When does the US stock market open? A detailed guide for investors

Top U.S. Stock Exchanges and Their Roles

The U.S. stock market is a global financial hub, accounting for approximately 50% of the world’s market value, equivalent to $30.44 trillion. This figure is five times larger than China’s (6.32 trillion USD) and over two hundred thousand times larger than the Vietnamese stock market, reaffirming its dominant position.

In the U.S., nearly 20 stock exchanges operate, but the three largest—NYSE, Nasdaq, and AMEX—dominate the sector with enormous market capitalization.

NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) is the oldest exchange, with a history of 228 years, boasting a market cap of $30 trillion USD. It lists 2,400 stocks, including major economic indices like the Dow Jones and S&P 500.

Nasdaq is the second-largest stock exchange globally by market capitalization, listing 3,500 stocks with a total value of $10 trillion USD. This exchange focuses on technology companies and startups such as Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon.

AMEX (American Exchange) is the third-largest by trading volume, concentrating on small-cap stocks and 8,000 derivative products. AMEX pioneered financial instruments like options (1975) and ETFs (1993).

U.S. Stock Market Opening Hours - Essential Information

###Main Trading Hours(

The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 AM Eastern Time (ET) )ET( and closes at 4:00 PM from Monday to Friday. This is the main trading window for all three exchanges: NYSE, Nasdaq, and AMEX.

For Vietnamese investors, the U.S. stock market opens at 8:30 PM )Hanoi Time GMT +7( and closes at 3:00 AM the next day. This schedule is relatively convenient for Vietnamese traders to monitor the market in the evening and at night.

)Pre-market & After-hours Trading###

Many investors are unaware that NYSE, Nasdaq, and AMEX also operate outside regular hours:

Pre-market (Pre-market Trading):

• NYSE and AMEX: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET (corresponding to 4:30 AM - 7:30 AM Hanoi Time)
• Nasdaq: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET (corresponding to 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM the next day)

After-hours (After-hours Trading):

• NYSE and AMEX: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET (corresponding to 3:00 AM - 7:00 AM the next day)
• Nasdaq: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET (corresponding to 3:00 AM - 5:30 AM the next day)

However, note that not all brokerage firms in Vietnam support trading during these two periods.

When Do the U.S. Stock Markets Open in Summer and Winter?

The U.S. observes daylight saving time (daylight saving time) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, causing trading hours to shift.

Summer (March - November):

• NYSE/AMEX: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET → 9:30 PM - 4:00 AM GMT +7(
• Nasdaq: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET → 9:30 PM - 4:00 AM GMT +7)
• Pre-market: 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM ET → 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM GMT +7(

Winter )November - March(:

• NYSE/AMEX: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET → 10:30 PM - 5:00 AM GMT +7)
• Nasdaq: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET → 10:30 PM - 5:00 AM GMT +7(
• Pre-market: 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM ET → 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM GMT +7)

This one-hour difference is crucial to avoid confusion and missing trading opportunities.

Holidays: When Do the U.S. Stock Markets Close?

NYSE, Nasdaq, and AMEX do not operate on U.S. holidays, which are completely different from Vietnam:

Remember these dates to avoid unnecessary trading issues.

Comparing U.S. Stock Market Trading Hours with Other International Exchanges

To better understand U.S. trading hours, here is a comparison with major stock exchanges:

Toronto has similar hours to NYSE because of the same North American time zone, while Asian markets open in the morning Hanoi time.

Important Notes When Trading on the U.S. Stock Market

Settlement times vary by account type: Depending on the account, settlement (T) differs. Margin accounts have T + 0, regular margin accounts T + 1, and cash accounts T + 2.

Support for extended trading hours: Not all brokers allow trading during pre-market and after-hours sessions, so check with your broker.

Be aware of daylight saving time adjustments: The U.S. stock market changes hours in March and November each year; plan your trading accordingly.

Use supporting tools: To avoid confusion with complex trading hours, utilize economic calendars or apps that track market opening times, helping you stay updated on important international events in real-time and focus fully on your trading strategy.