Module 1F: Futures Foundations · Lesson 6 of 13 · Back to Futures Foundations · Course
What you’ll learn
- when CME Globex futures trade, in UK time
- the daily maintenance break
- why 14:30 UK matters
- when big US data comes out
- the weeks when UK and US clocks are out of step
Nearly 24 hours, five days a week
The main US futures – ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, CL, MCL, GC and MGC – trade on CME Globex from Sunday 6:00 pm to Friday 5:00 pm New York time, with a daily break from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm New York time (CME Group contract specifications, checked 18 October 2026).
In UK time, most of the year
| What | New York time | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| Week opens | Sunday 18:00 | Sunday 23:00 |
| Daily break (Mon–Thu) | 17:00–18:00 | 22:00–23:00 |
| Week closes | Friday 17:00 | Friday 22:00 |
| US stock market (cash) open | 09:30 | 14:30 |
| Main US economic data (jobs, CPI) | 08:30 | 13:30 |
| US stock market close | 16:00 | 21:00 |
This works whenever the UK and US are both on summer time or both on winter time.
The clock-change weeks
The UK and US change their clocks on different dates. For a week or two each spring and autumn, everything above happens one hour earlier in UK time: the US open is at 13:30, data at 12:30, and the daily break 21:00–22:00.
- Autumn 2026: UK clocks go back on 25 October, US clocks on 1 November. From 26 to 30 October, the US open is at 13:30 UK.
- Spring 2027: US clocks go forward on 14 March, UK clocks on 28 March. From 15 to 26 March, the US open is at 13:30 UK.
Prop firm “daily reset” and news rules are usually set in US time, so they move in UK time too. Check your firm’s rules.
The sessions that matter
- Overnight (Asia) – 23:00 to about 07:00 UK. Usually quieter, with thinner liquidity on index futures.
- London morning – 07:00 to 13:30 UK. Volume picks up. Gold and oil can move with European news.
- US data – 13:30 UK. Big reports such as jobs and inflation can move index futures sharply in seconds. See economic indicators.
- US cash open – 14:30 UK. The busiest, most volatile period for index futures. Strategies like the opening range breakout focus here.
- US afternoon – 17:00 to 21:00 UK. Often quieter, then active again near the 21:00 close.
Fitting it around a UK job
The 14:30–16:30 UK window is when US index futures are most active, which is awkward if you work 9 to 5. Some UK traders focus on the London morning, trade after work in the US afternoon, or practise on a simulator and review recorded sessions in the evening. There’s no right answer – but trading in a rush on your lunch break is a common way to break your own rules.
Key takeaways
- CME Globex runs Sunday 23:00 to Friday 22:00 UK, with a 22:00–23:00 UK daily break, most of the year.
- The US cash open is 14:30 UK; key US data is usually 13:30 UK.
- In clock-change weeks everything is an hour earlier in UK time (e.g. 26–30 October 2026).
- Prop firm reset and news rules move with US time.
Quick check
- What time is the US cash open in UK time most of the year?
- When is the daily Globex break in UK time?
- What time is the US open in UK time on 28 October 2026?
Answers: 1) 14:30. 2) 22:00–23:00. 3) 13:30, because UK clocks have gone back but US clocks haven’t.
FAQs
Do futures trade on bank holidays?
UK bank holidays don’t affect CME. US holidays do – CME publishes a holiday calendar with shortened sessions.
Is overnight trading a good idea for beginners?
Liquidity is thinner and moves can be erratic. Many beginners do better focusing on one well-defined session.
Disclaimer: This page is general education, not financial, investment or tax advice or a personal recommendation, and it doesn’t take your circumstances into account. Examples are hypothetical, for illustration only, and not an invitation to buy or sell. Learning to trade doesn’t guarantee profits. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future results. Futures, spread bets and CFDs are complex and carry a high risk of losing money quickly because of leverage, and most retail traders lose money. With a real futures account, losses can exceed your deposit. Only trade with money you can afford to lose, and speak to an independent FCA-authorised adviser if you’re unsure. Contract specifications, market hours and margin concepts were checked against CME Group on 18 October 2026 and can change. Read our full risk warning.