US Stock Market Hours for Beginners: Master Regular, Pre-Market & After-Hours Trading Times

Image Source: pexels

Want to invest in US stocks but always get confused by the complicated trading hours? You’re not alone! Here’s the most important US stock hours conversion table for Taiwan investors.

Quick tip: Daylight Saving Time runs roughly March to November; Standard Time runs November to March of the following year.

Each session has different characteristics and opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• US stock trading hours change between Daylight Saving and Standard Time — a one-hour difference. Daylight Saving runs March to November; Standard Time runs November to March.
• The main and safest trading window is the “regular session” — highest liquidity and easiest execution.
• Pre-market and after-hours have much larger price swings and higher risk. Suitable for experienced traders only; beginners should be cautious.
• US markets are closed on federal holidays and close early on certain days before holidays. Always check official sources for the latest schedule.

Complete US Stock Hours Summary: Daylight Saving vs Standard Time

Image Source: pexels

The first step to understanding US stock hours is to grasp America’s Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Standard Time systems — they directly affect our trading schedule in Taiwan.

What Are Daylight Saving and Standard Time?

You might wonder why this complicated system exists. Daylight Saving Time was originally introduced to save energy — by moving clocks forward one hour, daylight lasts longer and people use less electricity for lighting.

According to the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, DST has clear rules: it starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. For example, 2025 US Daylight Saving Time begins March 9 and ends November 2.

Did you know? Not all US states observe DST! Arizona (except Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not change clocks. Arizona skips it because summer heat would mean longer air-conditioning use if daylight were extended.

This clock change is the main reason US stock trading hours shift during the year.

Daylight Saving Time → Taiwan Time Conversion

When the US is on Daylight Saving Time, the time difference with Taiwan narrows. This period runs roughly March to November — remember this as your first US stock hours version.

During this period, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) is 12 hours behind Taipei (UTC+8).

For Taiwan investors, regular hours start at 9:30 PM — relatively friendly, letting you finish major trades before bedtime.

Standard Time → Taiwan Time Conversion

In winter, the US switches back to Standard Time (EST, UTC-5), making the time difference with Taiwan 13 hours. All sessions shift one hour later than DST.

Simple rule to remember: All US stock hours in Standard Time are one hour later than Daylight Saving Time.

Regular Trading Session

Image Source: pexels

After mastering DST vs Standard Time, the next focus is the “regular trading session” — the heart of the US market where most activity happens.

The High-Liquidity Battlefield

Regular hours run from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. This is the main battleground for institutional and retail investors. Roughly 90% of daily NYSE and Nasdaq volume occurs here.

High volume = highest liquidity — you can buy or sell easily without worrying about finding a counterparty.

Benefit of high liquidity: lower costs Even for popular products like S&P 500 ETFs, the bid-ask spread is much tighter during regular hours than extended hours — meaning you pay less “hidden” cost when entering or exiting.

First Hour After Open — Peak Volatility Goldmine

The first hour after open (roughly 9:30 PM–10:30 PM Taipei time) is one of the most active periods. The market digests overnight news and earnings, causing large price swings.

This is day-traders’ favorite window, but for beginners and long-term investors the risk is higher — better to observe first.

Last Hour Before Close — Another High-Volume Window

Similar to the open, the final hour (roughly 3:00 AM–4:00 AM Taipei time) sees volume and volatility spike again as institutions rebalance.

Watch for “marking the close” — some funds buy aggressively near 4:00 PM to window-dress quarterly reports, sometimes causing unnatural price jumps.

Best Strategies for Regular Hours

Most investors should execute long-term strategies during regular hours:

• Buy and hold quality stocks or ETFs
• Diversify across sectors and asset classes
• Dollar-cost average with automatic monthly investments

Platforms like Biyapay make scheduling recurring buys during regular hours simple and convenient.

Pre-Market & After-Hours Trading

Regular hours dominate volume, but trading continues outside those times to react instantly reflect major news (earnings, economic data).

Pre-Market: React First to Overnight News

Pre-market lets you position before the crowd. Many key economic releases come out at 8:30 AM ET.

Better/worse-than-expected numbers cause big futures and stock moves pre-market. Also, ~56% of companies report earnings pre-market (6:00–8:30 AM ET).

After-Hours: Earnings Reaction Time

After-hours is dominated by earnings releases — ~44% of companies report after 4:00 PM ET. Guidance and results often trigger violent moves.

Netflix examples:

• Jan 2022: plunged 21.8% in after-hours
• Apr 2023: moved only 3.2% vs expected 8.4%

Huge reward potential, but also huge risk.

Risks You Must Know Before Trading Extended Hours

Lower liquidity creates three major risks:

Risk Warning

• Wider spreads — higher transaction costs
• Extreme volatility — small volume can cause big price jumps
• Orders may not fill — no guarantee of execution

Who Should Trade Extended Hours?

• Experienced traders who can read news fast and handle volatility
• Investors who cannot watch during regular hours (e.g., full-time workers)

Beginners: stick to regular hours first. If you want to try extended hours, start with a demo account and confirm your broker has enabled extended-hours trading.

US Stock Market Holiday Schedule 2025

You also need to know when the market is closed for holidays.

2025 Full-Day Closures

Note: Columbus Day and Veterans Day are NOT market holidays — trading is normal.

Early Close Days

Where to Get Latest Holiday Info

Always double-check official sources:

• NYSE
• Nasdaq
• Trusted sites like Fidelity or XS.com

Congratulations! You now fully understand the three key US stock timing concepts: regular hours, extended hours, and DST vs Standard Time differences.

Advice for beginners Focus first on the high-liquidity regular session. Only consider extended hours after you’re comfortable.

Mastering the schedule is the first step to successful US investing. Save this table and start your journey today — control the clock, control your edge!

FAQ

Do I need to manually adjust for DST/Standard Time?

No — your broker platform automatically updates US stock hours. Just remember regular hours start one hour later in Standard Time.

Can I use market orders in extended hours?

No — most brokers only allow limit orders in pre/after-hours to protect you from extreme fills.

What happens if I place an order outside trading hours?

Your order is queued and only sent to the market when the next session (pre-market or regular) opens.

Can I trade US stocks on weekends?

No — US markets are closed Saturday and Sunday, just like Taiwan. Trading resumes Monday morning US time.