Interactive Brokers has extended trading hours for US Treasury bonds to 22 hours each day. Previously, clients were limited to nine hours per day but can now trade from 8:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) to 5:00 pm the following day, with a brief closure from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). During Eastern Standard Time (EST), the market will open between 7:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

Aligning Trading Activities with Time Zones

According to a statement shared by the company today (Thursday), this step enables the global broker’s clients to align their trading activities with their local time zones and quickly react to the market development worldwide.

Thomas Frank, the Executive Vice President of Interactive Brokers, mentioned: "The extension of trading hours for US Treasury bonds is part of an ongoing effort to expand our bond offering by adding new coverage, products, venues, and liquidity ."

"We aim to provide our clients with the most flexible and comprehensive trading environment possible. With clients in over 200 countries and territories, it’s essential that we accommodate their needs and provide opportunities to trade on a schedule that suits them best."

Interactive Brokers offers a selection of bonds, including corporate, municipal, treasury, and non-US sovereign bonds. Additionally, the firm provides clients free access to the IBKR Bond Marketplace search tool, which allows them to customize their investments based on their specific preferences and objectives.

Recently, Interactive Brokers expanded its services in Japan by introducing Contracts for Difference (CFD) instruments to enable traders to access leveraged trading opportunities on shares from the US, Europe, and other global markets.

Interactive Brokers Expands Offerings

Currently, the brokerage giant provides a suite of trading options, including global stocks, options, and futures. The addition of CFDs in Japan allows traders to access financial instruments for long and short positions.

Interactive Brokers noted that the commission structure for CFD trading for US share CFDs starts with a minimum of $0.0055 per share. These rates vary for different markets. The Japanese share CFDs start at 0.033 percent of their trade value, while Singapore shares CFDs start at 0.121 percent.

Despite market challenges, Interactive Brokers recently reported positive financial performance. Revenue increased 13 percent to $1.2 billion in the first quarter of the year. The platform experienced a notable uptick in commission revenue, reaching $379 million, driven by a surge of 25 percent in customers' accounts, now totaling 2.75 million.