What time does the stock market open? We provide all the answers you need here.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open?
A stock market is, by definition, a marketplace where stocks can be bought and sold at specific times of the day. It serves as an entity that ensures orderly trading and efficient price quote dissemination for the companies that list on the exchange.
According to Wikipedia free encyclopedia, a stock market, equity market, or share market is the aggregation of buyers and sellers of stocks (also called shares), which represent ownership claims on businesses; these may include securities listed on a public stock exchange, as well as stock that is only traded privately, such as shares of private companies which are sold to investors through equity crowdfunding platforms.
Monday through Friday are typical trading days. The Saudi Stock Exchange, which is open from Sunday to Thursday, is an exception to the rule.
A few exchanges are closed for a lunch break. This is most commonly observed in Asian markets. Every day at noon, the London Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange take a two-minute break.
Access to any of the international markets and exchanges requires an account with a brokerage firm, whether online or offline.
It is important to note that:
- Most stock exchanges around the world are open during regular business hours, in local time.
- Unless otherwise specified, trades entered with an online brokerage between exchange hours are executed at the open.
- For the convenience of traders, North American exchanges closely match New York time.
- Every exchange issues an annual calendar outlining their scheduled holidays and half-days.
- American investors can buy and sell stocks listed on most foreign exchanges through a broker.
- Investors in foreign stocks can also trade American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), which are traded on U.S. exchanges and in U.S. dollars.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in the U.S.?
Except for stock market holidays, regular trading hours for the U.S. stock market, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq), are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Unless otherwise specified, all times are Eastern.)
Regular stock trading ends at 1 p.m. on early-closure days, which are typically the days before or after a market holiday.
However, trading can also take place outside of normal stock market hours. On regular session days, for example, there is “pre-market” trading; while hours vary, they can begin as early as 4 a.m. and continue until the market opens at 9:30 a.m. There are also “after-hours” sessions from 4 to 8 p.m.
These transactions take place on “electronic communications networks,” or ECNs, and pair buyers and sellers directly rather than through a middleman. Previously only available to large institutional buyers, brokers such as Fidelity and Charles Schwab now facilitate this type of trading.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open for Weekend trading hours
There are no regular trading hours for stocks on Saturdays or Sundays. However, suppose you see a headline on a Sunday night saying that stock futures are down. In that case, it’s because most futures contracts (including equity futures, commodities like oil and agricultural products, and other investments) begin trading on the exchanges mentioned above on Sunday night.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open for Commodities
Commodities such as oil, gold, and wheat trade electronically on CME Group exchanges from 6 p.m. Sunday to 5 p.m. Friday. The competing Intercontinental Exchange has regular trading hours from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Friday.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open for International Stocks
Depending on which country they are following, investors interested in what international bourses are doing in real-time may require an evening cup of coffee.
Here are the trading hours for some of the world’s largest stock exchanges. (All times are in Eastern time and represent regular trading hours from Monday to Friday.)
- Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX): 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Mexico Stock Exchange (BMV): 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- London Stock Exchange (LSE): 3 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Euronext Paris (EPA): 3 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FRA): 3 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE): 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE): 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
- Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE): 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKG): 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open for Cryptocurrencies?
The digital currency market has the simplest timetable. Cryptocurrencies are traded around the clock, seven days a week. If you have an itch, you can scratch it whenever you want, from Bitcoin to the smallest altcoin.
Must Read: Great Reasons to Own Bitcoin.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open? – Trading Hours on Holidays
The local calendar determines holidays, so they are unique to each location. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on July 4th in observance of Independence Day. The Singapore Stock Exchange will be closed for the Chinese New Year in early February.
Some exchanges close for a half-day period every now and then. On Christmas Eve, for example, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is only open until 1 p.m. The exchanges publish their annual calendars months ahead of time.
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in North America? Trading Hours on North America Exchanges
No matter where the exchange is located, trading in North America is generally based on Eastern timezone. The Mexico Stock Exchange is an exception, as it posts its hours in Central Time but adjusts them to match those of the NYSE.
The trading exchanges’ headquarters are in New York City, Toronto, and Mexico City. Mexico City has the westernmost time zone, with the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) trading during Central Standard Time business hours (CST). Even though the BMV trades on CST, the hours mirror those of the NYSE, so trade is open during the same time frame.
| Name | Marketplace | Ranking | Time Zone | Trading Hours | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) | New York, United States | 1 | EDT | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | No |
| Nasdaq Stock Market | New York, United States | 2 | EDT | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | No |
| Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) | Toronto, Canada | 10 | EDT | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | No |
Source: Investopedia.com
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in Asia? Trading Hours in Asia and the Mideast
Asia and its neighbors have 11 time zones, but fortunately, they synchronize their exchange hours for the sake of trade and liquidity.
