Cboe Global Markets has filed a proposal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch near 24×5 trading for U.S. equities on its Cboe EDGX exchange, potentially allowing investors to trade stocks almost around the clock starting in December 2026 if approved.
Under the proposal, all National Market System stocks would be available for trading from Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern time through Friday at 8 p.m., with a one hour pause each evening between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Trades would be cleared through the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation.
The move reflects growing demand from investors around the world who want access to U.S. equities outside traditional market hours. Market participants in Asia Pacific markets including Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia have increasingly pushed exchanges to extend trading sessions so they can trade U.S. stocks during their local business hours.
Cboe currently offers extended trading sessions from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time on its EDGX platform and has seen significant growth in early morning trading volumes. The exchange said average daily volume in its early trading hours session increased sharply in recent years as investors reacted to overnight news and global macro events.
The company already operates near round-the-clock trading in other markets, including its proprietary S&P 500 index options, VIX derivatives and global foreign exchange platform, which follow a similar follow-the-sun trading model across international time zones.
Cboe’s proposal comes as exchanges and brokers compete to extend trading hours in response to changing investor behavior. The New York Stock Exchange has previously explored expanding trading on its Arca platform to roughly 22 hours per day, while brokers such as Robinhood already report that a significant share of retail trading activity occurs outside standard market hours.
Proponents argue that near 24-hour trading would allow investors to react immediately to major news events, geopolitical developments and economic data releases rather than waiting for markets to reopen the next morning. Critics warn that liquidity during overnight sessions may be thinner, potentially increasing volatility and widening spreads.
If approved, Cboe plans to launch the expanded trading schedule in December 2026, though the rollout will depend on regulatory approval and readiness across market infrastructure providers, including trading systems and market data services.
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