Don't miss the 2025 US stock market holidays: The perfect trading schedule guide for Korean investors

Before You Start: Comparing the Operating Hours of Major Global Stock Exchanges

If you are a Korean investor investing in US stocks, you already know how important time zone differences are. Understanding the trading schedules of major stock exchanges in developed countries is the first step toward efficient portfolio management. Major exchanges such as London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai operate in different time zones, and some have midday trading halts.

The Big Three US Stock Exchanges: Features and Listed Companies

To understand the US stock market, you need to grasp the differences between the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE), NASDAQ(NASDAQ), and the American Stock Exchange(AMEX).

New York Stock Exchange(NYSE) was established on May 17, 1792, and has a history of over 300 years. It is the world’s largest stock exchange, listing approximately 2,400 companies with a total market capitalization of about $23 trillion. Traditional companies like Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, and Walmart are mainly traded here.

NASDAQ was founded in 1971 and has rapidly grown to become the second-largest stock exchange in the world. It is known as a technology-focused exchange, with listings including Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA.

American Stock Exchange operates mainly with mid- and small-cap companies, differentiating it from the NYSE.

US Stock Market Trading Hours: Regular, Pre-Market, After-Hours

All three exchanges follow the same trading hours. However, when converted to Korean time, there is a time difference, and from mid-March to early November, daylight saving time (DST) is applied, moving the hours forward by one hour.

Regular Trading Hours are from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time, which is 11:30 PM to 6:00 AM Korean time(During DST, it is 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM).

Pre-Market Trading runs from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern Time, corresponding to 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM Korean time(During DST, 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM).

After-Hours Trading occurs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time, which is 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM the next day in Korea(During DST, 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM).

Key Regulations for US Stock Trading

All three US stock exchanges trade in US dollars, and settlement occurs two business days after the trade date. The trading unit is one share, and fees vary depending on the brokerage.

A particularly important point is that there are no price limit restrictions in the US stock market. Unlike the Korean market, where trading halts automatically during sharp declines, US stocks do not have such automatic halts, so traders need to be especially cautious when trading during nighttime hours.

Complete Guide to US Market Holidays in 2025

The regular holidays for the US stock market are as follows:

• January 1(Wed): New Year’s Day
• January 9(Thu): Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 20(Mon): Inauguration Day
• February 17(Mon): Presidents’ Day
• April 18(Fri): Day before Easter
• May 26(Mon): Memorial Day
• June 19(Thu): Juneteenth
• July 4(Fri): Independence Day
• September 1(Mon): Labor Day
• November 27(Thu): Thanksgiving Day
• December 25(Thu): Christmas Day

Early Close Days Outside of Holidays

While not full holidays, some days feature early market closures at 1:00 PM Eastern Time:

• July 3(Thu): Day before Independence Day → Closes at 2:00 AM Korea time
• November 28(Fri): Day after Thanksgiving → Closes at 3:00 AM Korea time
• December 24(Wed): Christmas Eve → Closes at 3:00 AM Korea time

If you plan to trade on these early close days, you should adjust your trading strategies with sufficient lead time.

Global Stock Market Trading Hours at a Glance

To assist investors investing in Korea, Japan, the UK, China, and more, here is a summary of major stock exchange trading hours. The London Stock Exchange applies daylight saving time, and Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai exchanges have midday trading halts.

Final Tips: How to Trade US Stocks Efficiently

Accurately understanding US market holidays and trading hours is a crucial first step to reducing investment losses. Consider time differences with Korea, daylight saving time changes, and the absence of price limits when planning your trades.

Especially around US market holidays, volatility can spike, so it’s advisable to plan position adjustments in advance. Since exchange operating schedules can change annually, make it a habit to check the latest information at the start of each new year.