Cboe launches near‑24x5 Russell 2000 options trading; declares Q1 2026 dividend

Cboe rolls out near‑24x5 trading for Russell 2000 options

Around‑the‑clock small‑cap options access

Cboe Global Markets expands its Global Trading Hours (GTH) session to include Russell 2000 Index (RUT) and Russell 2000 Index Weeklys (RUTW) options, offering nearly 24‑hour, five‑day trading on the Cboe Options Exchange. The move places RUT alongside S&P 500 (SPX), Mini‑SPX (XSP) and VIX options already available in the extended session, and aims to give European and Asia‑Pacific investors the ability to manage U.S. small‑cap exposure during local daytime hours.

Cboe positions the launch as a response to rising international demand for liquid, cash‑settled index derivatives and to the increasing popularity of short‑dated strategies. RUT options are cash‑settled, European‑style instruments and saw record demand in 2025 as retail and institutional participants use them to hedge, express views, generate yield and implement zero‑days‑to‑expiry (0DTE) strategies. Cboe notes that 0DTE trading accounted for 23% of RUT options activity in January.

The exchange is also citing broader evidence of appetite for extended‑hours trading: Cboe says its GTH session posts record volumes in 2025, up 27% versus 2024. Executives frame the enhancement as widening access and capability for global clients to react in real time to macroeconomic news and overnight developments in Europe and Asia. Brokers and index providers including Interactive Brokers and FTSE Russell emphasize the benefits for clients seeking 24x5 small‑cap options trading, improved flexibility and deeper liquidity for strategies such as volatility trading, dispersion, spread trades and income generation.

Dividend declared for Q1 2026

Separately, Cboe’s board declares a quarterly cash dividend of $0.72 per common share for the first quarter of 2026, payable on March 13 to shareholders of record on Feb. 27. The announcement frames the dividend within Cboe’s ongoing shareholder returns and corporate communications.

Cboe’s market role and reach

Cboe describes itself as a leading global derivatives and securities exchange network offering trading, clearing and investment solutions across equities, derivatives and FX in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The firm says the expanded RUT GTH access aligns with its strategy to build an inclusive, trusted global marketplace and to support a wider set of strategies for international market participants.