The most important thing when trading U.S. stocks is to know the trading hours and the U.S. stock market holidays accurately. Since there is a significant time difference with Korea and daylight saving time is also in effect, not knowing these details can mess up your trading plans.

The major stock exchanges in the U.S. are mainly three. NYSE is the oldest exchange, starting from 1792, and it is the largest in the world by market capitalization. About 2,400 companies are listed, with a total market cap of around $23 trillion. NASDAQ is a relatively newer exchange established in 1971, and it has many tech companies listed. AMEX mainly lists mid-sized and small companies.

The trading hours for these three exchanges are all the same. Regular trading hours are from 09:30 to 16:00 Eastern Time, which converts to 23:30 to 06:00 the next day in Korean time. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, when daylight saving time is in effect, the hours are moved forward by one hour, making it 22:30 to 05:00. The pre-market is from 04:00 to 09:30 ET (18:00 to 23:30 Korean time), and the after-hours are from 16:00 to 20:00 ET (next day 06:00 to 10:00 Korean time).

Unlike Korea, the U.S. stock market does not have price limit bands. This means prices can fluctuate sharply, making quick responses more challenging. Trading is conducted in U.S. dollars, and settlement is completed two business days later.

Knowing the U.S. stock market holidays in advance for 2026 makes it much easier to plan your trades. Holidays include New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19), Presidents’ Day (February 16), Good Friday (April 3), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 3), Labor Day (September 7), Thanksgiving (November 26), and Christmas (December 25).

Additionally, on the day before Independence Day (July 2), the day after Thanksgiving (November 27), and Christmas Eve (December 24), the market closes early at 1 p.m. ET, which is 2 a.m. the next day in Korea. Since U.S. stock market holidays can change, it’s always best to check the latest information before trading.

If you also trade stocks from other countries, knowing each exchange’s hours can be helpful. For reference: Korea Exchange (KRX) is from 09:00 to 15:30, Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) is from 09:00 to 15:00 (with a break from 11:30 to 12:30), London Stock Exchange (LSE) is from 08:00 to 16:30 (17:00 to 01:30 Korean time), Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) is from 09:30 to 16:00 (with a break from 12:00 to 13:00, Korean time 10:30 to 17:00), and Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is from 09:30 to 15:00 (with a break from 11:30 to 13:00, Korean time 10:30 to 16:00).

Ultimately, accurately understanding trading hours and checking U.S. stock market holidays in advance are essential for successful investing. Since trading hours and holidays can change at any time, always verify official information and plan your trades accordingly.