Understanding Futures Market Sessions: RTH, ETH, and Globex Explained

Futures trade nearly 24 hours, but not all hours are equal. Learn the difference between RTH, ETH, and Globex sessions.

Futures markets trade nearly 24 hours a day, but not all trading hours are created equal.

Regular Trading Hours (RTH)

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET — highest volume, tightest spreads, most reliable strategy performance.

Extended Trading Hours (ETH)

6:00 PM – 9:30 AM ET — overnight session with lower volume but important events.

Globex

CME Group's electronic trading platform — the entire 23-hour trading day.

Why Sessions Matter

80% of volume occurs during RTH. Session levels (prior RTH high/low, overnight high/low) are critical support/resistance. NocNoe's strategies are designed with session awareness built in.