# Futures trading hours

> Most CME futures, including the E-mini S&P 500 (ES), E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ), crude oil (CL) and gold (GC), trade on CME Globex from 6:00 pm ET on Sunday to 5:00 pm ET on Friday, with a one-hour break every weekday from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET. On the exchange’s own clock that is 5:00 pm to 4:00 pm Central Time.

**Source:** https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-trading-hours  
**Generated:** 2026-09-19  
**Publisher:** Prop Firm Pal — independent prop firm comparison

_Prop Firm Pal earns affiliate commission from some listed firms. This is disclosed on-site and does not affect the computed ranking order._

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_Facts checked 2026-09-15._

## Futures market hours by contract

Equity index, energy and metals futures share the same electronic schedule on CME Globex. The session that opens at 6:00 pm ET belongs to the next trading day, so Monday’s trading day starts on Sunday evening.

| Market | Contracts | Opens | Closes | Daily break |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Equity index | ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, YM, MYM, RTY, M2K | Sunday 6:00 pm | Friday 5:00 pm | 5:00–6:00 pm |
| Crude oil | CL, MCL | Sunday 6:00 pm | Friday 5:00 pm | 5:00–6:00 pm |
| Gold and silver | GC, MGC, SI | Sunday 6:00 pm | Friday 5:00 pm | 5:00–6:00 pm |

_CME sets its hours in Central Time and moves with US daylight saving, so the Eastern Time hours stay the same all year. Exchange holidays shorten or close sessions._

## When does the futures market open?

The week opens at 6:00 pm ET on Sunday. From Monday to Thursday, trading pauses at 5:00 pm ET and reopens at 6:00 pm ET, so futures trade for 23 hours a day. The week ends at 5:00 pm ET on Friday.

Liquidity is not spread evenly. Volume is heaviest during the US stock market’s regular session, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm ET, and thinnest in the late evening and around the daily break.

## Holidays

Most US holidays bring an early close rather than a full closure, and the exact times differ by product. CME Group publishes a holiday calendar for each year; check it before holding a position into a holiday.

## Trading hours at prop firms

Futures prop firms add their own time rules on top of the exchange’s. Common ones are a cut-off before the daily close by which positions must be flat, a ban on holding over the weekend, and restrictions around major economic news. The times differ from firm to firm, so read the firm’s rules page before trading late in the session.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are futures markets open 24 hours?

Nearly. CME futures trade 23 hours a day from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon, pausing for one hour from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET each weekday.

### What time do futures open on Sunday?

CME Globex futures open at 6:00 pm ET (5:00 pm CT) on Sunday.

### When do futures close on Friday?

CME Globex futures close for the weekend at 5:00 pm ET (4:00 pm CT) on Friday.

### Do futures trade on US holidays?

Often, but on shortened hours. Most holidays bring an early close rather than a full closure. CME Group’s holiday calendar lists the exact times for each product.

## Related pages

- [Futures contract month codes](https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-contract-month-codes)
- [Micro vs mini futures](https://propfirmpal.com/learn/micro-vs-mini-futures)
- [Futures tick values](https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-tick-values)
- [Overnight holding rules](https://propfirmpal.com/glossary/overnight-holding)
- [Futures prop firms](https://propfirmpal.com/futures)
- [Futures contract month codes](https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-contract-month-codes) — markdown: https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-contract-month-codes.md
- [Micro vs mini futures](https://propfirmpal.com/learn/micro-vs-mini-futures) — markdown: https://propfirmpal.com/learn/micro-vs-mini-futures.md
- [Futures tick values](https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-tick-values) — markdown: https://propfirmpal.com/learn/futures-tick-values.md