The stock market is not just a trading hub but also a real-time tool for monitoring the state’s financial performance.
Having one of the strongest economies in the world, the stock markets in the United States are one of the most financially rewarding avenues for people interested in investing in company shares, derivatives, bonds, futures, commodities, and other financial instruments, which is why foreign investors keep an eye on US market trading hours.
Indian investors can now easily invest in the stock markets of the United States thanks to technological advancements.
Through this article, you will get to know everything about the US stock market timing
Regular trading hours in US time
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, in particular, open at 9.30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. ET (Eastern Time), a time zone that encompasses the Eastern states of the United States and parts of Canada. On weekends and holidays, the stock exchanges are closed.
Every year, there are a few market half-days. Depending on the calendar, they may fall on July 3 or 5, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas night. The NASDAQ and NYSE both close at 1 p.m. ET on certain half-days.
Regular trading hours Indian time
Investing in India is critical to account for the time difference between the United States and India. The NYSE and NASDAQ open and close at 8 p.m. (IST) and 2.30 a.m. (IST) respectively.
Due to daylight saving time, this varies throughout the year (DST).
Eastern Standard Time, or EST, is a time zone observed throughout the United States throughout the autumn and winter months.
EDT is 9.5 hours behind IST because it is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (UTC – 4).
Daylight saving time
One factor to remember when it comes to stock market timing in the United States is the effect of daylight-saving time, which occurs when the country’s clocks are ahead by one hour.
DST is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The stock markets in the United States open at 7:00 p.m. IST and close at 1:30 a.m. IST.
Eastern Daylight Time, or EDT, is observed during the summer and spring seasons. Compared to Greenwich Mean Time or UTC – 5, EST is 5 hours behind and 10.5 hours behind IST.
Pre-market and after-hours trading hours
Trading is done in the United States even outside of typical business hours. Pre-market trading runs from 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. ET, or 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. IST, while after-hours trading runs from 4 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, or 1:30 a.m. IST to 5:30 a.m. IST.
However, one should be mindful of the hazards because of the poor liquidity, low volume of participants, and volatility associated with pre-market and after-hours trading.
The investing platform will determine whether one can invest pre-market or after-hours.
The timings in IST for other US stock exchanges are given in the table below.
| Name | State | Opening Bell (in IST) | Closing Bell (in IST) |
| Boston Stock Exchange | Massachusetts | It was acquired by NASDAQ Inc. in 2007. | |
| Chicago Stock Exchange | Illinois | 7:00 PM | 1:30 AM |
| International Securities Exchange | New York | It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NASDAQ Inc. | |
| Miami Stock Exchange | Florida | 7:00 PM | 1:30 AM |
| National Stock Exchange | New Jersey | This was acquired by the NYSE in 2017 and is now traded as NYSE National. | |
| Philadelphia Stock Exchange | Pennsylvania | This was also acquired by NASDAQ Inc. and is traded at NASDAQ as Nasdaq OMX PHLX. |
The two largest stock exchanges in the United States, NYSE, and NASDAQ have bought the bulk of regional stock exchanges. As a result, regional time zones do not affect the timings of US stock markets in India.
List of holidays observed by the US Stock exchange
| Holiday | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| New Year’s Day | — | Monday, January 2 (New Year’s holiday observed) | Monday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Monday, January 17 | Monday, January 16 | Monday, January 15 |
| Washington’s Birthday | Monday, February 21 | Monday, February 20 | Monday, February 19 |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 15 | Friday, April 7 | Friday, March 29 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 30 | Monday, May 29 | Monday, May 27 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | Monday, June 20 (Juneteenth holiday observed) | Monday, June 19 | Wednesday, June 19 |
| Independence Day | Monday, July 4 | Tuesday, July 4** | Thursday, July 4** |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 5 | Monday, September 4 | Monday, September 2 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 24*** | Thursday, November 23*** | Thursday, November 28*** |
| Christmas Day | Monday, December 26 (Christmas holiday observed) | Monday, December 25 | Wednesday, December 25**** |
** On Monday, July 3, 2023, and Wednesday, July 3, 2024, At 1:00 p.m., each market will close early (1:15 p.m. for qualified options).
On these dates, Crossing Session orders will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m. for continuous executions until 1:30 p.m., while the late trading sessions for NYSE American Equities, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE National will close at 5:00 p.m. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.
*** On Friday, November 25, 2022, Friday, November 24, 2023, and Friday, November 29, 2024, each market will close early at 1:00 p.m. (1:15 p.m. for qualified options) (the day after Thanksgiving).
On these dates, Crossing Session orders will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m. for continuous executions until 1:30 p.m., while the late trading sessions for NYSE American Equities, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE National will close at 5:00 p.m. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.
**** On Tuesday, December 24, 2024, each market will close early at 1:00 p.m. (1:15 p.m. for qualifying options).
On this date, Crossing Session orders will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m. for continuous executions until 1:30 p.m., while the late trading sessions for NYSE American Equities, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE National will close at 5:00 p.m. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.
FAQs
What are the trading hours in the USA?
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, in particular, open at 9.30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. ET (Eastern Time), a time zone that encompasses the Eastern states of the United States and parts of Canada. On weekends and holidays, the stock exchanges are closed.
What time can Indians invest in USA stocks?
Investing in India is critical to account for the time difference between the United States and India. The NYSE and NASDAQ open and close at 8 p.m. (IST) and 2.30 a.m. (IST) respectively.
What are Pre-market and after-hours trading hours in USA?
Trading is done in the United States even outside of typical business hours. Pre-market trading runs from 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. ET, or 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. IST, while after-hours trading runs from 4 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, or 1:30 a.m. IST to 5:30 a.m. IST.
