Cboe to Extend Options Trading Hours in October
Starting October 19, 2026, the exchange will facilitate extended trading sessions for select stocks and ETFs.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Stock Markets
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Cboe Global Markets is set to expand its trading schedule on October 19, 2026, by offering sessions before and after standard market hours. This initiative follows SEC approval for trading options on 24 stocks and five ETFs during these newly authorized periods.
Why it matters
The extension allows traders to react to market-moving events in real time and helps mitigate the impact of price jump risks. This shift provides greater flexibility for market participants to manage portfolios outside traditional windows.
To be eligible, securities must maintain a $50 billion market value and an average daily volume of at least 10 million shares, with a 150,000 contract requirement. These criteria reflect a significant jump from last quarter’s pre-market volume of 228,097 average daily options.
The players
Cboe Global Markets
This Chicago-based company operates one of the world's largest exchange holding companies and is a leader in options and volatility trading.
Securities and Exchange Commission
This is the federal agency responsible for protecting investors and maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets in the United States.
Robinhood Markets
This financial services company is known for its commission-free trading platform that targets retail investors through a mobile-first experience.
TradeStation
This online brokerage firm provides advanced electronic trading platforms and tools specifically designed for active traders and institutions.
The details
The new trading windows are set from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET. Major platforms including TradeStation and Robinhood Markets have confirmed they will support these extended sessions for users.
Timeline
May 2026: The SEC first approved extended options trading hours.
October 13, 2026: The SEC officially approved binary options tied to company KPIs.
October 19, 2026: Extended trading hours begin for eligible securities.
November 9, 2026: Cboe will list additional morning expiries for options.
Market Dynamics
This move aligns with the broader push by the SEC to standardize extended-hours trading across complex derivatives. It positions exchanges to capture more volume as the market shifts toward longer, continuous liquidity cycles.
Investors using TradeStation or Robinhood Markets will be able to execute trades during these pre- and post-market windows. This access allows for active risk management or entry into positions following overnight developments before the standard session begins.
The takeaway
The move toward extended options trading signals an industry shift toward around-the-clock market access for retail investors. Traders should monitor how liquidity develops during these new morning and afternoon windows before adjusting their typical order execution strategies.
What happens next
On November 9, 2026, Cboe is scheduled to list additional morning expiries for options, further expanding the available trading instruments in the new time slots.
Further reading
For more on evolving exchange schedules, see the Stock Markets section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CNBC.
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