Silver futures surged to $88 per ounce as CME Group‘s new 100-ounce contract made its trading debut on February 9, 2026, marking another milestone in the exchange’s push to make precious metals accessible to everyday investors. The financially settled contract launched on the COMEX division after receiving regulatory approval. Unlike traditional futures requiring physical delivery of metal bars, this product settles based on daily benchmark silver futures prices. Each contract represents 100 troy ounces of silver, sitting between the smaller Micro Silver futures and larger standard contracts. Market participants welcomed the new offering with enthusiasm. Jin Hennig from CME Group noted that silver appeals strongly to retail investors seeking portfolio diversification, while the 100-ounce size improves access to market liquidity and efficiency. JB Mackenzie from Robinhood highlighted how lower capital requirements help active traders participate more easily in the silver market. The timing proved perfect. Record volumes in metals futures during 2025 demonstrated massive retail interest, with Micro Gold futures averaging 301,000 contracts daily and Micro Silver hitting 48,000 contracts per day. The 1-Ounce Gold futures contract launched in January 2025 traded over 6 million contracts, proving demand for smaller-sized products was real and growing. COMEX E-Mini GOLD saw average daily volume rise by 249.4% year-over-year in 2025, with December trading up 677.4% compared to December 2024. Several factors drove the silver price rally and strong trading interest. Geopolitical uncertainties pushed investors toward safe-haven assets, while the ongoing energy shift increased industrial demand for silver used in solar panels and electric vehicles. Silver’s dual nature as both a precious metal and industrial commodity makes it particularly attractive during uncertain times. Industry analysts responded positively to the launch. Barclays raised its CME price target to $304 from $280, maintaining an Equal Weight rating. Isaac Cahana from Plus500US praised the expansion as providing cost-effective opportunities for global market participation. Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating and raised its price target to $320 from $314. The new contract trades on CME Globex alongside the exchange’s growing lineup of accessible metals products. By offering flexible position sizing and improved margin efficiency, CME continues building on its mission to democratize finance access for investors worldwide. The dramatic $88 price point on launch day certainly captured attention across trading desks. Investors often allocate 5-10% of a portfolio to gold as a rule of thumb to diversify and hedge against market volatility.
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