When do futures markets open?

Futures markets open Sunday at 6:00 PM ET and trade nearly 24 hours through Friday at 5:00 PM ET, with a daily maintenance break from 4:15-4:30 PM ET.

What are E-mini S&P 500 trading hours?

E-mini S&P 500 futures (ES) trade from Sunday 6:00 PM ET through Friday 5:00 PM ET, with a daily 15-minute break from 4:15-4:30 PM ET.

Do futures trade 24 hours?

Futures trade nearly 24 hours per day, 5 days per week. They're closed from Friday 5:00 PM ET to Sunday 6:00 PM ET, and have a daily 15-minute maintenance break.

Futures Market Countdown 2025 - E-mini S&P 500 Trading Hours

Understanding Futures Trading Hours

Unlike the stock market, futures markets operate nearly 24 hours a day, providing continuous trading opportunities from Sunday 6:00 PM ET through Friday 5:00 PM ET.

Major Futures Trading Sessions

Session	Time (ET)	Key Activity
Asian Session	6:00 PM - 3:00 AM	Tokyo, Hong Kong active
European Session	3:00 AM - 11:00 AM	London, Frankfurt active
US Session	8:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Highest volume period
Daily Maintenance	4:15 PM - 4:30 PM	Trading halted

Popular Futures Contracts

Equity Index Futures

• E-mini S&P 500 (ES)
• E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ)
• E-mini Dow (YM)
• Micro E-mini contracts

Commodity Futures

• Crude Oil (CL)
• Gold (GC)
• Natural Gas (NG)
• Corn, Wheat, Soybeans

Currency Futures

• Euro FX (6E)
• Japanese Yen (6J)
• British Pound (6B)
• Bitcoin futures (BTC)

Key Differences from Stock Trading

Nearly 24-Hour Trading: Trade almost any time except weekends
Leverage: Control large positions with smaller capital
No Pattern Day Trading Rule: No $25,000 minimum for day trading
Tax Benefits: 60/40 tax treatment on gains
Global Markets: React to worldwide events in real-time

Futures Market Schedule

Weekly Schedule:

Opens: Sunday 6:00 PM ET
Closes: Friday 5:00 PM ET
Daily Break: 4:15 PM - 4:30 PM ET (Mon-Thu)
Weekend: Closed Friday 5:00 PM - Sunday 6:00 PM ET

Why Trade Futures?

Hedge Positions: Protect stock portfolios against market moves
Speculate on Direction: Profit from market movements up or down
Lower Capital Requirements: Trade with margin efficiency
Liquidity: Deep markets with tight bid-ask spreads
Transparency: Centralized exchanges with clear pricing

Important Futures Trading Times

US CPI/Jobs Data	8:30 AM ET
European Open	3:00 AM ET
NYSE Open Impact	9:30 AM ET
NYSE Close Impact	4:00 PM ET
Asian Open	7:00 PM ET

Risk Warning

Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before trading futures, carefully consider your financial objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite.