Chicago: CME Group said it will introduce round-the-clock trading for its 100-ounce Silver futures contract from September, expanding access to its retail-focused precious metals products following strong demand for 24/7 gold futures trading.The exchange operator said the move builds on the success of its 1-Ounce Gold futures contract, which began trading on a 24/7 basis on July 24.Since the launch, more than 53,000 contracts have been traded during expanded weekend sessions, representing approximately $219 million in notional value, according to CME.The company said this represents the largest liquidity pool for weekend gold futures trading.Growing retail demandCME noted that both the 1-Ounce Gold and 100-Ounce Silver contracts were developed with smaller notional exposure, making them more accessible to retail investors and traders.The exchange operator reported record activity across its metals business during the first half of 2026.Average daily volume reached 1.3 million contracts, up 55% year-on-year, driven largely by increased precious metals trading activity.Record silver trading volumesCME said silver futures recorded an average of $50 billion in daily notional trading volume during the first six months of the year.The 100-Ounce Silver futures contract, launched in February 2026, recorded average daily volume (ADV) of 17,800 contracts during the first half.The contract is financially settled based on the daily settlement price of the benchmark COMEX 5,000-Ounce Silver futures contract and is listed and regulated under COMEX rules.Awaiting regulatory approvalCME said the planned September launch of 24/7 trading for the silver contract remains subject to regulatory review.The move reflects growing investor demand for continuous access to precious metals markets amid heightened interest in gold and silver trading worldwide.
