I’ve been following the U.S. market for a while, and I was surprised by how many people don’t know exactly when the U.S. market officially opens and the differences between different trading times. The issue is that if you don’t understand the trading times correctly, you might miss big opportunities or enter at unsuitable times.

First: the official opening of the U.S. market runs from Monday to Friday, starting at 9:30 AM New York time, and ends at 4:00 PM. This is the core session with the highest liquidity and the most activity. But it doesn’t stop there—there are pre-market sessions from 4:00 AM and after the close until 8:00 PM, where important price movements happen.

For us in Arab countries, the times differ depending on the time zone. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE (UTC+3), the official session starts at 5:30 PM and ends at 12:00 midnight. In Egypt and Jordan (UTC+2), it starts at 4:30 PM. The key point is to know the daylight saving time vs. standard time, because it affects the timings.

As for holidays, in 2026, 2027, and 2028, there are specific holidays when the U.S. market is closed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving. Some days have an early close at 1:00 PM New York time, and this is important to focus on, because liquidity drops and you could miss opportunities.

The important dates you need to focus on are: Federal Reserve meetings (FOMC)—these are among the most important events because they set the direction of interest rates and affect all stocks. The quarterly earnings season in January, April, July, and October—this is when you’ll see very strong moves, especially in large-cap stocks such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, and Nvidia. Quadruple Witching Day on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December—there’s typically more volatility.

When it comes to the best trading times, the first hour after the open, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM New York time, has the highest movement and the most opportunities, but it also carries higher risks. The middle of the session is often calmer if there are no news releases. The last hour before the close, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, is very important because institutions rebalance their positions.

Trading outside official hours—meaning before the opening and after the closing—has higher risks: lower liquidity, higher volatility, and wider bid-ask spreads. Many important news releases come out outside these hours—company earnings, inflation and employment data, and statements from the Federal Reserve. That’s why you need to keep monitoring even when the market is closed.

The factors that move the market during the session include: U.S. economic data (inflation, jobs, and sales), company earnings and forward guidance, Federal Reserve statements, and geopolitical news. Sometimes, a single statement from the Fed can completely change the direction of the U.S. market.

If you’re a new trader, the best strategies are: trading with momentum right after the open, trading breakouts when key levels are broken, quick rebounds after exaggerated moves, or trading based on major news. The important thing is to choose one approach and apply it with discipline.

My final advice: don’t enter a trade just because the U.S. market officially opens; wait a bit until the first burst of movement settles. Review the economic calendar before you trade, and always use a stop-loss, especially in the first and last hours. If you’re new, start with a demo account or small amounts first so you can test your strategy.