Markets Update: Monday & Wednesday Options Expirations Launch for Major Stocks

A major change is coming to U.S. equity options markets. Nasdaq has received approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list options on select single stocks that expire not only on Fridays, but also on Mondays and Wednesdays. This marks a meaningful expansion in how short-dated options can be traded and is set to take effect starting January 26, 2026.

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What’s New?

For decades, U.S. single-stock options primarily expired on third-Friday monthly cycles and Friday weeklies. While index and ETF options have already introduced mid-week expirations and 0-DTE products, this is the first time Monday and Wednesday expirations will be available for individual stocks.

Under the new rule change, the following names will qualify for expanded expirations in Q1 2026:

• Apple (AAPL)
• Amazon (AMZN)
• Broadcom (AVGO)
• Alphabet (GOOGL)
• iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)
• Meta Platforms (META)
• Microsoft (MSFT)
• Nvidia (NVDA)
• Tesla (TSLA)

These contracts will now feature up to two additional standard expirations per week, in addition to existing Friday cycles.

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📊 Why This Matters to Traders

Greater Precision & More Trading Opportunities

Traders can now align expirations more closely with:

• Earnings releases
• Macro data
• Corporate news
• Mid-week catalysts

Instead of waiting for Friday, positions can now be structured or hedged around shorter, more targeted time windows.

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💧 Potential Impact on Liquidity & Volatility

1. Liquidity Could Increase

Additional expirations typically bring higher contract volume and more active quoting from market makers. This can:

• Improve bid/ask spreads
• Increase flexibility in rolling and hedging positions
• Deepen liquidity in heavily traded names

Expanded expirations in other products have historically contributed to higher overall options activity and tighter markets.

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2. Short-Term Volatility May Rise Mid-Week

Options expirations often act as volatility magnets.

As contracts near expiration:

• Gamma hedging activity increases
• Dealer positioning can amplify intraday moves
• Price sensitivity rises near large open-interest strikes

Introducing Monday and Wednesday expirations may create new volatility focal points mid-week, similar to the dynamics already seen on traditional Friday expirations and 0-DTE index products.

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What Traders Should Consider

For Hedgers

• More flexibility in weekly spread construction
• Ability to hedge risk precisely around mid-week events

For Speculators

• More short-dated opportunities around momentum and catalysts
• Potential for 0-DTE-style setups in single stocks
• Higher gamma risk and faster P&L swings

For Market Makers

• Denser expiration calendar
• More frequent rolling and hedging cycles
• Increased complexity in managing book exposure

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📌 Bottom Line

The SEC’s approval of Monday and Wednesday expirations for select single-stock options marks a major evolution in U.S. market structure.

It brings:

• More flexibility
• Better precision
• More trading opportunities

But also:

• Denser expiration calendars
• New volatility windows
• Greater importance of risk management

Single-stock options are moving closer to a near-daily expiration environment, reflecting how rapidly short-dated trading has become central to modern markets.

As this rolls out in 2026, traders should expect more opportunity — and more complexity — embedded directly into the weekly trading cycle.

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