2025-2026 US Stock Trading Hours Quick Reference Guide | Essential Summer and Winter Time Difference Chart for Taiwanese Investors

Latest Reminder: The United States switched to winter time at 2:00 AM on November 2, 2025. The current regular trading window is from 22:30 to 05:00 Taiwan time.

1. U.S. Stock Market Trading System and Market Structure

The U.S. stock market consists of multiple independently operated securities exchanges, with the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and American Stock Exchange being the three main platforms. Although each exchange is managed independently, their opening and closing times are generally synchronized, with only minor price differences in some cases.

U.S. Stock Trading Schedule (Eastern Time)

Regular Trading Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 - 16:00
Pre-market Trading: Monday to Friday 4:00 - 9:30
After-hours Trading: Monday to Friday 16:00 - 20:00

Basic trading rules include: trading in USD, minimum unit of 1 share, T+3 settlement for sales, manual channel fee 1%, electronic channel fee 0.5%-1%.

2. Essential Knowledge for Taiwanese Investors: Conversion of U.S. Stock Trading Hours

The U.S. observes daylight saving time and standard time, while Taiwan maintains a consistent time zone year-round, which significantly impacts cross-market investors. Daylight saving time in the U.S. begins at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday in November; standard time starts at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday in November and continues until 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March the following year. Note that individual states may have their own regulations; verify specifics accordingly.

U.S. Market Opening Times Corresponding to Taiwan Local Time

Important Reminder: Due to daylight saving time adjustments, the time difference between Taiwan and the U.S. varies seasonally. Investors must set trading alerts accordingly.

3. U.S. Stock Market Holidays and Closure Schedule for 2025-2026

The U.S. securities exchanges observe holidays with market closures or early closings. Below are confirmed market holiday dates.

Important U.S. Holidays and Market Closure Schedule for 2025

Important U.S. Holidays and Market Closure Schedule for 2026

Investors should pay attention to these key dates when planning trading strategies to avoid operational errors or funds being locked.

4. Details of the Three Major U.S. Stock Exchanges

The U.S. stock trading ecosystem is composed of three main platforms, each with its own characteristics:

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization, leading globally in listed securities, with over 3,500 listed stocks. Although electronic trading has been implemented, on-site trading still plays an important role in large institutional transactions and price discovery.

NASDAQ Stock Market is the world’s first electronic securities market, fully online with no physical trading floor. It hosts many high-tech companies, including Microsoft, Apple, and others, and is known for its technology stocks.

American Stock Exchange (AMEX) is the third-largest trading market in the U.S., similar in trading mode to NYSE but focusing on small- and mid-cap stocks. Its unique advantage is the ability to trade stocks, futures, and derivatives simultaneously. After being acquired by NYSE in 2008, it was renamed NYSE American.

5. Global Major Stock Markets Trading Hours Reference

Besides U.S. stocks, Taiwanese investors can also monitor other international markets. Below is a comparison of opening and closing times for popular global stock exchanges.

Understanding the trading hours of major global markets helps in building a more balanced international investment portfolio.