Futures markets operate almost around the clock—up to 23 hours a day, with breaks for weekends and maintenance. This schedule allows participants to react to events that occur outside of standard trading hours. However, it’s important to understand that market activity is uneven: peak liquidity occurs during the trading sessions of major financial centers such as Chicago, London, and Tokyo.
Outside of regular trading hours, trading can be characterized by wider spreads, smaller order volumes, and increased volatility. This is neither “good” nor “bad”—it’s simply a feature of the market structure. For those working with futures and options, understanding these nuances helps them better plan their entries and exits, as well as manage the risks associated with order execution.
Before trading futures products, regulators require that you read the official “Futures and Exchange-Traded Options Risk Disclosure Statement.” This document describes the specifics of the instruments and warns that such transactions are speculative in nature and may be unsuitable for some participants. We do not provide trading advice; we merely remind you of the importance of prior research.
