Comparisons
Where can I trade oil on the weekend?
Oil futures close from Friday 5pm to Sunday 6pm ET. Here's where you can still trade oil on the weekend, with hours, leverage and costs compared.
Traditional oil futures stop trading at 5pm ET on Friday and reopen at 6pm on Sunday. The main ways to trade oil in between are:
- Oil perpetual futures trade 24/7 via Hyperliquid order books and track the price of WTI crude. You can trade them from your phone on Alpha, with up to 20x leverage.
- IG Weekend Oil – US Crude is a separate weekend market that IG prices itself, offered in some regions.
CME withdrew its planned 24/7 crude contract on October 2, 2026, citing industry concerns, so its oil futures still close on weekends.
Why weekends matter for oil
Oil reacts to wars, supply outages and political decisions, and those don't wait for Monday. During the Strait of Hormuz closures this year, crude reopened 11.5% and then 17.0% higher on consecutive weekends. One in ten WTI weekend gaps in 2026 has been 6% or more (Blockworks Research).
That's the primary reason why weekend oil trading took off. In March 2026, as the Iran war escalated over a weekend, daily volume in Hyperliquid's WTI contract peaked at about $1.7 billion, according to JPMorgan analysts (The Block).
Compare the options
| Oil perpetuals on Alpha | IG Weekend Oil – US Crude | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend hours | 24/7 | Weekend sessions, set by IG in each region |
| What it tracks | Front-month WTI futures, rolled each month | US crude, priced by IG |
| How the weekend price is set | Hyperliquid's order book, within bands around Friday's close | Set by IG "based on various factors" |
| Leverage | Up to 20x | IG's margin rates, under local rules |
| Trading cost | 0.059% per side with a market order, 0.053% with a resting limit order, plus hourly funding | IG's spread |
| At Sunday's reopen | The same position; its price re-anchors to live futures at 6pm ET | Your position rolls into a weekday contract |
| Who can use it | Anyone in available jurisdictions | IG clients where it's offered |
Sources: trade[XYZ] commodities, IG Weekend Oil – US Crude, Alpha fees, CME statement.
How weekend oil is priced on Hyperliquid
When futures close on Friday, the oil contract starts from Friday's closing price and then moves with its own order book. To stop runaway moves, trade[XYZ], which runs the market, limits the price to ±5% around a reference price. If the price nears the edge, the band shifts, up to twice in each direction:
| Step | Tradeable range (Friday close = $100) |
|---|---|
| Start | $95.00 to $105.00 |
| After one shift up | $99.75 to $110.25 |
| After two shifts up (cap) | $104.74 to $115.76 |
So oil can rise at most about 15.8%, or fall about 14.3%, between Friday's close and Sunday's reopen. If it hits the cap, it can't go further until 6pm Sunday, when the price returns to live futures. If your liquidation price sits outside the active band, your position can't be liquidated while that band holds, but the reopen can still move straight through it (trade[XYZ] discovery bounds).
Weekend oil trading works better than you might expect. In the Blockworks Research study referenced above, weekend spreads on WTI and Brent were about a third and a half of their weekday levels. Across all the markets it studied, when the weekend move topped 1%, the weekend price called the direction of the reopen correctly 94.9% of the time. Order books are thinner, though, so larger orders can move the price.
How to trade oil this weekend on Alpha
- Download the Alpha App from tradealpha.app.
- Fund your account.
- Open CL(WTI CRUDE OIL) from the Trade tab. It is open 24/7.
- Choose long if you think oil will rise, or short if you think it will fall.
- Set your amount and leverage, up to 20x.
- Check the fee and liquidation price on the confirmation screen, then confirm.
- Close whenever you like, or hold through Sunday's reopen.
Say you put up $250 at 4x, for a $1,000 CL position. A market order costs $0.59 to open ($0.50 Alpha fee plus $0.09 Hyperliquid fee) and $0.59 to close. A 5% weekend move, common after a supply shock, is $50 on your $1,000 position, or 20% of your $250. While you hold, an hourly leverage fee (funding) passes between longs and shorts (Alpha leverage fee).
Alpha's trader feed also helps you watch the market, as it shows whether the traders you follow are long or short oil as the story develops, before futures reopen.
