Futures rollover refers to the process where traders close out positions in the expiring contract and open new ones in the next available contract. This is crucial for traders in U.S. equity index futures, such as the S&P 500 (ES), Nasdaq 100 (NQ), Dow Jones (YM), and Russell 2000 (RTY), as these contracts have set expiration cycles.
U.S. equity index futures follow the quarterly expiration cycle on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December.
Expiration Date (Final Trading Day):
- U.S. equity index futures (S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Dow, and Russell 2000) expire on the third Friday of the contract month (March, June, September, December).
Rollover Date (Liquidity Shift):
- Traders start rolling their positions on the Monday prior to the third Friday, making it a commonly observed rollover period as well.
An alternative approach is to watch volume and liquidity, as the real shift happens when traders actively transition.
| Contract Month | Market Rollover (Mon before 3rd Fri) | Expiration (3rd Fri) |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | Sept 15, 2025 (Mon) | Sept 19, 2025 (Fri) |
| December 2025 | Dec 15, 2025 (Mon) | Dec 19, 2025 (Fri) |
| March 2026 | Mar 16, 2026 (Mon) | Mar 20, 2026 (Fri) |
| June 2026 | Jun 15, 2026 (Mon) | Jun 19, 2026 (Fri) |
