CFTC Halts CME 24/7 Crude Futures Launch
On Thursday, 9 July 2026, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced it will halt the introduction of a contract that would have enabled CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) to begin round‑the‑clock trading of crude oil futures starting the following Friday. The regulatory action follows CME’s attempt to self‑certify the contract on Wednesday, even as a public comment period remains active regarding the expansion of standard futures contracts to continuous trading, including crude oil.
CME Group, described as the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, disclosed in June its intention to provide continuous trading in certain crude and gold futures contracts, subject to regulatory review. The Commission noted that its regulations give exchanges two pathways for listing contracts: self‑certification and requesting a review and approval. CME submitted filings under both provisions at the same time, though the filings were made separately.
Following the announcement, market prices moved: gold (GC) rose 1.36%, CME’s own shares fell 2.36%, crude oil futures (US Dollar) declined 3.31%, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude (CL) dropped 1.90%.
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