Hong Kong, US & Taiwan Stock Market Trading Hours Comparison Chart 2025 – Never Get Confused Again

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Want to trade flexibly across different markets but always get confused by complicated schedules? One master chart solves everything. The table below shows the complete trading sessions for Taiwan (TWSE), Hong Kong (HKEX), and US markets.

Mastering the three major market schedules — including Hong Kong market opening hours — is the first step to precise positioning. Whether you day-trade or invest long-term, knowing the exact entry/exit windows dramatically improves your win rate.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding Taiwan, Hong Kong, and US trading hours helps you invest with precision.
• HKEX is split into morning and afternoon sessions with a lunch break.
• US markets switch between summer (DST) and winter time and offer pre-market, regular, and after-hours sessions.
• Taiwan market is straightforward — continuous trading from morning to early afternoon with no break.
• Each market has different lot sizes, price limits, and order rules — always check before trading.

Full Overview of Taiwan, Hong Kong & US Stock Market Hours

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After the quick overview, you probably want more detailed rules. Below we break down each market’s sessions in depth to help you plan your strategy accurately.

Hong Kong (HKEX) Opening Hours & Sessions

Hong Kong has the same time zone as Taiwan, so it’s very intuitive for Taiwanese investors. However, HKEX splits the day into finer segments you must know. Understanding the full HKEX schedule and rules is the first step to successful trading.

HKEX trading is divided into morning session, lunch break, and afternoon session.

Advanced Note: Closing Auction Session (CAS / U-Phase) Trading doesn’t end sharply at 16:00 — HKEX enters a Closing Auction Session that runs until around 16:10.

• Coverage: Applies to most major stocks, including Hang Seng Composite constituents, H-shares with A-share counterparts, and all ETFs.
• Random Close: Exact close time is randomized between 16:08–16:10 to prevent last-second manipulation.
• Warrants and CBBCs do not participate in this session.

US Stock Market Hours: Regular, Pre-Market & After-Hours

The biggest thing to watch with US markets is the switch between Daylight Saving Time (summer) and Standard Time (winter) — it directly affects your sleep and trading schedule.

• Daylight Saving Time: Starts on the second Sunday of March each year.
• Standard Time: Starts on the first Sunday of November each year.

Quick Tip for 2025–2026 DST in 2025 begins on March 9 and ends on November 2. Mark your calendar now!

One of the biggest attractions of US markets is the extremely long trading day, divided into pre-market, regular, and after-hours sessions — giving global investors flexible windows.

Taiwan (TWSE) Trading Hours: Regular & After-Hours Fixed-Price

Taiwan market is the simplest — continuous trading from 09:00 to 13:30 with no lunch break, perfect for office workers to check during lunch.

If you miss placing an order before 13:30 close, the after-hours fixed-price session is your second chance — you trade exactly at the official closing price, great for investors who hate chasing highs or cutting lows.

Overlapping Sessions & Major Holiday Closures Across Markets

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After understanding each market’s standalone hours, put them together. You’ll see that somewhere in the world, a market is almost always open 24 hours. Analyzing overlaps and holiday closures helps you allocate time and capital more efficiently.

Session Overlap Analysis

If you line up all three markets on a 24-hour timeline, their “relay” relationship becomes crystal clear — crucial for building a round-the-clock strategy.

• 09:30 – 12:00: Taiwan + Hong Kong overlap The most active period in Asia. HKEX opens shortly after TWSE, creating high volume and cross-influence — perfect for watching both markets at once.
• 13:00 – 16:10: Hong Kong solo + European pre-open After Taiwan closes, HKEX afternoon session continues. European markets are also open — watch Europe to gauge potential US direction.
• 21:30 – 04:00 (summer): HK closes → US takes over After a short break following HK close, the world’s core session begins — US regular hours. Pre-market often already prices in the day’s big news.

Trading Rhythm Summary Simply put: focus on Taiwan + Hong Kong during the day, hand over to US markets at night. Use the global relay to keep your portfolio active non-stop.

Major Annual Holiday Closures for the Three Markets

Beyond daily hours, always check national holidays — no trading is possible on those days. Plan ahead to avoid missing key windows. Here are the most important annual closures.

• Taiwan (TWSE) major holidays: Lunar New Year (long break), Peace Memorial Day (Feb 28), Children’s Day + Tomb Sweeping, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day.
• Hong Kong (HKEX) major holidays: Lunar New Year (long break), Good Friday & Easter Monday, Buddha’s Birthday, HKSAR Establishment Day, National Day, Christmas.
• US major holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Friendly reminder Exact dates shift slightly each year due to weekends. Always double-check the official exchange calendars when planning longer-term trades.

Key Rule Differences You Must Know for Cross-Market Trading

Once you’re comfortable with hours, learn the “devil-is-in-the-details” rules. Lot sizes, price limits, and order timing differ significantly — ignoring them can wreck your strategy.

Trading Unit Differences: Shares vs Lots vs Boards

Minimum order size varies completely across markets.

• US (per share): Most flexible — you can buy just 1 share.
• Taiwan (per board): 1 board = 1,000 shares. Anything below must go through the odd-lot/ fractional market.
• Hong Kong (per lot): 1 lot size is set by each company — can be 100, 500, or 2,000 shares. Always check the board lot before ordering.

Price Limit & Circuit Breaker Comparison

Daily price movement limits directly affect your potential P&L.

For example, if a Taiwan stock closed at $100 yesterday, today it can only move between $90–$110. In HK and US markets, theoretically there is no cap on single-day movement.

Order Placement Windows & Extended Hours Rules

Beyond regular hours, know when you can actually place orders and the differences in pre/after-hours activity.

A major difference is that Taiwan and Hong Kong do not have the active pre/after-hours sessions that US markets offer — most volume is concentrated in regular hours.

Practical Tips

• HKEX: Orders placed between 09:15–09:20 in the pre-opening auction cannot be canceled or amended — triple-check before submitting.
• US: Limit orders or conditional orders placed via most brokers are usually sent to the exchange around 18:00 Taiwan time and enter the pre-market queue.

Settlement is also changing fast. The US moved to T+1 settlement in May 2024 — you get cash the next business day after selling. Hong Kong plans to follow soon, greatly improving capital efficiency.

Mastering cross-market trading is really about building a rhythm that fits you. A simple plan: Taiwan + Hong Kong during the day, hand over to US at night.

Build Your Own Rhythm Use this guide’s charts and timeline to identify your most alert hours for primary trading. For other windows, consider using conditional orders and automation tools so investing and life stay balanced.

Hope this guide clears up all your timing confusion. Bookmark this page — it will be your best companion for cross-market trading whenever you need a quick reference.

FAQ

When exactly does US Daylight Saving Time switch?

US Daylight Saving Time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November each year. Mark your calendar in advance so you never miss the opening bell.

Hong Kong uses “lots” — can I buy fewer shares than one lot?

Yes. Anything below one full lot is called “odd lot” or “broken lot.” You can trade via the odd-lot market, but pricing is usually slightly worse and liquidity lower.

Can anyone trade US pre-market and after-hours?

Most brokers offering US stocks allow participation in pre-market and after-hours. Simply select the correct session when placing your order. Keep in mind volume is much lower and price swings can be sharper.