Nasdaq plans to file paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to extend stock trading to 23 hours a day, five days a week, marking a major step toward near round-the-clock markets. If approved, the change could take effect in the second half of 2026.
The exchange aims to meet surging global demand for US stocks, especially from international investors who want access outside traditional US market hours. Foreign holdings of US equities reached $17 trillion last year, highlighting how global the market has become.
Under the proposal, Nasdaq would run two daily sessions. The day session would operate from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, including the regular opening and closing bells. A night session would run from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., with a short break in between for system maintenance. The trading week would start Sunday night and end Friday evening.
Other exchanges are moving in the same direction. The NYSE and Cboe Global Markets have already filed plans to expand trading hours, while clearing systems are preparing for nonstop operations by late 2026.
Supporters argue longer hours will help investors react faster to global news. Critics are more cautious. Wells Fargo analysts called the proposal “the worst thing in the world,” warning it could reduce liquidity, increase volatility, and turn stock trading into something closer to gambling.
Nasdaq says demand for overnight trading is already growing, with many investors currently using alternative platforms to trade US stocks outside normal hours. The exchange believes extending official trading hours will bring that activity onto regulated markets.
If approved, Nasdaq would become the first major global exchange to offer nearly 24-hour stock trading, signaling a historic shift in how Wall Street operates.
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