By Staff Writer
Nasdaq has taken a formal regulatory step toward offering near 24‑hour trading in US equities, filing plans with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as global demand grows for access beyond traditional Wall Street hours. The exchange is targeting a launch in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and coordination with market infrastructure partners.
As international participation in US markets continues to rise, with overseas investors holding trillions in American stocks, demand for trading across time zones has increased. Nasdaq’s proposal would allow trading almost nonstop, extending opportunities for global investors who currently must work around the lengthy gap between the end of the US trading day and the start of the next.
Under the plan, daily trading on Nasdaq would expand from the current 16 hours to 23 hours a day, Monday through Friday. The schedule would shift from three traditional sessions into two main blocks:
Day Session: From 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, incorporating pre‑market, regular, and post‑market trading, with the familiar 9:30 a.m. open and 4 p.m. close.
Night Session: From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. ET, closing the loop on a nearly round‑the‑clock market.
A short one‑hour break would be maintained each day for system maintenance and trade clearing. Under this structure, the trading week would begin Sunday at 9 p.m. ET and run until Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
Nasdaq’s move comes as other exchanges explore extended trading hours, too. Cboe Global Markets has announced its own plans for 24/5 trading, pending approval, while the New York Stock Exchange has already received preliminary clearance from the SEC to operate up to 22 hours per weekday, subject to enhancements to market data systems.
Meanwhile, some brokerages, including Robinhood Markets and Interactive Brokers, already allow near‑constant trading of US stocks via alternative trading systems like Blue Ocean, reflecting strong retail appetite for extended access.
Despite the push for longer hours, Nasdaq has cautioned that liquidity outside traditional market times remains much lower, which can lead to higher volatility and increased transaction costs. Nasdaq President Tal Cohen has warned that these risks will require careful management even as interest in extended trading grows.
The filing with the SEC represents a critical step in potentially reshaping how and when global investors engage with US equities, moving markets closer to around‑the‑clock accessibility while balancing the challenges of liquidity and market stability.