Some Asian stock exchanges, including the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO), take a lunch break.
There are 18 market holidays on the Shanghai Stock Exchange each year, including a five-day break for Chinese New Year.
| Name | Marketplace | Ranking | Time Zone | Trading Hours | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) | Shanghai, China | 3 | CST | 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange | Tokyo, Japan | 4 | JST | 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) | Shenzhen, China | 5 | CST | 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:57 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) | Hong Kong | 6 | HKT | 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) | Mumbai, India | 8 | IST | 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Stock Exchange | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 11 | AST | 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | No |
| BSE Limited | Mumbai, India | 12 | IST | 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | No |
| Korea Exchange (KRX) | Seoul, South Korea | 14 | KST | 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | No |
| Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) | Taipei, Taiwan | 15 | CST | 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | No |
Source: Investopedia.com
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in the U.K. and Europe?
Individual exchanges abound in Europe, as they do in Asia. Euronext, a pan-European exchange with offices in seven countries and headquarters in Amsterdam, is Europe’s largest stock exchange organization.
| Name | Marketplace | Ranking | Time Zone | Trading Hours | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Stock Exchange | London, United Kingdom | 7 | BST | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:02 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. to 12:02 p.m. |
| Frankfurt Stock Exchange | Frankfurt, Germany | 9 | CEST | 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | No |
| SIX Swiss Exchange | Zurich, Switzerland | 13 | CEST | 9:00 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | No |
| Euronext Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 19 | CEST | 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | No |
| Nasdaq Stockholm AB | Stockholm, Sweden | 20 | CEST | 9:00 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | No |
Source: Investopedia.com
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in South America?
The largest exchange in South America is in So Paulo, Brazil. Because the exchange trades two hours ahead of the NYSE, much of the action mirrors that of the NYSE.
On the So Paulo exchange, stocks, commodities, and options are all traded.
| Name | Marketplace | Ranking | Time Zone | Trading Hours | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3 S.A. | São Paulo, Brazil | 18 | BRT | 10:00 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | No |
Source: Investopedia.com
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in Africa?
Johannesburg, South Africa, is home to Africa’s largest stock exchange. Smaller exchanges exist in Egypt, Nigeria, and Mauritius.
Because the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) purchased the South African Futures Exchange and the South African Bond Exchange, all of those assets are now traded on the JSE.
The Johannesburg exchange operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. South African Standard Time (SAST), with no lunch break. As a result, the exchange opens 6.5 hours before the NYSE.
| Name | Marketplace | Ranking | Time Zone | Trading Hours | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) | Johannesburg, South Africa | 17 | SAST | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | No |
Source: Investopedia.com
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in Nigeria? Nigerian Stock Exchange Trading Schedule
The Nigerian Stock Exchange is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. West African Standard Time (GMT+01:00) Monday through Friday. The Nigerian Stock Exchange does not have a lunch break. In addition, the Nigerian Stock Exchange is closed on weekends.
REGULAR TRADING SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday:
- 9:30 am – 9:55 am — Opening Session
- 9:55 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Opening Imbalance Period
- 10:00 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. — Trading Session
- 2:20 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. — Extended Hours
- 2:25 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — Closing Imbalance Period
PARTIAL TRADING SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday:
- 9:30 am – 9:55 am — Opening Session
- 9:55 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Opening Imbalance Period
- 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Trading Session
Checkout: Factors Affecting Economic Development in Nigeria: 12 Pertinent Issues to Consider
What Time Does The Stock Market Open in Australia/Oceania?
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in Sydney is roughly the same size as the South African exchange. In 2006, the ASE merged with the Sydney Futures Exchange. The ASE also trades bonds and derivatives.
The market opens at 10 a.m. local time, which is later than most, and there is no lunch break.
| Name | Marketplace | Ranking | Time Zone | Trading Hours | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) | Sydney, Australia | 16 | AEDT | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | No |
Source: Investopedia.com
What Is the Difference Between a Stock Exchange and the Stock Market?
A stock exchange is a marketplace or infrastructure that allows for the trading of stocks. A private or public corporation establishes and manages the exchange. Companies can list their stocks on their marketplace.
The term stock market refers to all stocks in general or a group of stocks in a specific region, industry, or sector.
Which Major Stock Exchanges Are Closed During Lunch?
Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO), Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE), and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong are the major stock exchanges with an official lunch close (SEHK).
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) take a two-minute break at noon. Their traders do not eat that quickly. The mini-break is intended to protect institutional traders from high-frequency traders, whose split-second transactions have the potential to skew prices.
What Times Are the NYSE and Nasdaq Open?
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are typically open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Both issue annual calendars listing their holidays and half-days. The NYSE will have ten full holidays and four early-closing days in 2022. The Nasdaq has the same holidays as the NYSE but appears to have fewer half-days.
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