.
While short-term capital gains from stocks or ETFs are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, futures are taxed using the 60/40 rule: 60% are taxed at the long-term capital gains tax rate of 15%, while only 40% of your short-term capital gains are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.
| Last | Chg | |
|---|---|---|
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Dec 2024 | $5,244.75 | 49.25 |
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Mar 2025 | $5,301.00 | 14.00 |
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Jun 2025 | $5,355.50 | 10.00 |
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Sep 2025 | $5,406.50 | -27.25 |
