The proposal comes as more exchanges worldwide move toward longer operating hours. Demand for constant access has soared, especially as online platforms and retail traders have reshaped how markets move.
Equity options have become a central focus of that shift. Data from the Options Clearing Corporation shows monthly volume hit 1.29 billion contracts in September, a 68 percent jump from 763 million two years earlier. The boom has been fueled by retail participation and the growing appetite for zero-day-to-expiry contracts that let traders bet on short-term swings.
Cboe’s plan would let investors adjust positions immediately instead of waiting for the next session’s bell. Brokerages such as already report strong interest in 24-hour access, a signal that U.S. traders are ready for longer hours.
The company is starting carefully. Only select equity options will trade in the new sessions, chosen for liquidity, trading volume, and market capitalization. The approach is designed to keep spreads tight and execution orderly while the program scales up.
In its filing, Cboe described the move as a modest but meaningful step toward a complete 24×5 marketplace that keeps pace with global capital flows.
Is the U.S. edging toward a world where markets never sleep?