I recently realized that knowing the exact hours of the U.S. stock market is essential for planning trades properly. Especially since the time difference between Korea and the U.S. is large and daylight saving time is also in effect, it can be confusing.

The main exchanges in the U.S. stock market are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), and interestingly, their trading hours are all the same. The regular trading hours are 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 the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, U.S. market hours are moved forward by one hour, making it from 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM Korean time.

In addition to regular trading hours, there are pre-market and after-hours trading sessions. Pre-market runs from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern Time (6:00 PM to 11:30 PM Korean time), and after-hours from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time (next day 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM Korean time). Utilizing these times allows trading outside of regular hours.

Regarding trading regulations, all three U.S. exchanges trade in U.S. dollars, and settlement is completed two business days later. Importantly, unlike the Korean stock market, there are no price limit restrictions during U.S. market hours. Since there are no limits even during sharp declines, volatility can be high, so caution is advised.

It’s also good to be aware of the U.S. market holidays in 2026 in advance. They 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 July 2, November 27, and December 24, the market closes early at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, so keep that in mind.

Besides the U.S. market hours, for those trading other major exchanges as well, the Korea Exchange operates from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, the Tokyo Stock Exchange from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (with a break from 12:00 to 12:30), and the London Stock Exchange from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges also have intraday breaks, so it’s good to check their schedules.

Ultimately, accurately understanding U.S. market hours is the first step toward efficient trading. Since trading hours and holidays can change, it’s wise to always check the latest information when planning trades.