The first phase of CBOE Futures Exchange’s extended trading hours initiative for CBOE Volatility Index (VIX Index) futures will begin on 21 October, with the second phase to follow on 28 October.
"Volatility traders have eagerly anticipated the expansion of trading hours for our highly successful VIX futures contract, and we are thrilled to begin that rollout in a few weeks," says CBOE Holdings chief executive officer Edward T Tilly. "We are pleased to provide our European customers with the opportunity to trade VIX futures during local trading hours, but we also believe our entire global base of VIX users will benefit by extended trading hours."
The first phase of the extended trading hours initiative is designed to respond to demand from both US and European customers for a post-settlement trading period by adding a 45-minute trading period to the current trading hours for VIX futures (7:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Chicago time).
Fifteen minutes after the 3:15 p.m. (Chicago time) close of VIX futures, the market will reopen for a new trading period from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Chicago time). Trading will then resume at 7:00 a.m. (Chicago time) the following morning.
The new 45-minute period, which marks the beginning of the next trading day, will be available from Monday through Thursday.
The second phase of the extended trading hours initiative will benefit US and European customers who are seeking longer hours for trading in VIX futures. European-based customers will have the opportunity to trade VIX futures during their local trading hours by beginning the current trading session five hours earlier than its current opening time of 7:00 a.m. (Chicago time).
With both extended trading periods in place, VIX futures trading hours will run from 2:00 a.m. through 3:15 p.m. (Chicago time), Monday through Friday, with the 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Chicago time) trading period available Monday through Thursday. No trading is scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays in either of the phases.
Trading will begin at 2:00 a.m. (Chicago time) (8:00 a.m. GMT).
The new five-hour period, which precedes the current trading hours, will be available from Monday through Friday.
The changes are subject to regulatory review.
