2026 US Stock Market Closing and Opening Schedule | A Must-Read Guide for Taiwanese Investors

Latest Reminder: The United States entered Standard Time at 2:00 AM on November 2, 2025. The regular trading hours for US stocks are currently from 22:30 to 5:00 the next day Taiwan time.

1. Essential Knowledge for Taiwanese Investors | US Stock Market Closing and Opening Times During Standard and Daylight Saving Time

The biggest difference between the US stock market and Taiwan is time changes. Since the US observes Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time, while Taiwan maintains a fixed schedule year-round, Taiwanese investors must be aware of these time difference shifts.

Standard Time (begins at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday in November each year, ends at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March the following year)

• Regular trading hours: Eastern Time 9:30 - 16:00 = Taiwan Time 22:30 - 5:00 next day
• Pre-market trading: Eastern Time 4:00 - 9:30 = Taiwan Time 17:00 - 22:30
• After-hours trading: Eastern Time 16:00 - 20:00 = Taiwan Time 5:00 - 9:00

Daylight Saving Time (begins at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March each year, ends at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday in November)

• Regular trading hours: Eastern Time 9:30 - 16:00 = Taiwan Time 21:30 - next day 4:00
• Pre-market trading: Eastern Time 4:00 - 9:30 = Taiwan Time 16:30 - 21:30
• After-hours trading: Eastern Time 16:00 - 20:00 = Taiwan Time 4:00 - 8:00

In short, Standard Time is one hour later than Daylight Saving Time. Many Taiwanese investors may make mistakes during the time change, leading to missed trading opportunities or placing orders during market close. It is recommended to set phone reminders.

2. Basic Rules and Trading Knowledge of US Stock Market Close

The US stock market consists of multiple independent exchanges, mainly NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX. Although each exchange operates independently, their opening and closing times are generally synchronized, with differences mainly in listed company types and trading volume.

Basic Rules for US Stock Trading

| Item | Description | |------|--------------| | Trading Days | Monday to Friday (closed on US holidays) | | Currency | USD (US Dollar) | | Trading Units | 1 share | | Settlement | T+3 (trade date plus three business days) | | Fees | Manual trades: 1%; Electronic trades: 0.5%-1% | | Exchanges | NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX |

US stock market closes at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. After that, after-hours trading begins, allowing authorized investors to trade, though liquidity is lower and spreads are wider.

3. US Stock Market Holidays in 2026 | Important Dates Not to Miss

On major US holidays, the stock market will be closed. In 2026, there are 11 market holidays and 1 early close day, so investors should plan ahead:

| Date | Holiday Name | Notes | |-------|--------------|--------| | Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Closed all day | | Jan 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Closed all day | | Feb 16 | Washington's Birthday | Closed all day | | Apr 3 | Good Friday | Closed all day | | May 25 | Memorial Day | Closed all day | | Jun 19 | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Closed all day | | Jul 3 | Independence Eve | Market closes early (at 13:00 ET) since July 4 falls on Saturday | | Jul 4 | Independence Day | Closed all day | | Sep 7 | Labor Day | Closed all day | | Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Day | Closed all day | | Nov 27 | Day after Thanksgiving | Closes 3 hours early (at 13:00 ET) | | Dec 24 | Christmas Eve | Closes 3 hours early (at 13:00 ET) | | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | Closed all day |

4. Overview of the Three Major US Stock Exchanges

Although the closing time is unified, each of the three exchanges has its own characteristics:

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

The largest stock exchange by market capitalization, listing over 3,500 stocks. Focuses on large-cap blue-chip stocks like Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, etc. Uses a hybrid trading model combining electronic and floor trading, with floor traders still playing a role in major transactions.

NASDAQ Stock Market

The world's first all-electronic exchange, where investors buy and sell directly via phone or internet. Mainly lists tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, etc. The NASDAQ index is often seen as a barometer of the tech sector.

NYSE American (formerly AMEX)

The third-largest US exchange, acquired by NYSE in 2008 and renamed NYSE American. Focuses on small- and mid-cap stocks, and is the only exchange offering stocks, futures, and derivatives trading. Its trading mode is similar to NYSE.

5. Global Stock Market Trading Hours Comparison | Expand Your Investment Horizons

Besides US stocks, here are the opening and closing times of other major stock markets and their corresponding Taiwan local times:

| Exchange | Trading Hours | Taiwan Local Time | |----------|----------------|-------------------| | China A-shares | 9:30-11:30, 13:00-15:00 | 9:30-11:30, 13:00-15:00 | | Tokyo, Japan | 9:00-11:30, 12:30-15:00 | 8:00-10:30, 11:30-14:00 | | London, UK | 8:00-16:30 | 16:00-00:30 | | Hong Kong HKEX | 9:15-16:00 | 9:15-16:00 | | Toronto, Canada | 9:30-16:00 | 22:30-next day 5:00 | | Frankfurt, Germany | 8:00-22:00 | 15:00-next day 5:00 | | Sydney, Australia | 10:00-16:00 | 8:00-14:00 |

Taiwan investors can choose markets flexibly according to their schedules to achieve a 24-hour global investment layout.

Reminder: Before trading US stocks, it is recommended to fully understand the characteristics of each trading session, US market holidays, and the time difference caused by Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time. Mastering the correct opening and closing times is the first step to successful trading.