Cboe Global Markets has secured approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce extended trading sessions for a carefully chosen group of multi-listed single-stock options. This development represents a notable expansion in options market accessibility, set to begin on July 13, 2026, following final regulatory approvals for related procedures. The initiative adds a pre-market window from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time and a post-market segment from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET on weekdays.
Cboe explained that these additions will initially cover highly liquid and actively traded names, giving participants more flexibility to respond to news and events outside standard market hours.
Eligibility hinges on strict criteria evaluated over the prior six months: an average daily options volume of at least 150,000 contracts, an underlying stock market capitalization of $50 billion or more, and average daily share volume exceeding 10 million.
At rollout, roughly 20 symbols are expected to qualify, encompassing the full “Magnificent 7” group—such as Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple—along with other high-profile names like Palantir, Broadcom, and AMD. Cboe intends to refresh the eligible list twice yearly based on updated data.
Meaghan Dugan, Head of US Derivatives at Cboe, described the approval as a key step forward for the options sector.
She emphasized that starting with a limited selection of single-name contracts allows the exchange to maintain proper safeguards while addressing rising global investor interest.
This phased rollout also helps synchronize options activity more closely with the underlying equities, particularly amid frequent pre- and post-market corporate disclosures or economic data releases.
The brief post-close window could further mitigate risks associated with after-hours events and potential exercise mismatches.
This move aligns with broader industry trends toward nearly continuous trading.
Cboe provides extended sessions for select proprietary index products, including SPX, VIX, XSP, and RUT options through its Global Trading Hours (8:15 p.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET) and Curb sessions (4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET).
Those segments saw record activity in early 2026, with volumes climbing 32 percent year-over-year, fueled largely by Asia-Pacific participants.
On the equities side, Cboe supports trading from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET across two exchanges and aims to roll out 23-hour daily sessions on EDGX later in 2026, pending approvals.
By bridging gaps in single-stock options coverage, the framework enables traders to adjust positions more dynamically around volatility triggers that often occur outside regular hours.
Analysts view the change as responsive to evolving market demands, where international investors and institutions seek greater alignment between derivatives and cash markets.
While limited at launch, the program could pave the way for wider adoption if it demonstrates strong liquidity and orderly trading. Participants are encouraged to review technical specifications on Cboe’s official site for implementation details.
This SEC-backed expansion underscores Cboe’s commitment to innovation since its earlier days in listed options. By extending access in a controlled manner, the exchange seeks to enhance risk management tools and opportunity capture in today’s interconnected financial ecosystem.
