Do you know what Futures trading hours are? If you’ve been trading for any length of time, you know regular market hours are 9:30-4pm Monday-Friday. But what about Futures? Are their hours different from regular market hours? The answer is yes! Which makes Futures trading great for people who work full time.
Table of Contents
Futures Trading Hours and the Best Hours to Trade
General Futures Trading Hours
Trading hours are in U.S. Central Time unless otherwise stated.
The general hours for the various exchanges of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) are as follows:
CME and CBT products submitted via CME ClearPort Clearing, the hours are: Sunday 5:00 p.m. – Friday 5:45 p.m. CST with no reporting Monday – Thursday 5:45 p.m.–6:00 p.m. CST
For CME OTC FX products submitted via CME ClearPort Clearing, the hours are: Sunday 6:00 p.m. – Friday 5:45 p.m. CST with no reporting Monday – Thursday 5:45 p.m.–6:00 p.m. CST
NYMEX and COMEX products submitted via CME ClearPort Clearing, the hours are: Sunday 5:00 p.m. – Friday 4:00 p.m. CST with no reporting Monday – Thursday 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. CST
When you are trading, you want to be in a position when there is more market volume and liquidity present. This leads to more opportunities to capitalize.
The great thing about Futures trading hours is the ability to trade after hours. Make sure you can identify and trade evening star patterns. Candlesticks and patterns are super important. As a result, if you know how to find and trade them, you can trade Futures any time of day. And with success!
Futures Trading Hours TD Ameritrade.
Equity Indices
United States equity index futures trade around the clock, with a one hour and fifteen minute, break each day. Understand the best equity futures trading hours means understanding two separate trading sessions. The morning overlap is session one, and the U.S. going into the close is session two.
Morning Overlap Session all CST:
- 8:30 AM – the markets open for U.S. session trading
- 10:30 AM – European equity markets closed for trading
- 8:30 – 10:30 AM is the most liquid session and is called the U.S. and EUR “overlap” this can extend to 12:00 PM each day.
- European traders will close their positions forcing an increase in volume
Afternoon Closing Session:
- 1:00 PM – institutional/professional trading volume picks up
- 3:00 PM – market on close orders are processed (MOCs) and the U.S. closes officially
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM is the most liquid part of the afternoon as professional traders balance their books into the close, the last 20 minutes or so into 3:00 PM highest volume
Evening Trading Hours
For night owls, there is an evening session with decent volume, and opportunity, when the London session overlaps with the Asian session, from 1:00 AM. If there is news out of Asian markets, such as China volume will increase. If you want to know how to trade during evening Futures trading hours, make sure to take our furtures trading course.
Energy Indices
Energy has a similar overlap and closing pattern of high volatility. It’s important to understand how sectors and indices work. Especially if you’re going to be buying and selling during Futures trading hours.
Energy Overlap and US Closing:
- CL opens its “pit session” at 8AM CST
- European trading closes at 10:30 AM CST
- Most liquid, between 8:00AM and 10:30AM
- Pit session closes at 1:30PM CST, floor trading stops for the day
- Best trading is the last hour between 12:30PM to 1:30PM CST when institution positions are closed
Conclusion
Volume means more opportunity. Make sure to be in the market when it’s best. Therefore, keep that in mind with Futures trading hours. Never put too much at risk, and as always, we wish you the best luck with are your trades.
