Trade RTY & M2K - The Most Active Small-Cap Russell 2000 Futures
Access E-mini Russell 2000 (RTY) and Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K) - the most actively traded Russell 2000 index futures - through Optimus, with competitive day-trade margins and 23-hour markets in one account.
Available Contracts
* Day-trade margins subject to change based on volatility. View current rates
Why Optimus
The Broker Built for Index Futures Traders
Every index contract size. Competitive pricing. Real support from account opening to your first trade - and every trade after.
* Day-trade margins subject to change based on volatility. View current margin rates.
Trade Russell 2000 Futures With Fewer Restrictions
Trade the most active small-cap index futures market with flexibility, capital efficiency, and 23-hour access that stock and ETF traders cannot get.
Trade 23 Hours a Day
Access RTY and M2K nearly around the clock on CME Globex - react to overnight news, pre-market economic releases, and global market events as they happen.
Start Smaller With M2K
Micro E-mini Russell 2000 is 1/10th the size of standard RTY - real small-cap exposure with significantly less capital. Same liquidity pool, lower commitment.
Short Small Caps Without the Friction
Go long or short with the same ease - no uptick rules, no hard-to-borrow fees or locate requirements that make shorting individual small caps and IWM costly.
Trade the Large-Cap / Small-Cap Spread
Express divergence views - long RTY against short ES, or the reverse - in a single account. The relative-value trade between small and large caps is a Russell staple.
Contracts
CME E-mini Russell 2000 Futures Margins
| Contract | Symbol | Contract Size | Min Tick | Tick Value | Settlement | Day Trade Margin |
|---|
On The Platform
Watch the Small-Cap Divergence in Optimus Flow
The Russell 2000 does not move in lockstep with the S&P 500 - small caps are higher-beta and more rate-sensitive, so RTY routinely leads or lags the large-cap indices. In Optimus Flow you can chart RTY next to ES, watch the two diverge through Fed decisions and economic releases, and follow the rotation between small and large caps as it happens.
Optimus Flow shown for illustration. Small-cap and large-cap indexes can diverge or converge unpredictably; relative-value positions carry risk on both legs, and past relationships are not indicative of future results.
Featured Contract
Start Smaller with Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K)
One-tenth the size of standard RTY. Same market, same liquidity pool, a fraction of the capital - ideal for scaling small-cap positions or building experience.
Trade M2K NowRight-Sized Small-Cap Exposure
At $5 x Russell 2000 Index - 1/10th of RTY - real Russell 2000 exposure, scaled precisely to your capital and risk.
Same Market Structure
M2K tracks RTY tightly with deep order books and consistently tight spreads - the same small-cap market at a smaller scale.
Capital-Efficient Entry
Day-trade margins from $50 per contract. Ideal for new small-cap traders or sizing positions in increments smaller than full RTY.
Same 23-Hour Access
Sunday 6:00 PM ET to Friday 5:00 PM ET, with the standard daily break. Same trading hours as RTY.
Why Futures
E-mini Russell 2000 Futures vs. Russell ETFs (IWM)
For active traders, RTY futures offer structural advantages that IWM simply cannot match.
For illustrative purposes only. Futures involve substantial risk of loss. Figures based on approximate RTY day-trade margin at typical Russell 2000 index levels (≈3,000 × $50 = ~$150,000 notional per contract). Margins subject to change. IWM carries an annual management fee.
Market drivers
What Moves Russell 2000 Futures Prices?
Small caps do not trade like large caps. Understanding these drivers is essential before placing your first RTY trade.
Fed Policy & Interest Rates
The dominant RTY driver. Small caps carry more floating-rate and near-term debt, so rate cuts tend to lift the Russell harder than large-cap indices - and hikes pressure it more.
Risk-On / Risk-Off Sentiment
The Russell 2000 is high-beta. When risk appetite expands, small caps often lead; when it contracts, they tend to fall faster than the S&P 500 or Nasdaq.
Domestic Economic Data
Russell 2000 firms earn most of their revenue at home, so U.S. GDP, jobs, ISM, and retail sales hit harder - while tariffs and a strong dollar bite less than for multinational mega-caps.
Large-Cap Divergence & Rotation
RTY frequently diverges from ES and NQ. Rotation between large and small caps is itself a tradable driver - and the basis for the long-RTY / short-ES relative-value trade.
Financials & Credit Conditions
Regional banks and financials carry heavy weight in the Russell 2000. Credit spreads, lending conditions, and bank-sector stress move RTY disproportionately.
Earnings Breadth, Not Mega-Caps
Unlike the S&P 500, no single name drives the Russell. A large share of constituents are unprofitable, so broad earnings breadth and growth expectations matter more than any one report.
Get started
Start Trading Russell 2000 Futures in 3 Steps
Opening a futures account with Optimus is fast, straightforward, and fully supported.
Open Your Account
Complete our streamlined online application. Approvals are typically fast - our team is here to guide you through every field.
Fund & Choose a Platform
Deposit via wire or ACH and select your preferred platform - Optimus Flow, Sierra Chart, TradingView, and more.
Start Trading
Access RTY and M2K with real-time data, 23-hour markets, and our support team on standby for your first trade and beyond.
Industry Recognition
Consistently Recognized.
Not A One-Time Result.
Three consecutive years of industry awards are not a marketing claim - they are a track record. Here is what independent reviewers consistently find when they evaluate Optimus Futures.
Open Your AccountBest Futures Trading Software - Benzinga
Named Benzinga's Best Futures Trading Software three years running - evaluated on platform performance, pricing, and customer support.*
#2 Futures Broker - BrokerChooser
Independently ranked among top futures brokers across platform quality, costs, and service factors.
Top-Ranked Futures Broker - TradingView
Consistently top-ranked on TradingView, with rankings driven by authentic user feedback instead of editorial opinions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are E-mini Russell 2000 futures?
E-mini Russell 2000 futures (RTY) are cash-settled equity index futures traded on CME Globex. Each RTY contract represents $50 times the Russell 2000 Index, and Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K) is one-tenth the size.
What is the difference between RTY and M2K futures?
RTY is the standard E-mini Russell 2000 contract with a $50 multiplier. M2K is the Micro version at one-tenth size with a $5 multiplier, allowing smaller position sizing on the same index.
What are the margin requirements for Russell futures?
Day-trade margins vary by broker risk settings and market volatility. At Optimus, day-trade margins can be significantly lower than overnight exchange requirements and may change at any time.
What hours do RTY and M2K futures trade?
RTY and M2K futures trade on CME Globex from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon with a daily maintenance break, offering nearly 24-hour access during the trading week.
Why do Russell 2000 futures move differently from the S&P 500?
The Russell 2000 tracks small-cap companies that are generally more domestic and rate-sensitive than mega-cap S&P 500 names. As a result, RTY can diverge from ES during shifts in risk appetite, financing conditions, and policy expectations.
Do Russell futures have 60/40 tax treatment?
Section 1256 index futures generally qualify for 60/40 blended tax treatment in the U.S. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances, so consult a qualified tax advisor.
Have more questions?
View our complete FAQ center or reach out to our dedicated support team, we're here to help.
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