Futures Markets Hours: When Are Futures Markets Open?

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Understanding when futures markets are open is essential for traders who want to plan their strategies around global market movements. Whether you're trading equity indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, or agricultural products, knowing the exact trading hours helps you avoid missed opportunities and manage risk effectively.

Futures markets operate nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, with brief daily pauses for maintenance and settlement. However, trading hours vary slightly depending on the asset class and exchange. Most futures contracts trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), which follows Central Time (CT). This guide breaks down the standard futures market hours by product category and highlights key exceptions.

Core Trading Hours for Major Futures Contracts

The majority of futures contracts on the CME begin trading each Sunday at 5:00 p.m. CT and continue through Friday at 4:00 p.m. CT, offering traders almost continuous access during the week. Each day, there is a 60-minute break from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, during which contracts are marked to market (MTM). This process updates profit and loss calculations and adjusts margin requirements based on closing prices.

This schedule applies to several major categories:

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CFE Volatility Futures Trading Hours

The Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE), owned by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe), specializes in volatility and bond index derivatives. The most widely traded products include:

These instruments allow traders to speculate on or hedge against future market volatility, particularly in relation to the S&P 500.

Despite being a separate exchange, CFE futures align with CME's core schedule:

This consistency makes it easier for multi-market traders to manage positions across equity and volatility products.

Equity and Interest Rate Futures

Equity Index Futures

Equity futures track major stock indices and are among the most liquid instruments in the world. Popular contracts include:

These are ideal for day traders, swing traders, and institutional investors seeking exposure to U.S. equities outside regular stock market hours.

Interest Rate Futures

These contracts reflect expectations for U.S. monetary policy and bond yields. Key instruments include:

Both equity and interest rate futures follow the standard CME cycle:

This near-24/5 availability allows traders to react instantly to economic data releases like CPI, employment reports, or Fed announcements—even outside traditional business hours.

Crypto & Forex Futures Trading Schedule

Cryptocurrency Futures

Digital asset derivatives have gained popularity as regulated alternatives to spot crypto trading. The CME offers:

These contracts are cash-settled and based on CME’s Bitcoin and Ether Reference Rates (BRR/ERR), providing institutional-grade pricing.

While they follow the standard CME trading window (Sunday 5 p.m. – Friday 4 p.m. CT), traders should note that overnight margin requirements may be higher than exchange minimums, especially for Bitcoin positions.

Currency (Forex) Futures

Currency futures offer transparent, exchange-traded exposure to forex markets. Major pairs available include:

Micro-sized versions are available for most, enabling smaller traders to participate with reduced capital.

Like crypto futures, these trade under the same extended CME hours—ideal for global macro traders monitoring central bank activity or geopolitical events.

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Energy and Metals Futures Hours

Metals Futures

Precious and industrial metals are crucial for inflation hedging and portfolio diversification. Available contracts include:

These trade nearly 24/5 on the CME with the standard daily break from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT.

Energy Futures

Energy commodities react quickly to supply disruptions, inventory reports, and geopolitical tensions. Key products:

All energy futures also follow the core CME schedule—open Sunday evening, close Friday afternoon, with a one-hour daily pause.

Agricultural and Livestock Futures Trading Hours

Unlike most other futures, agricultural products have more limited and segmented trading hours due to lower liquidity and physical delivery considerations.

Agricultural Futures

Includes:

Trading Schedule:

This split session accommodates global grain market reports and weather-driven price swings during overnight hours.

Livestock Futures

Includes:

These trade only during the day:

Limited session length reflects lower volatility and fewer external catalysts during off-hours.

Futures Market Holidays

Futures markets observe most U.S. public holidays, meaning no trading occurs on these days:

If a holiday falls on a weekend, the closure typically shifts to the adjacent Friday or Monday.

Always check official exchange calendars before placing weekend trades or holding positions over long weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are futures markets open on weekends?
A: Yes—trading resumes Sunday at 5:00 p.m. CT for most contracts, making futures one of the few financial instruments available over the weekend.

Q: Why is there a daily one-hour break in futures trading?
A: The daily pause from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT allows for mark-to-market calculations, margin adjustments, and system maintenance.

Q: Do all futures trade 24/5?
A: No—while many do, agricultural and livestock futures have restricted hours with breaks during the day.

Q: What happens to my positions during the daily trading halt?
A: Positions remain open; only new orders are paused. Your P&L is updated after the break based on settlement prices.

Q: Can I trade crypto futures anytime?
A: Not quite—while crypto never sleeps, regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures on CME follow scheduled hours with daily breaks.

Q: How do holidays affect futures trading?
A: On U.S. market holidays, most futures exchanges are closed, though some commodities may have shortened sessions.

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Understanding futures market hours gives you control over timing, risk management, and execution quality. Whether you're focused on equities, commodities, or digital assets, aligning your strategy with official trading windows ensures you never miss a critical move—while staying compliant with exchange rules and margin requirements.

With consistent access across global time zones and asset classes, futures remain a cornerstone of modern trading portfolios in 2025 and beyond.

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