U.S. futures trading is active through Globex, with Emini S&P and Nasdaq showing minor gains. However, trading will pause for Labor Day on Monday, September 1. U.S. stock exchanges and bond trading will be closed in line with SIFMA’s holiday guidelines. SIFMA’s recommendations impact U.S. dollar-denominated government securities and various financial instruments. FX desks may be closed or operating with limited activity. Canada will also observe the holiday, leading to a quiet North American market.

CME Futures Schedule

CME futures follow a Central Time schedule. Equity products opened at 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 31, and will stop trading at 12:00 PM on Monday, then resume at 5:00 PM. Cryptocurrency trades similarly, closing at 4:00 PM and reopening at 5:00 PM. Interest rate products will also stop at 12:00 PM and resume at 5:00 PM on Monday. All products will return to normal hours on Tuesday, September 2. With the U.S. Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 1, trading conditions are expected to be very light. The session will be brief, with Globex halting for equities and interest rates at 12:00 PM CT. This low liquidity can lead to unusual price swings, so caution is advised with new trades. When traders return on Tuesday, we expect trading volume to rise as the summer trading period ends. This uptick in market activity often sets the tone for the remainder of the year, signaling a shift away from the lower-volume trends of August. Historically, September is the weakest month for the S&P 500. Data shows an average decline of about 0.7% for the index during this month since 1950. Given this trend, it might be smart to adopt a more defensive stance in our equity derivative strategies.

Market Volatility and Economic Indicators

This historical weakness often coincides with increased market volatility. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, tends to rise in September and October after reaching summer lows. As of late August 2025, the VIX has been around the 14 mark, but that could change quickly. Key economic data will shape the market narrative in the upcoming weeks. The August jobs report, released just before the holiday, showed an unexpected gain of 210,000 jobs, which keeps inflation concerns in play. Upcoming events like the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report and the Federal Reserve’s meeting on September 17th are critical for the market. Given this context, we should review strategies to safeguard against potential downturns or benefit from rising volatility. This might involve purchasing put options on major indices as a hedge against market drops or buying VIX call options to speculate on increased market uncertainty. Create your live VT Markets account and start trading now.

here to set up a live account on VT Markets now