The commodities and futures markets are open nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, with the exception of weekends and certain trading breaks. Here are the key details12:
- Commodity Market Hours: Most commodities markets are available for trading nearly 24 hours a day, with the exception of weekends and specific trading breaks. The trading hours vary by asset type and the specific commodity exchange. For example, WTI futures have a trading break between 06:00 and 07:00 SGT, during which US crude oil cannot be traded.
- Futures Market Hours: Futures markets are open nearly 24 hours a day, six days a week. However, each product has its own unique trading hours. For instance, the E-mini S&P 500 (MES) and Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MNQ) have trading hours from 5:00 PM to 4:00 PM CME time5.
- Pre-Market and Early Trading Sessions: Some exchanges, like the CBOE, offer pre-market and early trading sessions, which may have different hours depending on the exchange. For example, the CBOE offers a pre-market session from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and an early trading session from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.6.
- Trading Breaks and Closures: There may be specific breaks or sessions on certain exchanges that traders should be aware of. For instance, the NYMEX closed its trading pit for WTI crude oil in 2016, but the volume is still often highest during the traditional pit trading hours of 9:00 am to 2:30 am EST3.
In summary, the commodities and futures markets are characterized by their nearly 24-hour availability, with some variations in trading hours depending on the specific market and product. Traders should be aware of these details to optimize their trading strategies and take advantage of the opportunities provided by these markets.