Futures Contracts You Can Trade
at Day Trader Funding
Full contract specs, tick values, trading hours, and funded-account tips for every instrument on our platform. Real-time data included — $0 data fees.
NQE-mini NASDAQ 100
CME
The king of momentum. NQ is the most popular contract among prop firm traders because of its wide intraday ranges and strong trend days. Tech-heavy exposure means big moves around earnings and Fed announcements.
Micro alternative: Micro E-mini NASDAQ 100 (MNQ) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading E-mini NASDAQ 100 in a Funded Account
- ▸Use wider stops than ES — NQ's average true range is significantly larger, so tight stops get clipped by noise.
- ▸Avoid the first 5 minutes after the open unless you have a clear pre-market thesis and level.
- ▸Scale into micro contracts (MNQ) when testing a new strategy in your funded account to preserve drawdown.
ESE-mini S&P 500
CME
The benchmark. ES is the world's most liquid equity-index futures contract, making it ideal for scalpers who need tight spreads and reliable fills. It tracks the S&P 500 and reacts to macro data, Fed policy, and broad market sentiment.
Micro alternative: Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading E-mini S&P 500 in a Funded Account
- ▸ES is $12.50/tick — a 10-tick winner on two contracts is $250. Respect the leverage.
- ▸Liquidity is deepest between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM ET; that's when the book is thickest and slippage lowest.
- ▸In a funded account, keep position sizes conservative early on to build a drawdown buffer.
YME-mini Dow
CBOT
Price-weighted exposure to 30 blue-chip stocks. YM tends to move in cleaner, more readable patterns than NQ, making it popular with technical traders who prefer slower, more predictable price action.
Micro alternative: Micro E-mini Dow (MYM) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading E-mini Dow in a Funded Account
- ▸At $5/tick, YM is one of the cheapest E-minis to trade — great for newer funded traders building confidence.
- ▸YM often leads or diverges from ES/NQ at open — watch for relative-strength signals.
- ▸Use the micro (MYM) to pyramid into positions without blowing through your max contract limit.
RTYE-mini Russell 2000
CME
Small-cap exposure with outsized volatility. RTY is popular among traders who want big moves without the per-tick cost of NQ. It's sensitive to domestic economic data and tends to underperform in risk-off environments.
Micro alternative: Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading E-mini Russell 2000 in a Funded Account
- ▸RTY has lower liquidity than ES/NQ — avoid market orders during overnight sessions.
- ▸Small-cap rallies often come in bursts; look for breakout setups after multi-day consolidation.
- ▸The micro (M2K) at $0.50/tick is excellent for funded traders learning to manage volatile instruments.
CLCrude Oil
NYMEX
The volatile commodity king. CL is one of the highest-range futures contracts available, driven by OPEC decisions, inventory reports (EIA Wednesday at 10:30 AM ET), and geopolitical events. Big risk, big reward.
Micro alternative: Micro Crude Oil (MCL) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading Crude Oil in a Funded Account
- ▸Wednesday EIA inventory report at 10:30 AM ET creates massive spikes — either trade it with a plan or stay flat.
- ▸CL is $10/tick and moves fast; never enter without a stop-loss in a funded account.
- ▸Use MCL (micro crude) to practice your thesis before sizing up to full CL contracts.
GCGold
COMEX
The safe-haven trade. GC moves on real yields, dollar strength, and geopolitical uncertainty. It trends beautifully on daily timeframes and offers excellent risk-reward setups for swing-style intraday traders.
Micro alternative: Micro Gold (MGC) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading Gold in a Funded Account
- ▸Gold is inversely correlated with the US dollar — watch DXY for directional bias.
- ▸FOMC days create the biggest GC moves of the month; plan your risk accordingly.
- ▸MGC (micro gold) lets you hold longer-term intraday positions with less drawdown pressure.
SISilver
COMEX
Silver combines precious-metal safe-haven appeal with industrial demand, making it more volatile than gold on percentage terms. At $25/tick, even small moves generate significant P&L.
Micro alternative: Micro Silver (1,000 oz) (SIL) — 1/10th the size. Perfect for managing risk in a funded account or scaling into positions.
Tips for Trading Silver in a Funded Account
- ▸Silver is $25/tick — one of the most leveraged contracts available. Size down.
- ▸SI often follows GC but with a lag; use gold as a leading indicator.
- ▸Avoid overnight holds in silver — gaps can be brutal and blow through stops.
HGCopper
COMEX
"Dr. Copper" is a bellwether for global economic health. Copper prices rise with manufacturing demand and construction activity, making it a macro trader's favorite. It's also influenced by Chinese economic data.
