.png){kind=logo}
Cboe Global Markets has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to stretch the trading day for equity options. The exchange wants to open earlier, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m., and extend trading a few minutes past the usual close, from 4 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
If regulators sign off, traders would gain an extra window to react to overnight developments and late-day headlines. Cboe says the plan reflects how global markets now operate, with investors in Europe and Asia driving activity long before Wall Street wakes up.
The exchange believes the extended sessions could help investors respond more quickly to news, hedge exposure, and manage volatility that often builds while U.S. markets are offline.
The proposal comes as more exchanges worldwide move toward longer operating hours. Demand for constant access has soared, especially as online platforms and retail traders have reshaped how markets move.
Equity options have become a central focus of that shift. Data from the Options Clearing Corporation shows monthly volume hit 1.29 billion contracts in September, a 68 percent jump from 763 million two years earlier. The boom has been fueled by retail participation and the growing appetite for zero-day-to-expiry contracts that let traders bet on short-term swings.
Cboe’s plan would let investors adjust positions immediately instead of waiting for the next session’s bell. Brokerages such as Robinhood already report strong interest in 24-hour access, a signal that U.S. traders are ready for longer hours.
The company is starting carefully. Only select equity options will trade in the new sessions, chosen for liquidity, trading volume, and market capitalization. The approach is designed to keep spreads tight and execution orderly while the program scales up.
In its filing, Cboe described the move as a modest but meaningful step toward a complete 24×5 marketplace that keeps pace with global capital flows.
Is the U.S. edging toward a world where markets never sleep?
Cboe already runs 27 markets across five asset classes in the U.S., Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Its EDGX platform for U.S. equities opens at 4 a.m. Eastern, and trading during that early session has grown 135 percent since 2022.
The company also provides nearly 24×5 trading for S&P 500 Index and VIX options, as well as foreign-exchange products. Under its latest plan, all listed U.S. stocks could eventually trade around the clock, except on holidays, with settlement handled by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation.
Cboe’s push reflects how technology and global participation are erasing the boundaries that once defined the trading day. By extending access, the exchange hopes to connect investors across time zones and move one step closer to a truly global market.
Cboe’s plan to lengthen trading hours marks another move closer to nonstop markets. The exchange aims to match global demand by giving investors more time to trade, hedge, and manage risk. If approved, the initiative could blur the final barrier between Wall Street’s clock and a worldwide, always-open marketplace.
Read More: Cboe Digital Plans 2024 Rollout for Bitcoin and Ethereum Futures; InQubeta On Track For 300% Growth
