On July 13, the board voted to expand trading hours electronically for its light sweet crude oil; heating oil; gasoline; and natural gas futures and options markets and to have an earlier opening for the open outcry session for natural gas futures and options.
Originally, the board had approved a 9:45 AM opening for the natural gas markets, but, due to the overlap with the crude oil markets which share an options ring with natural gas, the board last amended the natural gas opening to 9:30 AM.
Beginning at 4 PM, September 7 (the start of the September 8 trading session) the NYMEX ACCESS® electronic trading session for light, sweet crude oil; heating oil; gasoline; and natural gas futures and options will be extended to run from 4 PM, Mondays through Thursdays, to 9 AM the following day. On Sundays, the session will begin at 7 PM and run until 9 AM on Monday. Currently, the sessions for light, sweet crude oil; heating oil; and gasoline begin at the same times, but close at 8 AM. Natural gas futures and options are traded from 4 PM to 7 PM, Mondays through Thursdays, with no Sunday night session.
