What Time Does the US Stock Market Open? Complete Guide to Summer/Winter Hours and Pre/After-Hours Rules

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So, what time does the US stock market actually open? The answer is simple: 9:30 PM Taiwan time (summer/DST) or 10:30 PM (winter/ST).

You might wonder why there are two different opening times. This is mainly due to the United States’ Daylight Saving Time (summer) and Standard Time (winter) system. These two time standards directly affect your trading schedule. Don’t worry—this article includes a clear time comparison table to help you understand all the rules at a glance.

Key Takeaways

• US stock market opens at two different times: 9:30 PM Taiwan time during daylight saving (summer) and 10:30 PM during standard time (winter).
• The US switches between daylight saving and standard time twice a year, shifting Taiwan-time open/close by one hour.
• Besides regular hours, US stocks offer pre-market and after-hours trading, giving investors extra time to trade.
• US stocks settle on a T+2 basis—funds from sales become available two business days after the trade.
• The US market is closed on weekends and federal holidays; some holidays feature early closures (half-day trading).

Regular US Stock Market Hours

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Knowing the exact US stock market opening time is the first step to successful trading. The two major US exchanges—the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq—operate regular hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) (source).

Unlike Taiwan’s market, there is no lunch break—trading runs continuously from open to close. Now let’s dive into how daylight saving and standard time affect your schedule.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Rules and Taiwan Time

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is an energy-saving system that moves clocks forward one hour. The US DST system was established under the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to create a nationwide standard.

It typically starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.

Taiwan/Hong Kong opening time during DST: 9:30 PM
Taiwan/Hong Kong closing time during DST: 4:00 AM next day

For 2025, DST runs from March 9 to November 2. Note that not all US regions observe DST, including:

• Hawaii
• Most of Arizona
• Puerto Rico

These areas keep standard time year-round, but for Asian investors, we follow New York’s Eastern Time zone.

Standard Time (Winter) Rules and Taiwan Time

When DST ends, the US returns to Standard Time (ST), commonly called winter time, and clocks move back one hour.

Standard Time usually starts on the first Sunday of November and lasts until the second Sunday of March the following year. For example, in 2025, standard time begins at 2:00 AM on November 2.

Taiwan/Hong Kong opening time during standard time: 10:30 PM
Taiwan/Hong Kong closing time during standard time: 5:00 AM next day

This extra hour shift is something many investors forget, causing them to miss the opening bell.

Complete US Stock Market Hours Comparison Table

To eliminate confusion, here is the clearest US stock market opening time summary table. Screenshot it for quick reference anytime.

As shown, the US market’s local open and close times (ET) never change. Only the corresponding Taiwan/Hong Kong time shifts by exactly one hour.

Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading: Extend Your Trading Window

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You might think US stocks only trade during regular hours, but that’s not true. You can also trade during “pre-market” and “after-hours” sessions, collectively known as Extended-Hours Trading.

What Is Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading?

Simply put, these are trading sessions before the official open and after the official close.

Why do they exist? Many price-moving events—such as earnings releases, Fed rate decisions, or breaking international news—occur outside regular hours. Extended-hours trading lets investors react immediately.

Pre-Market Trading Hours and Rules

Pre-market trading occurs before the official open, allowing you to position based on Asian/European market action or early US news.

• Eastern Time (ET): 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM
• Main uses: React to overnight news, place orders early.

After-Hours Trading Hours and Rules

After-hours trading follows the regular close and is when most companies release earnings, making it highly active.

• Eastern Time (ET): 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Main uses: Trade on post-close earnings or news.

Here is the full US trading session breakdown:

Important Notes for Extended-Hours Trading

While extended hours offer more opportunities, risks differ from regular hours.

Before participating in pre-market or after-hours trading, understand these characteristics:

• Lower liquidity: Fewer participants mean lower volume, so orders may not fill immediately.
• Wider bid-ask spreads: Thin liquidity increases the gap between best bid and ask, raising trading costs.
• Higher volatility: A single large order can cause dramatic price swings, increasing risk.

Fortunately, most modern brokers now support extended-hours trading. Global brokers like Interactive Brokers offer trading in over 150 markets. If your broker supports it, simply enable the “allow extended-hours” option when placing orders.

Key US Stock Trading Rule: T+2 Settlement

After mastering trading hours, another crucial rule is the settlement system—it directly affects when sale proceeds become available.

What Is T+2 Settlement?

In the US market, when a stock trade executes, settlement does not happen instantly. The market uses a T+2 settlement cycle.

• T = Trade date (the day the order executes).
• +2 = Plus two business days.

Per SEC rules, brokers must complete transfer of securities and cash within two business days after the trade date. This rule shortened from T+3 starting September 5, 2017, and later to T+1, but many contexts still reference T+2 for certain assets and regions.

Important: The “2” counts only business days—weekends and US market holidays are excluded.

When Do Sale Proceeds Become Available?

This is where T+2 impacts you. After selling shares, your broker may show the cash immediately, but it is still “unsettled” and cannot be withdrawn yet.

Funds only become fully settled and withdrawable (“settled cash”) on T+2.

Simple example:

• Monday sell shares (T): Trade date is Monday.
• Wednesday cash settles (+2): Funds are fully available on Wednesday for withdrawal.

If holidays intervene, settlement is delayed. For example, selling on Thursday settles the following Monday (Saturday and Sunday are not business days).

Once settled, you can transfer USD back to your bank. Investors managing multi-currency funds can use digital payment tools like Biyapay to easily move settled USD from your brokerage to your licensed Hong Kong bank account for further use.

US Stock Market Holiday Closures

Besides trading hours, you must know market holiday closures. Like Taiwan’s market, US exchanges close for federal holidays. Planning around these dates prevents waiting on closed days.

2024 US Stock Market Holiday Schedule

Here is the official 2024 holiday closure list for easy reference.

2025 US Stock Market Holiday Schedule

Holidays are largely the same each year, though dates shift with weekends. 2025 closures will include New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Friendly reminder: For exact annual closures and half-day schedules, check the official NYSE or Nasdaq websites near year-end.

Special Notes on Half-Day Trading

Besides full closures, watch for “half-day” sessions when the market opens but closes early at 1:00 PM ET (source).

Half-days typically occur the day before or after major holidays so participants can celebrate early. Common half-days include:

• Day after Thanksgiving (“Black Friday”)
• Christmas Eve (when Christmas falls Tuesday–Friday)

Early closes shorten your trading window. Pay extra attention to price action and volume on these days to avoid missing key moves.

Mastering accurate US market opening times is the foundation of investing. Always remember the two most important times:

• Daylight Saving (Summer): 9:30 PM Taiwan time
• Standard Time (Winter): 10:30 PM Taiwan time

Switch dates change yearly—for 2025, DST starts March 9 and ends November 2. Bookmark this article or share it with friends as your go-to reference so you never miss another trading opportunity.

FAQ

Why does the US stock market opening time change?

The US switches between daylight saving and standard time twice a year. These adjustments shift the Taiwan-time equivalent by one hour. It’s not an exchange rule change but a time-zone effect.

Can anyone trade pre-market and after-hours?

Most brokers offer this feature. You usually just need to check the “allow extended-hours trading” box when placing orders. Confirm availability and settings with your broker first.

Is the US stock market open on weekends?

No. Trading occurs Monday through Friday only. Weekends and federal holidays are closed, with all activity confined to weekday sessions.