Amid rising global economic uncertainty, investors continue to favor safe-haven assets that can be traded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CME Group said on Monday that its 24/7 silver contract has successfully launched, with solid trading performance in its first weekend.
The world’s largest derivatives exchange reported that 2,387 contracts of 100-ounce silver futures were traded during the first weekend of 24/7 trading, representing a notional value of more than $15 million.
Meanwhile, CME stated that its 24/7 one-ounce gold contract continues to see robust demand. Launched on July 24, the contract has recorded 140,000 gold contracts traded during weekend sessions over the past one and a half months, with a notional value exceeding $600 million.
CME said the 24/7 gold contract has now become the most liquid pool for weekend gold futures trading.
All-hours trading for precious metals gains traction
Jin Hennig, Global Head of Metals at CME, noted that silver carries dual attributes as both a precious metal and industrial metal. The first weekend 24/7 trading results show market participants want to manage investment exposure and physical supply risks in an around-the-clock environment. She also added that following positive feedback on 24/7 gold futures, this innovation further demonstrates retail clients value products sized to their needs and the ability to trade precious metals markets at any time.
CME explained these 24/7 contracts represent its latest move to attract new investors to precious metals markets and compete with expanding digital trading platforms that offer round-the-clock trading and fractionalized smaller lots.
Smaller contracts tailored for retail traders
CME rolled out the one-ounce gold futures contract in January 2025, a smaller contract specifically designed for retail traders, followed by the 100-ounce silver futures in February.
The exchange said its one-ounce gold and 100-ounce silver futures are the smallest offerings among CME precious metal contracts, built to meet retail traders’ needs within a trusted, regulated marketplace.
Precious metals business sets records
CME stated its strategy is working, as precious metals saw unprecedented demand in the first half of this year. The firm reported that driven by precious metals trading, CME’s metals business posted a new record average daily volume of 1.3 million contracts in H1 2026, up 55% year-on-year. The average daily notional turnover for silver futures also hit a record at $500 billion over the same period.
As all-hours trading gradually becomes a new selling point in precious metals markets, CME’s move may further strengthen its bridge between retail and institutional investors. It also reflects rising allocation demand for safe-haven assets such as gold and silver amid uncertain conditions.