Trading hours
The US cash session runs 14:30 to 21:00 UK; US2000 CFDs typically trade from 23:00 UK on Sunday to 22:00 UK on Friday, with a daily break from 22:00 to 23:00 UK.
| When | UK time | New York time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Sunday 23:00 | Sunday 18:00 ET | Futures and most CFDs open Sunday evening New York time. |
| Daily break | 22:00 to 23:00 | 17:00 to 18:00 ET | Typically one hour, Monday to Thursday. Times follow your broker's server clock. |
| US cash session | 14:30 to 21:00 | 09:30 to 16:00 ET | The session when the shares in the index trade on US exchanges. |
| Friday close | 22:00 | 17:00 ET | Some brokers stop a few minutes earlier on Friday. |
| Busiest hours | 14:30 to 16:30, and 13:30 on data days | 09:30 to 11:30 ET | Typically the US open and the first two hours bring the largest moves. |
New York changes its clocks on different dates from the UK (in 2026 the UK changed on 25 October and the US on 1 November; in 2027 the US changes on 14 March and the UK on 28 March). In those gap weeks New York is 4 hours behind London instead of 5, so every UK time on this page that is set by New York comes an hour earlier. Broker server clocks usually follow New York, so times on your platform can look different in those weeks even though the market has not moved. New York times are the anchor for this market, so the UK times move with them.
What is Russell 2000 (US2000)?
The Russell 2000 tracks about 2,000 smaller US companies: the smallest part of the Russell 3000, which covers most of the US share market. It is run by FTSE Russell, part of the London Stock Exchange Group, and is weighted by the value of each company's shares available to trade.
Small companies tend to borrow more, sell mostly inside the US and react strongly to interest rates, so traders watch US2000 as a read on the US economy itself. Outside US stock market hours, US2000 at your broker follows E-mini Russell 2000 futures (RTY), which trade on CME Globex almost 23 hours a day.
The trading sessions
Futures trade, but moves are usually small and spreads can be wider.
Moves follow global risk mood and European markets; usually steadier than the US session.
US releases at 13:30 UK can move the index before the cash open.
The main session. The first hour is typically the most active, and the last hour can see large orders into the close.
Thinner trade; company results released after the close can still move it.
Contract facts
One point is a move of 1.0 in the index level (for example from 2,500.0 to 2,501.0). Prices usually show one decimal.
Lot sizes differ between brokers. A common setup is 1 lot worth 1 US dollar per point; some brokers use larger sizes. Check the contract specification in your platform.
On a CFD where 1 lot is worth 1 US dollar per point, a 10 point move on 1 lot is worth 10 dollars. On one E-mini Russell 2000 futures contract a 1 point move is worth 50 dollars.
E-mini Russell 2000 futures (RTY) on CME: typically 50 US dollars per index point, minimum move 0.10 point (5 dollars). Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K) is one tenth of that, 5 dollars per point.
How far it usually moves
Varies with conditions; check the Average daily range indicator on WickSpeak for the current figure. We do not publish a fixed number because we could not verify one from an official source.
What moves Russell 2000 (US2000)
Small companies rely more on borrowing, so expectations for Federal Reserve rates move US2000 more than most indices.
Jobs, inflation and business surveys shape views on the home economy, where most Russell 2000 firms earn their money.
Rising US Treasury yields often weigh on small caps, and falling yields often help them.
On days when traders cut risk, small caps often fall further than large company indices.
Banks are a large part of the index, so stress or relief in US lenders shows up quickly.
FTSE Russell's reconstitution, when companies join or leave the index, can bring heavy trading on the day it takes effect.
Scheduled events to watch
Hotter or cooler inflation changes what traders expect from US interest rates, which moves every risk market.
The biggest monthly US data release, often the busiest few minutes of the month.
Eight scheduled meetings a year; the decision and the tone of the press conference reset US rate expectations.
A read on US factory activity, which matters to many smaller US firms.
Index funds rebalance into the new member list, which can bring very heavy volume into the close.
What it tends to move with
Usually moves in the same direction, but US2000 often moves further on rate news and less on big tech news.
Tends to move against yields: rising yields often weigh on small caps.
Both move with US risk mood; the link is looser on days led by a few large companies.
Tips for trading Russell 2000 (US2000)
Wait for the open
The first 15 minutes after 14:30 UK can whip both ways. Mark the high and low of the first 15 minute candle; a close beyond it is a breakout idea, and a close back inside proves it wrong.
Watch yields
On days when US yields fall sharply, look for US2000 to hold above the previous day's high; a close back below that high proves the idea wrong.
Compare with US500
If US2000 makes a new day low but US500 does not, small caps are lagging; that weakness idea is wrong if US2000 closes back above the morning's high.
Respect data times
Do not hold a tight stop through 13:30 UK on CPI or jobs days; spreads can widen and the first candle often reverses.
Use points, not hope
Set stops beyond the last swing in points and size down rather than tightening; a 15 minute close beyond the swing proves the trade wrong.
Connect a cTrader account once and US2000 appears on WickSpeak at your broker's own prices. Key levels mark the previous day high and low, pivots, the open and average daily range levels with their distance in points, and Time of day DNA shows how the index tends to behave hour by hour. Every indicator writes a plain-English reading on the live candle, including what would prove it wrong, and a Playbook play can alert you, draw a trade plan, paper trade or, only on a play where you switched live trading on, place a trade inside the guardrails you set.
Related markets
Sources: cmegroup.com, ftserussell.com, pepperstone.com, federalreserve.gov, bls.gov. Checked 2026-11-05. Broker hours follow your broker's server clock and can differ.
Questions traders ask
What time does the Russell 2000 open in the UK?
The US cash session opens at 14:30 UK (09:30 New York). In the gap weeks around the clock changes it opens at 13:30 UK. US2000 CFDs trade long before that, typically from 23:00 UK the evening before.
What is the Russell 2000?
It is an index of about 2,000 smaller US companies, run by FTSE Russell. Traders use it as a read on the US home economy because most of its members sell mainly inside the US.
Why does US2000 move more than US500 on rate news?
Smaller companies tend to carry more floating rate debt and have less spare cash, so changes in borrowing costs hit them harder. That makes the index more sensitive to Federal Reserve expectations and bond yields.
Does US2000 trade at the weekend?
No. It typically opens at 23:00 UK on Sunday and closes at 22:00 UK on Friday, with a short break each weekday evening.
What is the best time to trade US2000?
Typically 14:30 to 16:30 UK, after the US cash open, and around 13:30 UK on major US data days. Moves are usually smaller during the Asian session.