Beginner's Guide to Investing in US Stocks: Everything You Need to Know About 2025 Trading Hours and Rules

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Planning to enter the US stock market in 2025? The first thing you need to grasp is its trading hours. Regular US stock trading sessions are fixed from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

Key Time Conversion to Remember: Daylight saving time in 2025 starts on March 9, with corresponding Beijing/Hong Kong time of 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM the next day. This is your main US stock market opening trading window.

Key Points

• US stock trading hours are divided into daylight saving and standard time, opening at 9:30 PM or 10:30 PM Beijing time and closing at 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM the next day.
• US stocks can be bought and sold one share at a time, with no price limit restrictions, but there is a market circuit breaker mechanism.
• US stocks allow unlimited buys and sells on the same day, but proceeds from selling stocks settle on the next business day.
• Non-US residents investing in US stocks pay tax on dividends but generally no tax on capital gains from buying and selling stocks.
• US stocks are closed on weekends and specific holidays, with early closures on certain dates.

Complete Analysis of 2025 US Stock Trading Hours

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Mastering US stock trading hours means you’ve succeeded halfway. Unlike mainland China’s A-shares and Hong Kong stocks, US stock trading hours have unique features. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown for you.

Regular Trading and US Stock Opening Hours

The US stock market’s regular trading session is very fixed. According to official rules from Nasdaq and other exchanges, regular trading occurs Monday through Friday.

• Opening Time: Eastern Time (ET) 9:30 AM
• Closing Time: Eastern Time (ET) 4:00 PM

This session totals 6.5 hours. One key point to note: US stocks do not have a midday break. You can trade continuously from opening to closing without a lunch pause, providing investors with uninterrupted trading opportunities.

Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading Sessions

In addition to the regular 6.5 hours, the US stock market offers extended windows: pre-market and after-hours trading.

• Pre-Market Trading: Typically refers to time before regular market opening. For example, Nasdaq pre-market can start from Eastern Time 4:00 AM. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) pre-market session starts from Eastern Time 6:30 AM or 7:00 AM.
• After-Hours Trading: Refers to time after regular market closing, generally lasting until Eastern Time 8:00 PM.

Note for Beginners Pre-market and after-hours trading are not extensions of official sessions. Participation is lower, volume is light, leading to lower liquidity. This can cause sharper price swings and wider bid-ask spreads. Most major company earnings and news are released pre-market or after-hours, contributing to volatility.

Future Trends Notably, NYSE’s Arca exchange proposed at the end of 2024 to extend trading to 22 hours per day. If approved, it would provide near 24/7 trading convenience for global investors.

Daylight Saving and Standard Time Switches

Due to US daylight saving time (DST), US stock opening hours converted to Beijing/Hong Kong time adjust twice a year. Remember these periods to avoid missing opportunities.

In 2025, US daylight saving time starts on March 9 and ends on November 2.

For easy reference, we’ve compiled the table below showing trading hours for different periods.

Simply put, from early March to early November each year, watch for US stock opening at 9:30 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time. In other months, wait until 10:30 PM. Adjust your trading alarms accordingly.

2025 US Stock Market Holidays and Early Closure Calendar

Beyond daily hours, understand the full-year holiday schedule. US stocks close fully on statutory holidays. Knowing this calendar helps plan strategies and avoid waiting on closed days.

Full-Year Holiday Closures Overview

In 2025, US stocks close fully for the following 10 public holidays. We’ve compiled the complete calendar; bookmark or add to your schedule.

On these dates, all US exchanges close; no stock trading possible.

Special Early Closure Arrangements

Beyond full closures, US markets close early on certain dates (“half-day trading”), shortening regular sessions.

According to NYSE, 2025 has three clear early closure days:

• July 3 (Thursday): Day before Independence Day, closes early at Eastern Time 1:00 PM.
• November 28 (Friday): Day after Thanksgiving (“Black Friday”), closes early at Eastern Time 1:00 PM.
• December 24 (Wednesday): Christmas Eve, closes early at Eastern Time 1:00 PM.

Important Note On early closure days, regular after-hours trading is completely canceled. No trading after 1:00 PM close. Adjust plans accordingly.

Essential Trading Rules for Beginners

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After understanding hours, master core US stock rules. These differ greatly from mainland A-shares, directly affecting operations and fund management.

Trading Units: Start from One Share

US stock investment threshold is very low. Unlike A-shares requiring at least one lot (100 shares), US minimum unit is one share. Buy one share of Apple or one Tesla.

Many brokers support “fractional shares”, allowing investment by dollar amount. For example, buy a fraction of a high-priced stock with $5. This lowers barriers, enabling diversified portfolios with small funds.

Common Brokers Supporting Fractional Shares:

• Charles Schwab
• Fidelity
• Interactive Brokers
• Robinhood

Trading Settlement: T+0 and T+1

US trading and settlement are flexible, involving T+0 trading and T+1 settlement.

• T+0 Trading (Day Trading): Buy and sell the same stock unlimited times in one day, convenient for short-term traders.
• T+1 Settlement: Key fund rule. Per SEC rules, effective May 28, 2024, settlement cycle is T+1.

What This Means for You When selling stocks, proceeds settle the next business day (T+1). For example, sell Monday, funds settle Tuesday, then withdraw to bank.

Price Limits: Circuit Breaker Mechanism

Unlike A-shares’ 10% daily limits, US stocks have no individual limits. To prevent panic crashes, a market-wide “circuit breaker” uses S&P 500 drops, with three levels.

Note: Levels 1 and 2 halt only if triggered before 3:25 PM ET.

Tax Notes: Dividend Tax and W-8BEN

As a non-US tax resident, main taxes are two; understanding aids planning.

First, complete W-8BEN form at account opening. It declares non-US resident status to IRS for tax exemptions or reductions.

Two Taxes, Treated Differently:

1. Dividend Tax (Payable): Tax on dividends from held stocks. Default 30%, but with tax treaty (e.g., mainland China), properly filed W-8BEN reduces to 10%. Broker withholds automatically.
2. Capital Gains Tax (Generally Exempt)): Profits from stock trades. For non-residents with US stay under 183 days/year, generally tax-free.

Congratulations! You’ve mastered essential 2025 US stock investment knowledge. First step: remember daylight/standard time hours, track holidays, understand one-share minimum, T+0, etc. This prepares you for US stock openings.

For latest market updates, reference:

• CNBC: Real-time stock news.
• Yahoo Finance: Comprehensive data and analysis.
• MarketWatch: Market data and insights.

US government sites Investor.gov and SEC.gov offer rich official education and data.

Bookmark this as your 2025 trading memo! Start investing confidently and progress steadily in US stocks.

FAQ

Can you trade US stocks on weekends?

No. Regular US stock trading is Monday to Friday only. Markets fully close on weekends and US holidays; no trading possible.

What’s the minimum to invest in US stocks?

US stocks are flexible. Start with one share. Many brokers support fractional shares, investing with just a few dollars.

Do you need English to invest in US stocks?

Not necessarily. Many mainstream brokers offer full Chinese interfaces and support. Complete opening, trading, and queries seamlessly, convenient for Chinese users.

How to deposit funds into a US stock broker account?

Typically use bank wire transfer. Some brokers support other methods. Check broker’s official guide after opening.