SEC Sets Agenda For 24-Hour Trading Roundtable
The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the agenda and list of panelists for an upcoming roundtable focused on preparing markets for the possibility of 24-hour trading. The event is scheduled for Sept. 17, 2026, at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
According to the SEC, the roundtable will begin at 10 a.m. and bring together regulators, exchange representatives, brokerage executives and other market participants to discuss the operational, technological and regulatory challenges associated with extending equity trading beyond the traditional 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. session. The commission’s announcement did not release full transcripts of prepared remarks but confirmed the session would be open for public viewing, continuing the agency’s practice of using roundtables to gather industry input ahead of potential rulemaking.
The discussion is expected to touch on issues such as market surveillance during overnight hours, the readiness of clearing and settlement systems, liquidity risks when fewer participants are active, and the technology infrastructure needed to support continuous trading. Regulators have signaled that any move toward round-the-clock markets would require coordination among exchanges, clearinghouses, broker-dealers and data vendors to ensure investor protections remain consistent no matter when a trade occurs.
The push for extended trading hours is not new. Several alternative trading systems and electronic platforms have already begun offering overnight sessions in recent years, responding to demand from retail investors, international traders and institutions seeking to react to news events outside standard market hours. Proponents argue that a 24-hour market would better reflect a global economy where news, corporate earnings and geopolitical developments do not stop at the closing bell.
At the same time, industry participants have raised concerns about the practical hurdles of moving toward continuous trading. Thinner liquidity overnight could lead to wider bid-ask spreads and greater price volatility, particularly for smaller stocks. Exchanges and regulators would also need to rethink how circuit breakers, trade halts and other safeguards function when trading never fully stops. Back-office functions like clearing and settlement, which have traditionally operated on set schedules tied to market close, would likely need significant retooling to support a market that runs continuously.
The SEC’s roundtable format has historically served as an early step in the agency’s rulemaking process, allowing commissioners and staff to hear directly from market participants before drafting formal proposals. Past roundtables on topics such as market structure and equity market data have preceded years-long rulemaking efforts, suggesting that any shift toward 24-hour trading, if it comes, would likely unfold gradually and with extensive industry consultation.
Financial industry groups, exchange operators and technology providers are expected to watch the September session closely, as its outcome could shape how quickly and in what form extended trading hours become a broader market reality. The SEC has not indicated whether the roundtable will lead to a specific rulemaking timeline, but the agency’s decision to convene a dedicated panel underscores growing regulatory attention to the issue.
This report is based on information from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s press release announcing the roundtable’s agenda and panelists.
