Weekend ES Futures Trading: Limited Viability Analysis

• Trading Hours Confusion
  : Multiple Reddit users clarified that ES futures are completely closed on weekends except for Sunday 6:00 p.m. ET reopening [1]
• Weekend Movement Concerns
  : Top-University-3832 specifically warned that while weekend candles may appear, they lack meaningful movement [1]
• Alternative Futures Preference
  : User wro77_Real reported making money on other futures Sunday nights (EuroDollar, oil, copper) but rarely on ES, indicating traders seek better opportunities elsewhere [1]
• Asia/Australia Correlation
  : BedHeadTrader noted that Sunday evening ES movement aligns with Asia and Australia market opens around 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. ET respectively [1]

• Official Trading Schedule
  : ES futures trade on CME Globex from Sunday 6:00 p.m. ET through Friday 5:00 p.m. ET, with daily maintenance halts from 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET [2]
• Weekend Market Closure
  : ES futures are completely closed on weekends (Saturday and Sunday daytime hours) with no trading available [2]
• Liquidity Disadvantage
  : ES futures provide 8x more daily liquidity than all S&P 500 ETFs combined during regular hours, but weekend trading experiences significantly reduced volume and market depth [3]
• Wider Spreads & Volatility
  : Weekend trading typically features wider bid-ask spreads and more erratic price movements due to reduced market participation [3]
• Holiday Schedule Impact
  : Major U.S. holidays feature modified schedules with early closes, late openings, or complete closures affecting trading availability [2]

Both Reddit discussions and official research confirm that ES futures trading is effectively non-existent during traditional weekend hours. The Sunday 6:00 p.m. ET reopening represents the only weekend trading opportunity, but both sources indicate this is a challenging environment. Reddit traders’ preference for alternative futures (EuroDollar, oil, copper) during Sunday evening sessions aligns with research findings about poor ES liquidity and unfavorable trading conditions during these hours. The correlation with Asian/Australian market opens noted by Reddit users provides context for the limited but potentially volatile Sunday evening movements.

• Significantly reduced liquidity during Sunday evening trading sessions
• Wider bid-ask spreads increasing transaction costs
• More erratic price movements due to lower market participation
• Limited trading window (only Sunday 6:00 p.m. ET onward)

• Alternative futures (EuroDollar, oil, copper) show better Sunday evening trading potential
• Correlation with Asian/Australian market opens may provide predictable movement patterns
• Lower competition during Sunday evening hours for experienced traders

Weekend ES futures trading is generally not recommended for most traders due to poor liquidity and unfavorable conditions. Experienced traders may find limited opportunities during Sunday evening sessions but should consider alternative futures instruments with better weekend trading characteristics.