Cboe Global Markets has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seeking approval to introduce near 24-hour trading for U.S. equities on its EDGX exchange. If approved, the exchange operator plans to begin offering the extended trading schedule in December 2026, allowing investors to trade National Market System stocks almost continuously throughout the week.
Trading Hours: Sunday 9PM to Friday 8PM ET, One-Hour Daily Break
Under the filing, Cboe intends to allow trading from Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Friday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A one-hour operational pause would occur between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET from Monday through Thursday. All listed NMS stocks would be eligible, with trades cleared through the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation.
Oliver Sung, Head of North American Equities at Cboe, said: “Cboe’s filing with the SEC is the latest step in ensuring we are ready to offer overnight trading once the industry launches in December.” He added that the company has been engaging with clients and market participants globally, highlighting the importance of collaboration.
Overnight Demand Surges: Early Session Volume Up 590% in 5 Years
Cboe already provides early trading between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. ET on two of its U.S. equities exchanges, including EDGX. Average daily volume during these early hours increased by 590% between February 2022 and February 2026. This growth reflects broader shifts as global trading firms, asset managers, and retail traders seek continuous liquidity across time zones.
Extended hours allow participants to react to corporate earnings, geopolitical events, or macro data releases outside regular trading. Demand is especially strong among investors in Asia and Europe, where standard U.S. sessions occur during nighttime. Cboe’s proprietary index options traded during Global Trading Hours (8:15 p.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET) hit record volumes in 2026.
Market Data and Infrastructure Remain Key to Overnight Trading
Launching overnight equities trading requires coordination across exchanges, clearing houses, data providers, and brokerage systems. Cboe stresses that accurate market data distribution is critical. The company is expanding its Cboe One U.S. Equities Feed, which offers consolidated real-time data from its four U.S. equities exchanges.
In 2025, Cboe’s exchanges accounted for 20.2% of on-exchange U.S. equity trading. Brian McElligott, Head of Cboe Data Vantage, said: “Accurate and reliable market data is the foundation for making informed investment decisions. We continue to focus on expanding the availability of our U.S. equities data offerings, reflecting strong demand from Europe and APAC investors.”
Cboe already operates a follow-the-sun model in its FX markets, providing continuous support across global time zones. A similar approach could support extended equity trading hours. If approved by regulators, this proposal would mark one of the most significant changes to U.S. equities trading hours in decades, pushing the market closer to a continuous global trading model.