The most confusing thing when trading U.S. stocks is the timing and holidays.

Especially if you miss the U.S. stock market holidays, your trading plans can get completely messed up.
As of 2026, there are about 10 holidays from January 1st to Christmas.
They close on major U.S. holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving.

Trading hours are also important, with regular hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
In Korean time, that's from 11:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day, but during daylight saving time, it shifts forward by an hour.
There are also pre-market and after-market sessions, so if you use those well, you can seize more opportunities.

Did you know there are early closing days besides market holidays?
On the day before Independence Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve, the market closes early at 1 p.m.
In Korean time, that's closing at 2 a.m., which can be confusing for those trading while having late-night snacks.
If you mark the market holidays and early closing days separately on your calendar, you can reduce mistakes.
Since all three exchanges—NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX—operate on the same schedule, there's no need to check separately.