Cboe Global Markets has broadened the trading window for its Russell 2000 Index (RUT) options, adding an overnight session that will run from 8:15 p.m. to 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time. The new schedule, effective February 9, 2026, will allow the product to trade for almost 24 hours a day, five days a week, in addition to the existing 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. U.S. hours.
The expansion also introduces a Curb Trading Hours session from 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, giving traders a brief window to adjust positions before the market closes. Together, the overnight and curb sessions will enable investors worldwide to trade RUT options during Cboe’s Global Trading Hours (GTH), a framework that has already proven successful for SPX, Mini‑SPX and VIX options.
Cboe’s decision follows a surge in GTH volumes, which rose 179% year‑to‑date in 2025 compared with 2022. Average daily volume in RUT options reached nearly 75,000 contracts by the end of November 2025, up 66% from 2022. The growth reflects heightened demand for small‑cap exposure and the appeal of extended trading for global investors who need to react to U.S. market moves outside traditional hours.
Rob Hocking, Cboe’s Global Head of Derivatives, said the move “will be another significant milestone in our efforts to expand access to U.S. index options for investors worldwide.” The expansion is expected to deepen liquidity in the Russell 2000, a benchmark for U.S. small‑cap equities, and to provide traders in Europe and Asia‑Pacific with real‑time pricing and hedging tools that were previously limited to U.S. market hours.
Cboe’s strong financial footing underpins the initiative. The company’s stock has traded near a 52‑week high of $260.05, and it has maintained a dividend for 16 consecutive years. The announcement aligns with Cboe’s broader strategy of leveraging its proprietary index options and capitalizing on the momentum of its GTH platform, which has attracted record volumes in 2025.
While the extended hours promise greater accessibility, liquidity during the overnight session may be lower and bid‑ask spreads wider than in regular hours. Cboe will monitor market depth and adjust its infrastructure to ensure orderly trading as the new schedule takes effect.
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