When trading U.S. stocks, the most confusing parts are the trading hours and holidays, but once you organize them, it becomes much easier. Especially, it's important to know in advance when the U.S. markets are closed.

The major U.S. exchanges are NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX, and they all have the same trading hours. Regular trading runs from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time, which is from 11:30 PM to 6:00 AM Korean time. During daylight saving time, from mid-March to early November, the hours are moved forward by one hour, so trading is from 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM. Pre-market trading is available from 6:00 PM Korean time, and after-hours trading runs from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM the next day.

By checking the U.S. market holidays in advance for 2026, it becomes easier to plan your trades. The market holidays are 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).

There are also early closing days: on the day before Independence Day (July 2), the day after Thanksgiving (November 27), and Christmas Eve (December 24), the market closes at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. In Korean time, this is early closure at 2:00 AM the next day, so night traders should be especially careful.

Unlike Korea, U.S. stocks do not have price limit bands, which is also important. During sharp declines, it can be difficult to respond quickly, so during holidays or before major news releases, you should pay extra attention to managing your positions. Settlement is completed two business days later, and trading is conducted in U.S. dollars. Also, note that other countries’ exchanges have different time zones, so if you trade multiple markets, it’s a good idea to keep separate notes on each exchange’s opening hours.