NYSE American Seeks to Extend Equity-Options Trading Hours

NYSE American asked the SEC to let it offer trading in eligible equity options outside regular market hours, adding early-morning and evening sessions to its current trading day.

NYSE American argued that investor demand to trade options outside regular hours was growing, that non-U.S. investors found it hard to participate when options trade only during the U.S. session, and that U.S. investors trading stocks after hours could not reach the options market to hedge.

According to the proposal, NYSE American would create two new sessions - an early session and a late session - alongside the core session that runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The exchange proposed rules on how equity options qualify and how auctions work during the extended hours.

The proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register. Comments are due by July 13.