Futures markets: when do they open and close?
Each futures market has specific hours for its contracts, depending on the location and the type of asset being traded.
CME Group
The CME Group in Chicago is considered one of the largest futures markets in the world. It includes a wide range of financial assets and commodities, such as stock index futures (S&P 500), oil futures, and currency futures. The CME Group allows trading through its Globex platform.
Opening: Sunday at 6:00 p.m. (ET).
Closing: Friday at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
Eurex (Europe)
Eurex is one of the most influential futures exchanges in Europe, known for its futures contracts tied to European indices such as the DAX and the Euro Stoxx 50.
Opening: 1:10 a.m. (CET/CEST).
Closing: 10:00 p.m. (CET/CEST).

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)
The ICE is a global alternative market where key commodity futures, such as Brent Crude, natural gas, and agricultural products are traded.
Opening: Sunday at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
Closing: Friday at 6:00 p.m. (ET).
Daily recess: Approximately one hour between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (ET).
The ICE operates in multiple time zones and offers access to a wide range of products, including energy, agriculture, and financial futures.
Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE)
The SHFE is an important market in China for futures on metals, energy products, and other commodities.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CST).
Night sessions: 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (CST) for some contracts.
Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM)
TOCOM is one of Asia’s leading exchanges for trading futures on precious metals, oil, and agricultural products.
Opening: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (JST), with a lunch break.
Afternoon hours: 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (JST) the next day.
Australia Futures Market (ASX 24)
ASX 24, part of the Australian market, offers futures on stock indices, currencies, and energy products.
Opening: Monday to Friday, 9:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (AEST), with an extended night session from 5:10 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (AEST).
Why are futures markets available almost 24 hours a day?
Asset prices respond to global events and news that don’t necessarily occur during standard stock exchange hours. Futures are contracts that reflect the prices of assets like oil, precious metals, and currencies. Futures’ markets allow you to react to these global developments in real time, giving you greater flexibility in risk management and helping you explore new investment opportunities.
What are the forex market opening and closing times?

The forex market is where global currencies are traded, and it operates almost 24 hours a day, from Sunday night to Friday night. There are four forex trading sessions, based in the world’s financial capitals: Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York.