Understanding when the US stock market is open—and how different trading sessions behave—is fundamental knowledge for any trader. Let's break it all down.
Regular Market Hours
The main US stock exchanges—NYSE and NASDAQ—operate during regular market hours:
Monday through Friday: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
During these hours:
- Maximum liquidity and volume
- Tightest bid-ask spreads
- All market participants active
Note: The market is closed on weekends and US federal holidays.
Pre-Market Trading
Before the market officially opens, there's pre-market trading:
4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET
What happens pre-market:
- Companies often release earnings before the open
- Major news events are digested
- Prices can gap up or down from previous close
Characteristics:
- Lower volume than regular hours
- Wider bid-ask spreads
- Can be more volatile
- Not all brokers offer pre-market access
After-Hours Trading
After the market officially closes, after-hours trading continues:
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET
What happens after-hours:
- Earnings announcements often released
- Reaction to post-close news
- Positioning for next day
Characteristics:
- Lower liquidity than regular hours
- Prices can be deceptive (may not hold by next open)
- Wider spreads, less favorable execution
Important Market Sessions
The Open (9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET)
The first hour of trading is often the most important:
- Overnight orders execute
- Gap fills or extensions occur
- High volatility, high volume
- Many day traders focus exclusively on this period
Midday Lull (11:30 AM - 2:00 PM ET)
Historically the quietest period:
- Volume decreases
- Price action can be choppy and directionless
- Many traders take breaks
- "Avoid the midday chop" is common advice
Power Hour (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET)
The final hour often brings renewed activity:
- Institutions position for the close
- Volume picks up
- Stronger directional moves
- Day traders close positions
Time Zones for International Traders
If you're trading from outside the US:
| City | Market Open | Market Close |
|---|---|---|
| London | 2:30 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Tokyo | 10:30 PM | 5:00 AM (next day) |
| Sydney | 12:30 AM (next day) | 7:00 AM |
| Hong Kong | 9:30 PM | 4:00 AM (next day) |
Market Holidays
US markets close on these holidays (2025):
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Note: Markets sometimes close early (1:00 PM ET) on days before holidays.
When Should You Trade?
For beginners, focus on regular market hours only. The open and the close typically offer the best opportunities:
- Best for day traders: 9:30 - 11:00 AM ET (the open)
- Also good: 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET (power hour)
- Avoid if new: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM ET (midday lull)
As you gain experience, you may venture into pre-market and after-hours trading—but understand the risks of lower liquidity.
Practice Any Time
With ChartMini, you can practice trading with historical data any time of day. You're not limited to market hours. This is one of the great advantages of simulation—you can study years of market history on your own schedule.
Use that flexibility to build your skills, so when the market is live, you're ready.
Conclusion
Knowing when and how to trade is part of developing your edge. The best traders understand that different times of day offer different opportunities—and risks.
Master the clock, and you'll be one step ahead of traders who ignore it.