Charles Schwab Futures & Forex launched single stock futures on more than 50 U.S. equities on August 12, 2026, covering the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100 and Russell 1000. The contracts trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and let investors go long or short on individual stocks without owning shares, with each standard contract representing 100 shares and micro contracts covering 10 shares. Schwab pitches lower margin requirements, no borrow fees for short positions, and nearly round-the-clock trading access, with a commission of $2.25 per contract per side plus exchange and regulatory fees. The product requires a minimum initial margin of just 15%, compared with about 50% under federal Regulation T for buying stocks on margin, meaning a trader could control 100 shares of a $200 stock by posting about $3,000 instead of $10,000. Schwab's disclosures warn that leveraged futures positions can produce losses exceeding the initial margin deposit, and futures accounts also have no coverage from the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. The same product previously existed in U.S. markets but attracted almost no interest and disappeared by September 2020; CME relaunched the contracts on July 27, 2026, with over 35 retail partners aiming day-one readiness.
Charles Schwab CorpSchwab launches new product, expanding its offerings and attracting traders.
CME Group IncCME relaunched single stock futures, with Schwab's launch adding to trading volume and adoption.
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