what is the witching hour 
the witching hour is the last hour of trading on the third friday of each month when options and futures on stocks and stock indexes expire this time is when there are likely heavier trading volumes as traders close out options and futures contracts before expiration positions are then typically reopened in contracts that expire at a later date understanding witching hoursthe witching hour is the final hour of trading before the expiration of derivatives contracts more often traders will use terms such as triple witching which is the expiration of stock options index options and index futures on the same day this event occurs on the third friday of march june september and december 1