CME Group is set to expand into sports-linked derivatives through a new long-term partnership with index provider FutureSports, with plans to launch what the companies describe as the world’s first futures and options contracts based on sports performance indexes. The contracts, which remain subject to regulatory approval, will be linked to FutureSports Performance Indexes (FSPI), a series of benchmark indexes derived from officially reported and league-approved sports statistics. The first cash-settled monthly and quarterly futures contracts are expected to begin trading later this summer. According to CME Group, the contracts are designed to bring exchange-traded price discovery and risk management tools to the global sports sector. While official league data will underpin the indexes, the sporting organisations themselves will have no role in determining index values or governance.