Know exactly when each futures session opens, where volume peaks, and when to stay flat—all in one reference.
Sign Up FreeTrading during the Asian session or midday lull leads to choppy, range-bound price action that grinds through commissions.
The best setups occur in specific 2-3 hour windows. If you’re not at your desk at the right time, you miss the high-probability trades.
Many prop firms restrict overnight holds or have different rules for Globex vs. RTH sessions. Trading outside allowed hours risks account violations.
TopStep Calendar shows session boundaries, high-volume windows, and restricted periods directly on your calendar so you always trade at the right time.
See Asian, London, and New York sessions highlighted on your daily calendar view with volume profiles.
Set alerts for session opens, economic data windows, and your personal trading schedule.
View all session times in your local time zone—no more mental math converting from Eastern.
These are the key trading sessions for CME equity index and commodity futures. All times are in Eastern Time (ET).
| Session | Time (ET) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Globex Open | 6:00 PM Sun | Electronic trading begins |
| Asian Session | 6:00 PM–Midnight | Lower volume, range-bound |
| London Session | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | Volatility pickup |
| Pre-Market | 8:00 AM–9:30 AM | Economic data releases |
| NY AM (RTH Open) | 9:30 AM–Noon | Highest volume, best setups |
| Midday | Noon–1:30 PM | Lower volume, choppy |
| NY PM | 1:30 PM–4:00 PM | Second wave, closing flows |
| Post-Market | 4:00 PM–5:00 PM | Settlement, reduced activity |
| Maintenance | 5:00 PM–6:00 PM | Markets closed (Mon–Thu) |
Key session times in multiple time zones for quick reference.
| Session | Eastern (ET) | Central (CT) | Pacific (PT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Globex Open (Sun) | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| London Session | 3:00 AM | 2:00 AM | Midnight | 8:00 AM |
| RTH Open | 9:30 AM | 8:30 AM | 6:30 AM | 2:30 PM |
| RTH Close | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Maintenance Start | 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Maintenance End | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Instrument | Best Session | Peak Hours (ET) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ES (S&P 500) | NY AM | 9:30 AM–11:30 AM | Highest volume, tightest spreads, clearest trends |
| /NQ (Nasdaq 100) | NY AM | 9:30 AM–11:30 AM | Tech-driven moves, strong momentum |
| /CL (Crude Oil) | NY AM | 9:00 AM–11:30 AM | Inventory reports, peak energy trading |
| /GC (Gold) | London + NY AM | 3:00 AM–11:00 AM | Overlapping London/NY creates best liquidity |
| /YM (Dow) | NY AM | 9:30 AM–11:30 AM | Follows /ES with wider point ranges |
Each prop firm has its own rules, but here are common session restrictions:
Always confirm your specific firm’s rules before trading outside Regular Trading Hours.
See session times, market events, and your P&L on one calendar—free.
Sign Up FreeCME Globex futures trade nearly 24 hours a day, from 6:00 PM ET Sunday through 5:00 PM ET Friday, with a daily maintenance break from 5:00-6:00 PM ET Monday through Thursday. Regular Trading Hours (RTH) for equity index futures are 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET.
The best time to trade /ES is during the New York AM session from 9:30 AM to noon ET. This period has the highest volume, tightest spreads, and cleanest price action. The first 30 minutes after the open (9:30-10:00 AM) see the most volatility and opportunity.
It depends on your prop firm. Some firms like Topstep allow overnight trading but may have restrictions on position size or holding through the maintenance window. Others require all positions to be closed by the RTH close at 4:00 PM ET. Always check your specific firm's trading rules.
The CME Globex maintenance window runs from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Thursday. During this hour, no trading occurs. The market reopens at 6:00 PM ET. There is no maintenance break between Friday close and Sunday open.