Tips for Trading Copper in a Funded Account
- ▸Chinese PMI releases (usually 1st of month) can create overnight gaps in HG — be aware.
- ▸Copper trends tend to be smoother than energy; it rewards trend-following strategies.
- ▸Watch inventory reports from LME and COMEX for supply-side catalysts.
NGNatural Gas
NYMEX
The wild card. NG is arguably the most volatile futures contract available, with multi-percent daily swings driven by weather forecasts, storage reports, and seasonal demand. Not for the faint-hearted.
Tips for Trading Natural Gas in a Funded Account
- ▸Thursday EIA Natural Gas Storage report at 10:30 AM ET is the single biggest catalyst — plan accordingly.
- ▸NG can move 5-10% in a single session; strict risk management is non-negotiable in a funded account.
- ▸Consider limiting NG to a small portion of your overall trading to protect your drawdown buffer.
ZB30-Year U.S. Treasury Bond
CBOT
Long-duration interest-rate exposure. ZB is highly sensitive to Fed policy, inflation data, and bond auctions. At $31.25/tick, it offers substantial notional value per contract and tends to trend well during rate-cycle inflection points.
Tips for Trading 30-Year U.S. Treasury Bond in a Funded Account
- ▸ZB trades shorter hours (7:20 AM – 2:00 PM ET) — plan your session around its active window.
- ▸CPI, PPI, and FOMC days create the biggest moves; position size conservatively around these events.
- ▸Bonds move inversely to yields — if you're bearish on rates, you're bullish on ZB.
ZN10-Year U.S. Treasury Note
CBOT
The workhorse of the rate market. ZN is more liquid than ZB and less volatile, making it a better fit for traders who want bond exposure without extreme swings. It's the go-to instrument for trading the yield curve.
Tips for Trading 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note in a Funded Account
- ▸ZN has tighter bid-ask spreads than ZB — better for scalping strategies.
- ▸Watch 10-year auction results (monthly) for directional catalysts.
- ▸Pair ZN trades with dollar index (DX) analysis for macro confirmation.
6EEuro FX
CME
The EUR/USD of the futures world. 6E is the most liquid currency future and trades nearly 23 hours a day. It responds to ECB and Fed policy divergence, European economic data, and geopolitical risk.
Tips for Trading Euro FX in a Funded Account
- ▸European session (2:00 AM – 5:00 AM ET) often sets the tone — review the range before U.S. open.
- ▸At $6.25/tick, 6E is lower risk per contract than most E-minis — great for newer funded traders.
- ▸NFP (first Friday of month) creates the biggest currency moves; widen stops or stay flat.
Quick Reference
| Symbol | Name | Exchange | Tick Size | Tick Value | Hours (ET) | Micro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NQ | E-mini NASDAQ 100 | CME | 0.25 | $5.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | MNQ |
| ES | E-mini S&P 500 | CME | 0.25 | $12.50 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | MES |
| YM | E-mini Dow | CBOT | 1.0 | $5.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | MYM |
| RTY | E-mini Russell 2000 | CME | 0.10 | $5.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | M2K |
| CL | Crude Oil | NYMEX | 0.01 | $10.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | MCL |
| GC | Gold | COMEX | 0.10 | $10.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | MGC |
| SI | Silver | COMEX | 0.005 | $25.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | SIL |
| HG | Copper | COMEX | 0.0005 | $12.50 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | — |
| NG | Natural Gas | NYMEX | 0.001 | $10.00 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | — |
| ZB | 30-Year U.S. Treasury Bond | CBOT | 1/32 | $31.25 | 7:20 AM – 2:00 PM ET | — |
| ZN | 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note | CBOT | 1/64 | $15.625 | 7:20 AM – 2:00 PM ET | — |
| 6E | Euro FX | CME | 0.00005 | $6.25 | 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What futures can I trade at Day Trader Funding?
Day Trader Funding supports all major CME Group futures including E-mini NASDAQ (NQ), E-mini S&P 500 (ES), Crude Oil (CL), Gold (GC), and more. We also support micro contracts like MNQ, MES, and MCL.
How many contracts can I trade in a funded account?
Contract limits depend on your account size: 5 contracts for $50K accounts, 10 for $100K accounts, and 15 for $150K accounts. This applies to full-size E-mini and standard contracts.
Does Day Trader Funding charge data fees?
No. Real-time market data for CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX is included at no extra cost. Other prop firms charge $55–$135/month for the same feeds.
Can I trade micro futures in a funded account?
Yes. Micro contracts (MNQ, MES, MYM, M2K, MCL, MGC, etc.) are available and count as 1/10th of a full contract toward your position limit.
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