S&P 500 stock index futures started trading on April 21, 1982. The S&P 500 cash opened at 115.48 and the futures were trading at a discount so the first trade was probably around 115.10. Somebody here must have the first day's time and sales for the exact number.
We are less than a month away from the 30th anniversary of the start of stock index futures trading on February 24, 1982.
It all began with Value Line stock index futures trading at the Kansas City Board of Trade. S&P 500 futures followed on April 21, 1982 and NYSE Composite futures at the NYFE on May 6, 1982.