The "futures market open time" is often used to pre-position in volatility futures. VIX futures last Sunday moved sharply higher on overnight credit default data, signaling stress ahead for equity markets. Thursday also marked exactly six months since the Trump Administration's "Liberation Day" announcements that shook financial markets, and the S&P 500 has gained 25% since as worst-case scenarios for global trade seemed to grow consistently less likely. During a chaotic trading morning on Wall Street sparked by President Trump's tariff policy, Trump went on social media to urge people not to panic. The 6:00 PM ET Sunday "futures market open time" is when liquidity starts trickling in, with early price action giving clues for algorithm-based strategies. Latest tick data shows SPX futures forming higher lows, suggesting resilience ahead of Fed minutes.
