Stock market hours: know when the market opens

If you’re investing in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, or bonds, you’ll run into the question of when, exactly, you can buy and sell securities. When is the stock market open? What are the stock market’s regular trading hours? Can you buy stock after hours? This guide will cover all the facts you need about stock market hours and when you can trade securities.   

The stock market and the bond market

First, a quick primer. The stock market is a broad term for the series of stock exchanges where stocks are bought and sold, including those based in the U.S and international exchanges. Investors access these marketplaces through a brokerage and can trade stocks during trading hours. Shares of mutual funds and ETFs are also traded on the stock market. 

The bond market is similar to the stock market: investors can purchase bonds through a brokerage during the market’s hours. One key difference between stocks and bonds is that individual investors can also purchase some government bonds directly from the U.S. Treasury instead of going through the bond market. 

Standard stock market hours for North American Exchanges

The largest exchanges in the United States are the Nasdaq Stock Market Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The other two major North American stock exchanges are the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV). The Nasdaq, NYSE, and TSX exchanges all operate on Eastern Time, and the BMV operates on Central Time; be sure to adjust the listed stock market hours for your local time zone when determining when you can make trades.   

All four exchanges are typically open Monday to Friday and closed on weekends, with the following regular market hours:

• New York Stock Exchange (NYSE): 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time 

• Nasdaq Stock Exchange: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX): 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV): 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time

Tip: While most trading of stocks and ETFs occurs throughout the day during stock market hours, trades of mutual fund shares are only executed at the end of each business day. 

Trading halts

In rare circumstances, U.S. markets might suspend trading during stock market hours if there are extreme decreases in stock prices. This is known as a market-wide circuit breaker, and it’s intended to subdue panic in the market and prevent a further selloff. The stock market might also temporarily halt trading in reaction to major destabilizing events such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

International stock market hours

There are roughly 60 major stock exchanges worldwide, all featuring different trading hours. Investors planning to trade on international markets will want to take a look at each exchange’s local hours. Luckily, many regions sync their stock market hours for more efficient trading and liquidity. Most of the world’s stock exchanges are open during regular business hours in their local time zone; a few of them close during lunchtime. 

Here are the regular stock market hours for a few major international exchanges (listed in Eastern Time):

• London Stock Exchange (LSE): 3:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time

• Euronext Paris (EPA): 3:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time

• Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE): 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Eastern Time 

• Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE): 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time 

• Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKG): 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time

If you’re trading on other international stock exchanges, you should be able to find the trading hours on the specific exchange’s website.  

Stock market holidays

U.S stock exchanges close in observance of certain national and religious holidays. When a holiday lands on a weekend, it will usually be recognized with a stock market closure on the following Monday. On stock market holidays, investors cannot buy or sell shares of companies listed on the stock exchange.

Note that these holidays aren’t always the same as those observed by U.S. government offices, and international exchanges have different closures based on local holiday observances.

Stock market early closures

The U.S. stock market also closes early on the day before or after certain holidays. On these early-close days, trading hours end at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time for U.S. stock exchanges. 

Bond market hours and holidays

The U.S. bond market is open slightly longer than the stock market, with regular hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

The bond market observes the same holidays as the stock market, as well as two additional holidays. 

Just like the stock market, the bond market closes early, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on the day before or after certain holidays. 

Pre-market and after-hours trading

While most everyday investors stick to regular stock market hours for trading, it is possible to buy stock after hours or before markets open through electronic communications networks (ECNs). Some online brokers provide access to extended-hours trading through these networks. For the NYSE and Nasdaq, the extended market hours are:

• Pre-market trading: 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time

• After-hours trading: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time 

However, before deciding to trade before or after the market opens, keep in mind that buying stock outside of regular stock market hours comes with higher risk. Markets experience greater volatility during these times; there is less liquidity, and there are fewer investors trading, so prices can move much more dramatically.

What stock market hours mean for you

When you decide to buy or sell securities, you’ll place the order through your brokerage, which purchases the assets on your behalf. The brokerage will execute your buy or sell order during regular stock market hours; some brokerages execute trades only within specific trading windows during the day. If you use an online brokerage, you can generally place a buy or sell order at any time, even after hours, and the brokerage will execute it during the next trading window when the stock market is open.

Among the many questions to ask yourself before you trade stock is “What time does the share market open and close today?” By making trades during stock market hours, you can ensure you’re making your investment decisions based on the most up-to-date information about share prices and market conditions.  

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Stock market hours FAQ

What time does the stock market open and close?

The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. However, there are extended trading hours available before and after regular market hours for certain exchanges.

What are the U.S. stock market hours for different time zones?

The U.S. stock market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which translates to:

• 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time

• 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time

• 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

What are the U.S. bond market hours?

The U.S bond market opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some early closure days.

Can you sell stock after hours?

Yes, it is possible to sell stock after hours through electronic communications networks (ECNs) provided by certain online brokers. However, keep in mind that trading outside of regular market hours comes with higher risk and may result in greater volatility and less liquidity. As a general rule, buying and selling stocks during regular market hours ensures that you have access to the most up-to-date information about market conditions and share prices.