CMC Markets has expanded 24/5 trading to more than 5,000 US shares and ETFs, extended available trading hours to as many as 16 per day, and introduced extended-hours access for clients using its CMC Invest platform.
CMC Markets Expands 24/5 US Share and ETF Trading to More Than 5,000 Instruments
CMC Markets, a London-listed constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, announced on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 that it had expanded its five-day, 24-hour-per-day (24/5) trading offering to more than 5,000 US shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while introducing extended-hours trading for clients of its CMC Invest platform. The company said the change would increase the available trading period for US shares from 6.5 hours to as many as 16 hours. (Source: CMC Markets, company announcement; published: July 2026)
Major Expansion: From Around 250 to More Than 5,000 Instruments
The most significant aspect of the change is its scale. Until this week, CMC offered 24/5 trading in approximately 250 US shares and ETFs. Following the expansion, more than 5,000 US shares and ETFs are now available for 24/5 trading. Investors using its share-dealing platform, CMC Invest, have also gained access to longer trading hours.
CMC had previously incorporated 24/5 US share trading into its broader round-the-clock trading strategy, combining it with weekend gold contract for difference (CFD) trading to allow traders to adjust their positions before markets reopen on Monday.
Extended-Hours Trading Is Subject to Conditions
Both offerings are subject to the same restriction. The 24/5 trading window applies only to financial instruments for which overnight pricing is available, and CMC has not disclosed how many of the more than 5,000 instruments meet this condition. Commenting on the purpose of the expansion, the company’s management stated:
US markets are increasingly driven by events occurring outside regular trading hours; extended trading hours give clients more opportunities to respond when markets move.
The company’s Global Head of Markets, Laurence Booth, added that expanding access to 24/5 trading represented an important step in CMC’s efforts to simplify clients’ access to markets and move towards a round-the-clock trading experience.
Comparison of Key Metrics Before and After the Change
| Item | Before the Change | After the Change | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of tradable instruments | Approximately 250 | More than 5,000 | 2026-07-15 |
| Available US share trading hours | 6.5 hours | Up to 16 hours | 2026-07-15 |
| Extended-hours trading on CMC Invest | Not available | Newly introduced | 2026-07-15 |
| Scope restriction | — | Limited to instruments with overnight pricing | 2026-07-15 |
Brokers and Exchanges Compete for the Overnight Trading Window
Extending US share trading hours has become a common industry selling point, although firms have adopted different approaches. The strategies of several major participants can be summarised as follows:
Interactive Brokers has expanded overnight trading to approximately 10,000 US shares and ETFs, with clients trading the underlying securities.
Robinhood has established a 24-hour market covering underlying shares and ETFs, operating from Sunday evening to Friday evening.
Charles Schwab has made round-the-clock trading available to all clients, also in the underlying share market, consistent with the direction of CMC’s expansion through CMC Invest.
STARTRADER offers 24/5 trading in US shares through CFDs, while several other CFD brokers have also taken steps to keep these markets open.
Meanwhile, new trading venues are being developed to meet demand, including the 24X exchange approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which was established specifically to provide extended trading hours.
Frequently Asked Questions About CMC Markets’ Extended Trading Hours
How significant is CMC Markets’ expansion of 24/5 trading?
CMC Markets has increased the number of US shares and ETFs available for 24/5 trading from approximately 250 to more than 5,000. It has also extended the available trading period for US shares from 6.5 hours to as many as 16 hours and introduced extended-hours trading for clients of the CMC Invest platform.
Do all of the more than 5,000 instruments support 24/5 trading?
Not necessarily. The 24/5 trading window applies only to financial instruments for which overnight pricing is available. CMC Markets has not disclosed how many of the more than 5,000 instruments meet this condition.
What new service is available to CMC Invest clients?
Investors using CMC’s share-dealing platform, CMC Invest, now have access to extended-hours trading. This allows them to trade US shares outside traditional market hours and respond more flexibly to earnings announcements, company news and global market events.
Which other firms are extending US share trading hours?
Interactive Brokers has expanded overnight trading to approximately 10,000 US shares and ETFs; Robinhood operates a 24-hour market from Sunday evening to Friday evening; Charles Schwab has opened round-the-clock trading to all clients; STARTRADER provides 24/5 US share trading through CFDs; and the SEC-approved 24X exchange is also under development.
