Cboe Global Markets to Launch Extended Trading Hours for Equity Options Starting July 2026

Cboe Global Markets Expands Trading Opportunities

Cboe Global Markets, Inc., a notable leader in the global exchange arena, has achieved a significant milestone by receiving approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to extend trading hours for a select range of equity options. This initiative will officially launch on July 13, 2026 and is expected to provide investors with enhanced access to equity markets, accommodating a growing demand for diverse trading opportunities.

In the world of stock options, timing is often essential. The newly approved extended trading will allow for pre-market sessions from 7:30 AM to 9:25 AM Eastern Time, along with post-market sessions from 4:00 PM to 4:15 PM, from Monday to Friday. This schedule will focus on some of the top-performing and highly liquid stocks, ensuring that investors can efficiently manage their investment positions throughout the day.

Cboe plans to include approximately 20 equity options at launch, targeting prominent names often found in conversations around growth and volatility. Notably, some of these 'Magnificent 7' stocks will be amidst this offering, including tech giants like Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple. Other popular individual stocks such as Palantir, Broadcom, and AMD are also expected to feature prominently.

Meaghan Dugan, the Head of U.S. Derivatives at Cboe, expressed her enthusiasm regarding this approval, stating, "Today's decision by the SEC is a step forward for the U.S. options industry. We at Cboe are committed to enhancing market accessibility for global investors." The strategic rollout of this program illustrates Cboe’s thoughtful approach as it ensures that adequate investor protections are in place while adapting to the evolving demands of the market.

This development marks a pivotal era for the options trading sector, bringing it closer in alignment with 24/5 trading systems currently seen in equity markets. As trading hours extend, investors may be more adequately positioned to respond to relevant market movements, whether from anticipated earnings announcements or macroeconomic data releases.

Investors will need to satisfy specific eligibility requirements to trade during these newly established times. Among these requirements, equity options must, in the preceding six months, have an average daily volume of at least 150,000 contracts, a market cap surpassing $50 billion, and an average daily trading volume of over ten million shares. Cboe anticipates bi-annual updates to the eligible options class list based on this data.

Cboe's initiative reflects its dedication to evolving and expanding, especially in light of the uptick in trading volumes observed across their existing Global Trading Hours and Curb Trading Hours, both of which saw a remarkable increase of 32% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year. Such growth is significantly attributed to interest from international investors, particularly in regions like Asia-Pacific.

The flexibility granted to investors by enabling trading outside regular market hours is expected to play a crucial role in mitigating risks associated with sudden market changes or corporate announcements that can occur outside of traditional trading times. The post-market trading period, in particular, will effectively give a 15-minute window for investors to react and adjust their strategies post-market close, decreasing potential risks related to contra-exercise.

As requested by the continuously evolving landscape of trading, Cboe also plans to offer near-24x5 trading hours on its Cboe EDGX Equities Exchange. This expansion, anticipated for December 2026, will be contingent on regulatory approval and industry preparations.

Cboe Global Markets has always been at the forefront of innovation since opening the world’s first listed options exchange in 1973. With this latest venture into extended trading hours for single-stock options, it continues to solidify its reputation as a transformative player in the financial markets landscape. For more information about this new approach, interested parties can explore the Equity Options Extended Trading Hours FAQ on Cboe's website.