Futures markets offer nearly round-the-clock trading, allowing you to react to global events and trade when stock markets are closed. Understanding futures trading hours is essential for timing your trades effectively and managing overnight risk. This guide covers everything you need to know about futures market hours.
Overview of Futures Trading Hours
Most futures contracts trade on electronic platforms nearly 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. However, not all hours are created equal. Volume, volatility, and spread characteristics vary significantly throughout the trading day.
Key concept: Futures trade on Globex (CME's electronic platform) from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon, with a brief daily maintenance break. This gives you access to markets when traditional exchanges are closed.
CME Futures Trading Hours
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) is home to the most popular futures contracts:
Equity Index Futures (ES, NQ, YM, RTY)
S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow, and Russell futures trade nearly around the clock:
- Sunday: Open at 6:00 PM EST
- Monday-Thursday: Trade continuously except 5:00-6:00 PM EST maintenance
- Friday: Close at 5:00 PM EST
- Total: 23 hours per day, 5 days per week
Currency Futures
EUR, JPY, GBP, and other currency futures follow similar hours to equity futures, with high activity during both Asian and European sessions.
Treasury Futures
Bond futures (ZN, ZB, ZF) trade Sunday-Friday with the same general schedule as equity index futures.
CME Globex Trading Schedule (EST)
- Sunday open: 6:00 PM
- Daily maintenance: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Mon-Thu)
- Friday close: 5:00 PM
- Regular trading hours (RTH): 9:30 AM - 4:15 PM
- Electronic trading hours (ETH): All other hours
Commodity Futures Hours
Crude Oil and Energy (CL, NG)
Crude oil futures trade Sunday through Friday with a brief daily settlement period:
- Electronic: 6:00 PM - 5:00 PM (next day)
- Peak volume: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM EST
- Important: Wednesday's EIA inventory report at 10:30 AM EST
Gold and Metals (GC, SI)
Precious metals futures trade similar hours to energy, with significant activity during London and New York sessions.
Agricultural Futures
Corn, wheat, and soybeans have more limited hours, primarily active during US business hours with an electronic overnight session.
Best Times to Trade Futures
Regular Trading Hours (RTH)
The period when cash markets are open (9:30 AM - 4:15 PM EST for index futures) typically offers:
- Highest volume and liquidity
- Tightest bid-ask spreads
- Cleaner price action and better fills
- Most institutional participation
Overnight Session
Trading outside regular hours (also called ETH or Globex session) has different characteristics:
- Lower volume, wider spreads
- Can capture news-driven moves
- Often ranges or slowly trends
- Asian and European session activity
Day trading tip: Most professional futures day traders focus on 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST. These windows typically offer the best volatility-to-liquidity ratio.
Key Times for Futures Traders
Important Daily Times (EST)
- 6:00 PM: Futures reopen Sunday (week begins)
- 8:30 AM: Major economic data releases
- 9:30 AM: Cash market opens, RTH begins
- 10:00 AM: Secondary data releases
- 2:00 PM: FOMC announcements (8x per year)
- 4:00 PM: Cash market closes
- 4:15 PM: ES futures settlement
Overnight Gaps and Risk
While futures trade overnight, the cash market does not. This creates gap risk:
- Sunday gaps: Weekend news can cause significant opening gaps
- Overnight moves: Global events move futures while you sleep
- Opening volatility: 9:30 AM often sees sharp moves as cash opens
Managing overnight risk is essential. Consider reducing position sizes for overnight holds or using options for protection.
Trading Different Sessions
Asian Session (7 PM - 3 AM EST)
Lower volume for US-focused contracts, but active for currency and some commodity futures. Often ranges or continues the previous day's trend.
European Session (3 AM - 9:30 AM EST)
Volume picks up as London opens. European economic data can move markets. Often sets up the direction for the US open.
US Session (9:30 AM - 4:15 PM EST)
Primary trading session with highest volume. Most day traders focus exclusively on this window.
Futures vs Stock Market Hours
Key differences between futures and stock market hours:
- Futures: Nearly 24 hours, 5.5 days per week
- Stocks: 6.5 hours per day, 5 days per week
- Futures advantage: React to overnight news immediately
- Stock advantage: Higher liquidity during limited hours
Holiday and Shortened Schedules
Futures markets observe US holidays with modified schedules:
- Closed: Christmas, New Year's Day, Good Friday
- Early close: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve
- Regular: Presidents' Day, MLK Day (stocks closed, futures open)
Important: Liquidity is often poor around holidays even when markets are open. Consider reducing position sizes or avoiding trading entirely during low-liquidity holiday periods.
Tools for Tracking Futures Hours
- CME Group website: Official holiday schedules and trading hours
- Trading platform calendars: Most platforms show session times
- Economic calendars: Know when data releases occur
- Volume profiles: See when your specific contract is most active
Track Your Futures Trades
Pro Trader Dashboard helps you monitor your futures trading performance across all sessions. Identify which times work best for your strategy and optimize your trading schedule.
Summary
Futures markets offer extended trading hours that let you react to global events and trade around your schedule. However, not all hours are equal. Focus on regular trading hours for the best liquidity and cleanest price action. Understand the risks of overnight positions and adjust your strategy accordingly. With proper knowledge of futures market hours, you can make informed decisions about when to trade and when to stay on the sidelines.
Ready to learn more? Check out our guides on trading across timezones and crude oil as a market indicator.