CME Equity Futures Market Hours
ES, NQ, YM, RTY - Sunday 6:00 PM to Friday 5:00 PM ET
Weekly Futures Schedule
| Day | Open (ET) | Close (ET) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 6:00 PM | - | Week begins |
| Monday | 12:00 AM | 11:59 PM | Daily halt 5:00–6:00 PM ET |
| Tuesday | 12:00 AM | 11:59 PM | Daily halt 5:00–6:00 PM ET |
| Wednesday | 12:00 AM | 11:59 PM | Daily halt 5:00–6:00 PM ET |
| Thursday | 12:00 AM | 11:59 PM | Daily halt 5:00–6:00 PM ET |
| Friday | 12:00 AM | 5:00 PM | Week ends |
| Saturday | - | - | Closed |
What is the Daily Halt?
CME equity futures pause every weekday from 5:00–6:00 PM Eastern Time (4:00–5:00 PM Central Time) for daily settlement processing. Trading automatically resumes at 6:00 PM ET. This halt occurs Monday through Thursday - on Friday, the weekly session ends at 5:00 PM ET instead.
Contracts Covered
| Ticker | Full Name | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| ES | E-mini S&P 500 | S&P 500 Index |
| NQ | E-mini NASDAQ-100 | NASDAQ-100 Index |
| YM | E-mini Dow | Dow Jones Industrial Average |
| RTY | E-mini Russell 2000 | Russell 2000 Index |
All contracts trade on the CME Globex platform under the same weekly schedule. Micro contracts (MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K) follow identical hours.
Holiday Closures
CME equity futures close for the same 10 US federal holidays as the NYSE and NASDAQ. On early close days, futures typically end trading at 1:00 PM ET. See the full holiday and early close schedule →
FAQ
What time do futures open on Sunday?
CME equity futures open Sunday at 5:00 PM CT (6:00 PM ET). ES, NQ, YM, and RTY traders watch this open closely — it's the first reaction to any weekend news before Monday's equity session.
What is the futures daily maintenance halt?
CME equity futures pause every weekday from 4:00–5:00 PM CT (5:00–6:00 PM ET) for settlement processing. The exchange calculates daily settlement prices and margin requirements during this window. Trading resumes automatically at 5:00 PM CT. On Fridays, the weekly session ends at the halt — there is no resumption.
Do futures trade 24 hours a day?
Nearly. CME equity futures trade Sunday 5:00 PM CT through Friday 4:00 PM CT — approximately 23 hours per weekday — with only a one-hour daily halt at 4:00–5:00 PM CT. Saturday is the only full day futures are completely dark.
Do futures close for US holidays?
Yes. CME equity futures follow the same 10 federal holiday calendar as NYSE and NASDAQ. On early close days, futures typically end at 1:00 PM ET. See the complete holiday schedule.