Recently, I found that many people are unclear about the US stock market opening hours, especially with the time difference between Taiwan and the US, plus the switch between daylight saving time and standard time, which can be a bit complicated. I’ve organized this information myself and want to share it with everyone.

First, you need to know that the US stock market mainly has three trading sessions. The regular trading hours are from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday (Eastern Time), which is the main trading period. But there are also pre-market trading (4:00 AM - 9:30 AM) and after-hours trading (4:00 PM - 8:00 PM). If you want to get ahead or catch the late session, you should pay attention to these times as well.

For us in Taiwan, the most important thing is the time difference conversion. Daylight saving time has now started, so the regular trading hours correspond to 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM local Taiwan time. During standard time, it shifts forward by one hour, becoming 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM. Many people get confused about this, resulting in missed opportunities or failed orders, which is quite frustrating.

Another thing to watch out for is the US stock market holidays. In 2026, there are several holidays to note, such as New Year’s Day on January 1, Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, Washington’s Birthday on February 16, Good Friday on April 3, Memorial Day on May 25, Juneteenth on June 19, Independence Day on July 4, Labor Day on September 7, Thanksgiving on November 26, and Christmas on December 25. Some of these days will have early market close; for example, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve will close three hours early, so be especially careful about this.

The main stock exchanges in the US are three. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest, listing over 3,500 stocks, mainly traditional large-cap companies. NASDAQ is an electronic exchange, mostly technology stocks like Microsoft and Apple. The American Stock Exchange (AMEX) is somewhat smaller, mainly listing small- and mid-cap stocks. These three operate independently; although they have the same opening hours, the stocks traded and liquidity can differ.

If you’re interested in starting to trade US stocks, I recommend noting down these times and holiday schedules to avoid confusion. Especially with the time difference, it’s very easy to make mistakes, so it’s best to set reminders on your trading platform.