SEC Approves Cboe Extended Hours for Select Equity Options

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved Cboe Exchange’s amended rule filing to allow extended trading of eligible multi-listed equity options. Cboe announced the approval on 28 May and said Cboe Options Exchange plans to begin the extended sessions on 13 July 2026, subject to approval of a related rule filing.

The approved framework adds a morning session for selected equity options before the regular 9:30 a.m. ET open and an extended close for certain classes after the regular equity options session. Cboe said the initial eligible set will be limited by volume, market-capitalization and liquidity thresholds rather than applying to every listed equity option.

The SEC order reviewed Cboe’s amended proposal, including the exchange’s selection and removal process for eligible classes, opening auction updates, FLEX order handling and order-routing treatment during the extended morning session. That detail matters because extended hours can expose retail and professional traders to thinner books, different spreads and news-driven price moves before the broader U.S. cash-equity market is fully open.

Why it matters

Options traders increasingly want tools that line up with pre-market equity moves and after-hours news. The approval gives Cboe a path to expand access, while also making eligibility standards and session mechanics central to execution quality.

What to watch next

Watch for the final operational notice before the planned July launch, the list of eligible option classes, broker routing support and how liquidity develops in the first weeks of pre-market options trading.