What Time Does the Stock Market Open?
The regular U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 AM Eastern Time on weekdays, with trading typically running until 4:00 PM ET. That 6.5-hour window is when the bulk of volume, price discovery and news-driven moves happen on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
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Before the bell, pre-market trading often starts at 4:00 AM ET, and after-hours sessions can run until 8:00 PM ET. Because liquidity is thinner outside the regular hours, spreads are wider and moves can be more volatile. Many institutional orders are queued overnight, so the open at 9:30 AM ET frequently sees sharp gaps and fast price swings.
What Time Does the Stock Market Open Around the World?
Global markets open at different times, which matters for traders tracking international exposure or multinational companies. The following table shows typical regular-session opening times in local time and the equivalent Eastern Time during U.S. daylight saving time.
| Market | Local Open | Equivalent ET (DST) |
|---|---|---|
| New York (NYSE, Nasdaq) | 9:30 AM ET | 9:30 AM ET |
| London (FTSE, LSE) | 8:00 AM GMT | 3:00 AM ET |
| Tokyo (Nikkei) | 9:00 AM JST | 7:00 PM ET (prev. day) |
| Hong Kong (Hang Seng) | 9:30 AM HKT | 9:30 PM ET (prev. day) |
| Sydney (ASX200) | 10:00 AM AEDT | 7:00 PM ET (prev. day) |
What Time Does the Stock Market Open on Holidays and Half-Days
On U.S. market holidays such as New Year's Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, the exchange is closed. On early-close days, like the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, regular hours end at 1:00 PM ET. Regional holidays can also affect international sessions, so checking a current holiday calendar is important for anyone trading around the edges of the schedule.
What Time Should You Pay Attention To
If you are asking what time the stock market opens to trade, the 9:30 AM ET open is the core answer. But the most actionable windows often include the first 15 to 30 minutes after the open, when gap moves and volume spikes can set the day's direction, and the final hour before the 4:00 PM close, when institutional window-dressing and late-day news can amplify moves.