Is the futures market open?
Is the futures market open right now?
LiveRegular weekly schedule for CME equity index futures. Exchange holidays and early closes aren't included; check the CME holiday calendar.
The trading week at a glance
US equity index futures (ES, MES, NQ, MNQ) trade on CME Globex almost 23 hours a day, five days a week.
| Period | Time (ET) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Sun 6:00 PM | Trading starts for the week. |
| Overnight session | 6:00 PM–9:30 AM | Futures trade while US stock markets are closed. Volume is usually lighter. |
| US cash session | Mon–Fri 9:30 AM–4:00 PM | When the stock market is open. Volume and movement are usually highest, especially in the first hour. |
| After the cash close | 4:00–5:00 PM | Futures keep trading for an hour after stocks close. |
| Daily break | Mon–Thu 5:00–6:00 PM | A one-hour pause each evening. |
| Weekly close | Fri 5:00 PM | Trading stops for the weekend. |
Key times in your time zone
CME is based in Chicago, so you'll often see these times quoted in Central Time.
| Event | Eastern | Central | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily open | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Stock market open | 9:30 AM | 8:30 AM | 6:30 AM |
| Stock market close | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| Daily close | 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
Times when the market can move fast
Scheduled economic releases can cause sudden, large moves in index futures. Many traders stay flat through them or plan for them in advance.
8:30 AM ET
Many major US reports, including CPI inflation, the monthly jobs report, PPI and retail sales.
10:00 AM ET
Reports such as ISM surveys, consumer sentiment and job openings.
2:00 PM ET
Federal Reserve (FOMC) rate decisions on meeting days, with a press conference at 2:30 PM ET.
Every week
Members get the week's key releases in one Pre-Trade Prep post inside the free community.
Pick one window and stick to it
You don't need to watch the market all day. Most new traders do better with one consistent 60 to 90 minute window, practiced the same way every session in a simulator.
- Morning window: the first 60 to 90 minutes after the 9:30 AM ET open, when volume is highest.
- Evening window: part of the overnight session, which fits around a day job. Moves are often slower, and volume is lighter.
Futures hours questions
What are the trading hours for ES and NQ futures?
E-mini S&P 500 (ES) and E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) futures, and their micro versions MES and MNQ, trade on CME Globex from Sunday 6:00 PM ET to Friday 5:00 PM ET, with a one-hour break from 5:00 to 6:00 PM ET Monday through Thursday.
Are futures open 24 hours a day?
Nearly. Equity index futures trade about 23 hours a day, five days a week. The only weekday pause is the daily break from 5:00 to 6:00 PM ET.
Can you trade futures on weekends?
No. Trading stops Friday at 5:00 PM ET and starts again Sunday at 6:00 PM ET.
When is the futures market busiest?
Usually during the US cash session, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, and especially in the first hour after the open. Volume also tends to rise around scheduled economic releases such as 8:30 AM ET reports.
Do futures trade on US holidays?
Holiday schedules vary. On many US holidays the market closes early or doesn't open. Check the CME Group holiday calendar before each holiday.
Keep learning: Futures Trading 101, the tick value calculator and the futures glossary.