Risks
Leverage magnifies losses as well as gains, and a leveraged position can be liquidated, losing the margin behind it. Weekend order books are thinner, so prices can jump and orders can fill away from the price you expect. If the price hits its weekend cap, it can't move further until Sunday's reopen, which can then gap. Funding is charged every hour you hold.
FAQ
Can you trade oil on a Saturday?
Yes, through oil perpetuals on Hyperliquid, for example on Alpha, or IG's Weekend Oil where it's offered. CME and ICE oil futures are closed.
What time does oil open on Sunday?
6pm ET when CME Globex reopens WTI futures.
Is CME launching 24/7 oil futures?
No. CME planned a 24/7 10-barrel WTI contract but withdrew it on October 2, 2026.
Does the weekend oil price predict Sunday's reopen?
Often, but not always. In the Blockworks Research study referenced above, weekend prices called the direction correctly 94.9% of the time when the move topped 1%.
Can I trade WTI crude on the weekend?
Yes. Alpha's oil market tracks WTI, priced from the front-month futures contract, and is open 24/7.
Related reading
- Can you trade gold on the weekend? Where and how it works
- Can You Trade Stocks on Weekends? The Honest Answer
Sources
- CME Group: Suspends plans to launch 24/7 10-barrel crude oil contract (October 2, 2026)
- IG: Weekend Oil – US Crude and IG adds oil to weekend trading
- trade[XYZ]: Commodities, Discovery bounds, Oracle price
- Alpha: Fees and Leverage fee
- Blockworks Research: Price discovery in Hyperliquid's weekend markets (funded by the Hyperliquid Policy Center)
- The Block: JPMorgan notes Hyperliquid gaining traction as traders seek 24/7 oil trading (March 19, 2026)
Disclaimer
Not Financial Advice. This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making any trading or investment decisions.
Nature of Services. Alpha is a non-custodial software interface only and is not a trading venue, broker, dealer, intermediary, or investment adviser. Alpha does not execute or handle trades, custody assets, or hold user funds. All transactions are executed and settled directly between users and third-party protocols (such as Hyperliquid), subject to their terms and applicable restrictions. Use at your own risk.
Risk Warning. Trading involves significant risk of loss, including the potential loss of your entire investment. Do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
No Invitation to Trade. Nothing in this content constitutes an invitation to trade, an inducement to engage in any investment activity, or a recommendation to enter into any trade or transaction. This content should not be relied upon in connection with any trading or investment decision.
Jurisdiction. Alpha's services regarding perpetual contracts accessed via Hyperliquid are not available to persons located in, resident in, or citizens of the United States, and no US person may participate in Alpha's platform, waitlist, or any associated rewards program regarding perpetual contracts accessed via Hyperliquid. This communication is not directed at residents of the United Kingdom pursuant to the FCA's financial promotion rules for cryptoassets, or to residents of the United States. This content does not constitute an offer or solicitation to any person in the United States, the United Kingdom, or in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Alpha's services may not be available in all other jurisdictions. It is your sole responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction before accessing or using Alpha's services.
Not Financial Advice. This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making any trading or investment decisions.
Nature of Services. Alpha is a non-custodial software interface only and is not a trading venue, broker, dealer, intermediary, or investment adviser. Alpha does not execute or handle trades, custody assets, or hold user funds. All transactions are executed and settled directly between users and third-party protocols (such as Hyperliquid), subject to their terms and applicable restrictions. Use at your own risk.
Risk Warning. Trading involves significant risk of loss, including the potential loss of your entire investment. Do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose.
No Invitation to Trade. Nothing in this content constitutes an invitation to trade, an inducement to engage in any investment activity, or a recommendation to enter into any trade or transaction. This content should not be relied upon in connection with any trading or investment decision.
Jurisdiction. Alpha's services are not available to persons located in, resident in, or citizens of the United States, and no US person may participate in Alpha's platform, waitlist, or any associated rewards program. This communication is not directed at residents of the United Kingdom pursuant to the FCA's financial promotion rules for cryptoassets, or to residents of the United States. This content does not constitute an offer or solicitation to any person in the United States, the United Kingdom, or in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Alpha's services may not be available in all other jurisdictions. It is your sole responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction before accessing or using Alpha's services.