Nasdaq intends to expand its trading hours to nearly 23 hours a day, aiming to increase investor access and compete with round-the-clock digital platforms.
Key facts
- •The new trading schedule is slated to begin on December 6, pending SEC approval.
- •The expansion will allow for trading from Sunday evening to Friday evening.
- •For European investors, the new window of 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. ET corresponds to 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. CET.
- •Foreign holdings of US equities grew by 97% between 2019 and mid-2024.
- •NYSE has already secured approval for a 22-hour trading day.
Nasdaq has announced plans to extend its trading hours for US stocks to nearly 23 hours a day, beginning Sunday, December 6. The proposed schedule would cover the period from Sunday evening through Friday evening, though the initiative remains subject to approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
By the numbers
Expanding Market Access
The new trading window is designed to broaden investor access and create additional wealth-building opportunities. Currently, Nasdaq operates pre-market and after-hours sessions, but these are largely limited to institutional investors with direct market connections. The expansion aims to capture growing international interest in US equities, with foreign holdings reaching $17 trillion by mid-2024, a 97% increase since 2019.
Competitive Landscape and Market Demand
Traditional exchanges are facing pressure to extend hours as investors increasingly turn to crypto exchanges and decentralized platforms during periods of market volatility when Wall Street is closed. Rival exchange NYSE has already received SEC approval for a 22-hour trading day, and Cboe has expressed similar intentions. Nasdaq views this 23-hour session as a step toward its ultimate goal of offering 24/7 trading.
Timeline
- 2019Foreign holdings of US equities began the growth period leading to current levels.
- MarchNasdaq first signaled its intent to move toward nearly continuous trading.
- December 6Nasdaq plans to begin the new 23-hour trading schedule.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Euronews Business.
