CME Group has announced that it will introduce FTSE CoreCommodity CRB Index futures on July 21, pending regulatory approval. The new contracts will be financially settled and listed on CME, offering broader access to the global commodity markets.
The FTSE CoreCommodity CRB Index tracks 19 commodities, spanning energy, agriculture, precious metals, and industrial metals. CME Group stated that the new product expands its existing commodity index suite, which has seen a 315 percent increase in open interest since 2020, from 76,000 to 316,000 contracts year-to-date.
Paul Woolman, Global Head of Equity Index Products at CME Group, commented, “These new, financially settled contracts will provide clients with further solutions to manage commodity index price risk across these important markets. Since 2020, open interest in our Commodity Index futures suite has grown 315%, from 76,000 contracts to 316,000 contracts year-to-date. The addition of CoreCommodity CRB futures will offer market participants an expanded set of tools to both access the commodity index space as well as hedge against adverse price moves. Additionally, these contracts will offer greater potential to access margin efficiencies when implementing commodity index trading strategies.”
FTSE Russell also weighed in on the new launch, highlighting the broader investor access and operational efficiencies expected from the product.
Shirley Barrow, Head of Interest Rates, Currencies and Commodities at FTSE Russell, commented, “We’re excited to deepen our relationship with CME Group through the launch of the FTSE CoreCommodity CRB Index futures, which offers investors broad-based access to the global commodities market. This expanded collaboration with CME Group reflects our shared commitment to meeting the evolving needs of market participants by providing enhanced tools to manage price discovery and unlock greater capital efficiency in their trading strategies.”
CME Group has expanded its commodity index offering over the past several years, with ongoing demand from institutional clients looking for structured exposure and hedging instruments. The FTSE CoreCommodity CRB Index is widely followed by asset managers as a benchmark for diversified commodities exposure.
CME Group will also launch E-mini S&P BMV IPC Index futures on August 18, pending regulatory approval. The new product will track Mexico’s flagship equity index and offer investors a futures-based method of accessing one of Latin America’s most actively followed stock benchmarks.
The S&P BMV IPC Index includes the most liquid stocks on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores and is widely used by institutional and retail investors to gauge the Mexican equity market. CME Group said the new futures contract will be denominated in Mexican pesos and subject to its existing trading rules.
S&P Dow Jones Indices, which co-brands the IPC benchmark, said the new futures contract extends the global utility of the index. Tim Brennan, Global Head of Capital Markets at S&P Dow Jones Indices, commented, “Through its longstanding collaboration with CME Group and BMV, S&P Dow Jones Indices is excited to expand the utilization of its indices in global financial markets, serving as essential building blocks to support a healthy and liquid ecosystem of products that are tracking its trusted benchmarks. The S&P/BMV IPC Index is one of the oldest investable indices in Latin America and is used by both local and international market participants to track the performance of the Mexican equities market.”
The Bolsa Mexicana de Valores welcomed the development as part of its broader strategy to deepen liquidity and attract global participants. Jorge Alegría, Chief Executive Officer at BMV Group, said, “CME Group’s global reach brings international visibility to the S&P/BMV IPC Index, reinforcing its role as Mexico’s flagship equity benchmark. This strategic initiative aims to deliver meaningful benefits to our domestic cash and derivatives markets by connecting liquidity pools and improving market depth. It will strengthen Mexico’s role in the global financial ecosystem and support the continued growth of our markets.”
The launch adds to CME Group’s suite of regional index futures and expands access to Latin American equities within a regulated and margin-efficient environment. The exchange expects interest from asset managers, proprietary trading firms, and institutional investors seeking efficient hedging and exposure tools tied to the Mexican equity market.
