#CBOEIntroducesExtendedTradingForStockOptions

Cboe Gets SEC Green Light for Extended-Hours Stock Options Trading

Cboe Global Markets has secured regulatory approval from the SEC to launch extended trading hours for a select group of stock options, a major step forward for U.S. financial markets. The new schedule kicks off on July 13, 2026, giving investors the ability to trade equity options outside the traditional 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET window.

What Is Cboe?
Cboe is a leading global market operator and a pioneer in equity and index derivatives. Since launching the first listed options exchange in 1973, it has consistently pushed financial innovation, introducing iconic products like S&P 500 index options and the VIX Index – the world's primary barometer of market volatility. Today, Cboe runs derivatives, equities, and FX markets around the globe.

How the Extended Hours Work
The program adds two daily sessions:

· Pre-market: 7:30 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. ET (nearly two hours before regular trading)
· Post-market: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ET (15 minutes after the close)
Both sessions run Monday through Friday.

Which Options Are Included?
Around twenty highly liquid equity options will be available at launch, including all of the "Magnificent 7": Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. Other eligible names feature Palantir, Broadcom, and AMD. To qualify, options must meet strict thresholds: average daily volume of 150,000+ contracts, underlying stock market cap of $50 billion or more, and underlying stock average daily volume of at least 10 million shares. Cboe will refresh the eligible list twice a year based on trading data.

Who Benefits and How

· Retail investors gain the flexibility to manage portfolios after hours, reacting to earnings or economic data released outside the regular session.
· International investors, especially in Asia-Pacific, enjoy better alignment with their local time zones.
· Institutional investors can adjust hedges and positions immediately after market-moving events, rather than waiting for the next day's open.
Overall, extended hours enable sharper risk management and faster opportunity capture in today's fast-moving environment.

Risks to Keep in Mind
Extended sessions can behave differently from regular hours. Liquidity may be lower, bid-ask spreads potentially wider, and price swings more pronounced. Investors should understand these differences before diving into extended-hours strategies. The short 15-minute post-market window is a deliberate design to balance added access with practical liquidity.

Why This Matters
This move fits a broader trend toward round-the-clock market access. Cboe already offers near 24x5 trading for index options like SPX and VIX, with early 2026 volumes up 32% year over year. The company also plans 23x5 U.S. equities trading on its EDGX exchange starting December 2026. The new options program keeps Cboe competitive while meeting rising global demand for flexible trading hours.

The Bottom Line
SEC approval for extended stock options trading marks a milestone in market accessibility. By starting with highly liquid securities and a measured operational approach, Cboe gives investors more flexibility while preserving market safeguards. As the industry trends toward near-continuous trading, this program better aligns options and underlying stock trading hours – ultimately supporting more effective risk management for investors worldwide.

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