Introduction
We know that time is of the essence for a popular financial instrument like stocks. This naturally leads to the question: what are the stock exchange trading hours? Although there are about 60 major exchanges for trading shares globally, they follow more or less the same time structure.
Here, we’ll look at the stock market trading hours today for the most popular exchanges, ranging from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to the Euronext.
How stock trading hours work
Most exchanges follow a typical Monday-toFriday nine-to-five structure, unlike markets like forex that operate 24/5 (learn more about forex trading) or crypto that runs 24/7.
Exceptions include exchanges from Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel, where trading starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday.
Also, no stock market holiday trading hours exist. Exchanges are closed on days like Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, along with those specific to a certain country. Some may operate for a limited time during these periods.
- Stock market trading regular hours: This period represents the standard operating times for a particular stock exchange, where trading volume is at its highest.
- Stock market pre trading hours and post trading hours: These are trading periods outside exchange hours. This activity happens on what we call ECNs (electronic communication networks. In simple terms, this includes private brokers that offer trading away from exchanges.
Previously, this was only available to elite investors, but the average person now has access. Extended stock market trading hours are used for traders to react to certain news or events before the markets open. Also, it’s a way of getting a leg up against other participants.
However, there are several risks with pre and post-market hours like wide spreads. Also, price uncertainty is another downside because only limit orders are placed (not market orders).
What are stock trading hours for the most popular exchanges?
Let’s look at the stock market trading hours for the following exchanges:
- NYSE
- NASDAQ
- Shanghai Stock Exchange
- Tokyo Stock
- Euronext
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- London Stock Exchange
NYSE stock market trading hours
Let’s start with the largest exchange globally by trading volume. Here are the US stock trading hours for the NYSE:
(Note: EST is Eastern Standard Time)
- Market: 09h30 to 16h00 EST Monday-Friday
- Pre-market: 04h00 to 09h30 EST Monday-Friday
- After-market: 16h00 to 20h00 EST Monday-Friday
NASDAQ stock market trading hours
Up next is the second-largest equities exchange worldwide, the NASDAQ. This platform follows the same structure as the New York Stock exchange trading hours:
- Market: 09h30 to 16h00 EST Monday-Friday
- Pre-market: 04h00 to 09h30 EST Monday-Friday
- After-market: 16h00 to 20h00 EST Monday-Friday
Like the NYSE, the NASDAQ is closed for ten holidays, namely:
- New Years Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- President’s Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day (early close at 13h00 on 3 July; closed on 04 July)
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day (early finish on 23 Nov; closed on 24 Nov)
- Christmas Day
Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) stock market trading hours
The SSE is China’s most prominent stock exchange and the third-largest worldwide in market cap. Here are its trading hours.
(Note: CST is China Standard Time)
- Market: 09h30 to 11h00 and 13h00 to 15h00 CST Monday-Friday (closed at lunch/intermission).
- Pre-market: 09h15 to 09h25 EST Monday-Friday
- After-market: 15h00 to 15h30 EST Monday-Friday
Unlike the US exchanges, the SSE observes fewer holidays where trading is halted.
- New Years Day
- Chinese New Year
- Labour Day
- Dragon Boat Festival
- Qingming Festival
- National Day
- Mid-Autumn Festival
Euronext stock market trading hours
Euronext (European New Exchange Technology) is the fourth-largest stock exchange globally and the biggest in Europe. It covers equities from several regions, namely Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris.
The exchange’s stock trading hours are 09h00 to 17h30 CEST (Central European Summer Time). Monday-Friday. Euronext doesn’t have pre-market and after-market sessions.
Also, interestingly, the exchange is closed only for five holidays a day.
- Good Friday
- Easter
- Labour Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Tokyo Stock Exchange trading hours
The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) is the world’s fifth-largest exchange for trading shares. It is under the Japanese Exchange Group, which also controls two other prominent Japanese exchanges.
Like Euronext, the TSE doesn’t have pre-market and after-market sessions. Its primary trading hours are 09h00 to 11h30 and 12h30 to 15h00 JST (Japan Standard Time) Monday-Friday. There is lunch or intermission for an hour.
The exchange is closed on the following holidays (almost all of which are specific to Japan):
- New Years Day
- Market Holiday
- Vernal Equinox
- Coming of Age Day
- National Foundation Day
- Emperor’s Birthday
- Showa Day
- Culture Day
- Greenery Day
- Children’s Day
- Marine Day
- Mountain Day
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Sports Day
- Labour Thanksgiving Day
- Autumnal Equinox
- Market Holiday
Hong Kong Stock Exchange stock market trading hours
The Hong Stock Exchange is the eight-most prominent exchange globally and the third-largest in Asia. Here are its trading hours:
(Note: HKST is Hong Kong Standard Time)
- Market: 09h30 to 12h00 and 13h00 to 16h00 HKST Monday-Friday (closed during lunch)
- Pre-market: 09h00 to 09h30 HKST Monday-Friday
- After-market: 12h00 to 13h00 HKST Monday-Friday
As both are from the same continent, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange observes many of the same holidays as the SSE:
- New Years Day
- Chinese New Year
- Good Friday
- Easter
- National Day
- Labour Day
- Vesak Day
- Dragon Boat Festival
- Qingming Festival
- Double Ninth Festival
London Stock Exchange trading hours
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is the 11th-largest stock exchange in the globe. It covers tons of stocks from the United Kingdom.
So, what are the trading hours of London Stock Exchange?
(Note: GMT is Greenwich Meridian Time)
- Market: 08h00 to 16h30 GMT Monday-Friday
- Pre-market: 05h05 to 07h50 GMT Monday-Friday
- After-market: 16h40 to 17h15 GMT Monday-Friday
The LSE is closed for the following holidays:
- New Years Day
- Good Friday
- Easter
- Early May Bank Holiday
- Spring Bank Holiday
- Summer Bank Holiday
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Conclusion
As you can see, the stock market is open for many hours, giving investors plenty of opportunities to find great trading opportunities.
So, which are the prominent trading hours? Although exchanges are unique, experts generally say the ‘opening bell’ (start of the day) and the ‘closing bell’ (end of the day) are the best.
Historically, Mondays and Fridays have been days of highly anticipated activity and movements.
So, whether you’re a day trader or a swing trader with a full-time job, always be aware of the stock trading hours for your relevant exchange.
