E-mini S&P 500 (ES)
It offers deep, continuously quoted, centrally cleared exposure to the broad US large-cap market in a single contract. It trades on CME, tracking the S&P 500 index of US large-cap stocks, and is most active during the us cash session, from the 9:30 a.m. et equity open to the 4:00 p.m. et close. We publish free educational analysis on ES before each session — bias, key levels and one setup — and compare the brokers and prop firms that give access to it.
Latest ES analysis
All markets →
2026-07-27
⚪ Neutral- 🟢 Long scenario at 7547–7555
- 🔴 Short scenario at 7584.75
- 🟢 Long scenario at 7470–7480
Educational scenarios showing where price has reacted — not financial advice, not a signal, and not a recommendation to trade.
ES contract specifications
| Ticker | ES |
|---|---|
| Asset class | Index futures |
| Traded on | CME |
| Underlying | the S&P 500 index of US large-cap stocks |
| Contract size | $50 × S&P 500 Index |
| Tick size | 0.25 index points |
| Tick value | $12.50 |
| Smaller contract | MES — Micro E-mini S&P 500, $5 × index, tick 0.25 pts = $1.25 |
| Trading hours | Sunday 6:00 p.m. – Friday 5:00 p.m. ET, with a daily maintenance break 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET |
| Most active | During the US cash session, from the 9:30 a.m. ET equity open to the 4:00 p.m. ET close |
Contract specifications are set by the exchange and can change — confirm the current specs on CME Group’s own site. Margin requirements are set by your broker and are deliberately not listed here.
What moves ES
- Federal Reserve policy decisions and rate expectations
- US macro releases such as CPI and non-farm payrolls
- S&P 500 constituent earnings seasons
- Broad risk sentiment and index-level flows (rebalancing, options expiry)
Where to trade ES
Advertising disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you open an account through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Providers we list are ones we have — or are seeking — an affiliate relationship with, so this is not a survey of the whole market. Commission never affects our editorial rankings, which are our own assessment — see how we rate. Trading involves significant risk of loss.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products carry a high risk of rapid loss. The majority of retail investor accounts lose money trading them. Futures brokers are priced by commission per contract, not spreads, so “pips” and “commission-based” are not directly comparable — and a 0.0-pip raw spread never includes the commission charged on top. Minimum deposits, leverage caps, product availability and investor protection depend on the entity that serves your country, and several brokers listed do not accept clients from every jurisdiction. Educational information only — not financial advice.
Brokers offering ES
About prop-firm evaluations: these are simulated/demo trading environments. Most participants do not pass the evaluation, challenge fees are typically non-refundable, and passing does not guarantee a payout. Educational information only — not financial advice.
Prop firms offering ES
Tracked payouts are all-time totals confirmed on-chain by Payout Junction, which covers only firms paying via Rise wallets — an absent figure does not mean a firm has not paid. Totals are aggregate across all traders, not an indication of individual outcomes.
Compare all prop firms →Learn how ES trades
How to Trade S&P 500 Futures (ES): 2026 Guide
A practical, educational walkthrough of how to trade S&P 500 futures (E-mini ES) on CME — from contract specs and trading hours to volume-profile analysis and choosing between a broker and a prop firm.
Read the full guide →
ES — frequently asked questions
› Where can I trade ES?
You need an account with a broker or a prop firm that offers E-mini S&P 500. We list 11 brokers and 10 prop firms covering this market, compared on cost, regulation and client eligibility.
› What moves ES?
Federal Reserve policy decisions and rate expectations, US macro releases such as CPI and non-farm payrolls, S&P 500 constituent earnings seasons, Broad risk sentiment and index-level flows (rebalancing, options expiry). Our daily analysis maps the levels where price has historically reacted, rather than predicting direction.
› Does Dindou Trading give ES signals?
No. We publish educational analysis — bias, key levels and one educational setup per session. We never tell anyone what to buy or sell, and there is no signal service.
› Is ES analysis free?
Yes. ES is one of the 7 markets we break down before each session, published free on Telegram at @dindoutrading and mirrored on this site.
Free ES analysis, every session
Bias, key levels and one educational setup — before the open.
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