US small-cap futures were modestly lower ahead of the regular cash session on September 30. CME’s December E-mini Russell 2000 contract, RTYZ6, showed 2,825.80 points, down 3.40 points, or 0.12%, versus its prior settlement. The last quote was just 0.50 point above the session low.
The verified session record
| Measure | Official observation |
|---|---|
| Expiry / symbol | December 2026 / RTYZ6 |
| Prior settlement | 2,829.20 points |
| Open | 2,831.60 points |
| High / low | 2,842.20 / 2,825.30 points |
| Last / volume | 2,825.80 points / 16,169 contracts |
| Quote time | 05:51:53 CT on September 30 |
The small-cap comparison
The last reading was 16.40 points below the day’s high and 5.80 points below its opening level. Those are contract-specific calculations. A raw point move cannot be compared directly with the Dow’s point move because the indices start at different levels and cover different share baskets.
The Russell 2000 represents a small-cap segment, unlike the large-cap emphasis of the S&P 500 futures benchmark. A single early futures observation does not show that every small company is falling.
Do not confuse last trade with settlement
The 2,829.20 figure in CME’s table is the previous settlement reference. The 2,825.80 observation is a last traded price, not September 30’s final settlement. Both labels matter for anyone checking the percentage change against another service.
No current cash Russell opening level, constituent breadth or verified financing-related driver is included here. A later cash report would need its own exchange or index-provider evidence.
Source and timing: CME December RTY quote row; CME Russell contract explanation. Observed on 30 September 2026 at 16:30:54 IST. Quote/session time: 30 September 05:51:53 CT; at least 10-minute delay. Quotes are delayed at least ten minutes. Historical educational margin examples are not used as current requirements. No recommendation.
Related coverage: CapKet Markets. This is a dated report, not a continuously updating price feed.