As a stock trader, I need to know what time the stock market will open and close.
In short, the US stock market is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the exception of holiday closures or shortened hours. In some cases, you might be able to trade before and after market hours with additional risk.
So what hours should you trade the market? This guide will help you understand when the market is open or closed in your time zone.
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When does the stock market open?
Standard stock market hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ.
| Time Zone | Standard Open Time | Standard Close Time | After-Hours Start Time | After-Hours Close Time | Pre-Market Open Time | Pre-Market Close Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (EST) | 9:30 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 8:00 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. |
| Central Time (CST) | 8:30 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. | 8:30 a.m. |
| Pacific Time (PST) | 6:30 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 5:00 a.m. | 6:30 a.m. |
Depending on your broker, you may be eligible to trade pre and post market hours. Advantages of trading outside of normal hours include company announcements or economic indicators which may effect stock prices.
However, trading outside of stock market hours has disadvantages as well. Your broker may place limitations on trades placed outside of normal hours. In addition, shares may have liquidity limitations, wider spreads, and higher volatility.
If you’re interested, trendspider breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of trading extended hours.
What are the stock market holidays?
The US stock market is CLOSED on the following holidays:
- New Years Day
- MLK Day
- Presidents Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- July 4th (Independence Day)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
The US stock market has shortened hours on the following days:
| Day | Trading Hours |
|---|---|
| Day before July 4th (Independence Day) | 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m (EST) |
| Black Friday | 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m (EST) |
| Christmas Eve | 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m (EST) |
Columbus and Veterans Day are considered bank holidays. During this time, some trades may not be executed.
When do global stock markets open and close?
Some stock traders take advantage of time zone differences to trade different markets when the US market is closed. For example, a stock trader on the East Coast can trade China’s stock market open at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Therefore, you can find a foreign stock exchange if your job prevents you from trading the U.S. stock market.
Here are foreign stock markets operating hours in local time. Note some stock exchanges will have a lunch hour where no trading occurs.
| Stock Exchange | Trading Hours (local time) |
|---|---|
| Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) | 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) | 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
| Euronext (EUXTF) | 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB) | 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
| Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| London Stock Exchange (LSE) | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) | 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
| Swiss Exchange (SIX) | 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) | 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) | 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. |
| Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Final Thoughts
The stock market open starts at 9:30 a.m. EST, which is when the market is the most active. Day traders will generally trade the first hour to take advantage of the volatile market.
If you are unable to trade the US stock market, consider trading a foreign market. Time zone changes allow you to trade foreign exchanges outside of your 9-5 job.
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Ready to start making money when the stock market opens? Check out how to make money with stocks (the complete beginners guide).
TightFist Finance
John is the founder of TightFist Finance and an expert in the field of personal finance. John has studied personal finance for over 10 years and has used his knowledge to pay down debt, grow his investment portfolio, and launch a financial based business. He is committed to sharing content related to personal finance based on his experience in his career, investing, and path towards reaching financial independence.