U.S. Market Investment Guide: Complete Guide to Trading Hours and Holidays in 2025 (Korean Time)

2025-12-24 17:46:39

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Start with Accurate Trading Hours for the U.S. Stock Market

If you are a Korean investor investing in the U.S. market, the first thing to check is the trading hours. Especially since the U.S. operates daylight saving time and has a significant time difference with Korea, failing to know the exact hours could cause you to miss trading opportunities. Moreover, unlike Korea, the U.S. stock market has no price limit bands, which means unexpected volatility can occur, making it essential to prepare in advance.

Learn About the Three Major U.S. Stock Exchanges

New York Stock Exchange(NYSE) Location and Features

Founded in 1792, the New York Stock Exchange is the world’s largest stock exchange. It lists approximately 2,400 companies and has a total market capitalization of around $23 trillion, making it a massive market. Major global companies such as Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, and Walmart are primarily listed here.

NASDAQ Stock Market(NASDAQ) Unique Characteristics

Established in 1971, NASDAQ started as an over-the-counter market but quickly grew to be recognized as an on-exchange market. Currently, it ranks second in the world by market capitalization and is concentrated with IT companies. Tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA are listed on this exchange.

American Stock Exchange(AMEX) Role

The American Stock Exchange is one of the three major U.S. exchanges, focusing on mid-sized and small companies. While the NYSE mainly lists large corporations, the AMEX provides a platform for growth-potential mid and small-cap companies.

U.S. Market Trading Hours: When Exactly Is It in Korea?

The NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX all follow the same trading hours. However, since the dates change in Korea time, caution is needed.

Regular Trading Hours:

Eastern Time: 09:30~16:00
Korea Time: 23:30~06:00 ( During daylight saving time: 22:30~05:00)

Pre-market Trading (Before Market Opens):

Eastern Time: 04:00~09:30
Korea Time: 18:00~23:30 ( During daylight saving time: 17:00~22:30)

After-hours Trading (After Market Closes):

Eastern Time: 16:00~20:00
Korea Time: Next day 06:00~10:00 ( During daylight saving time: 05:00~09:00)

( Daylight Saving Time Period: Trading Hours Change

Daylight saving time runs from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March to 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. During this period, regular trading hours are moved one hour earlier, so traders should adjust their schedules accordingly.

U.S. Market Trading Rules and Precautions

The U.S. stock market trades exclusively in U.S. dollars (USD), and the trading unit is one share. A key feature is that there are no price limit bands, unlike Korea. This means prices can fluctuate sharply within a single day, so risk management is crucial.

Settlement occurs within two business days after trading, and fees vary depending on the brokerage or intermediary.

2025 U.S. Market Holidays Checklist

When planning your investment activities, always check for market holidays. Major holidays in 2025 include:

January 1 (Wed): New Year’s Day
January 9 (Thu): National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter
January 20 (Mon): Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 17 (Mon): Presidents’ Day
April 18 (Fri): Good Friday
May 26 (Mon): Memorial Day
June 19 (Thu): Juneteenth Day
July 4 (Fri): Independence Day
September 1 (Mon): Labor Day
November 27 (Thu): Thanksgiving Day
December 25 (Thu): Christmas Day

) Early Market Close Days

Be aware of early close days, when trading ends earlier than usual, not a full holiday:

July 3 (Thu): Day before Independence Day — close at 1 p.m. ET ( Next day in Korea: 2 a.m.)
November 28 (Fri): Day after Thanksgiving — close at 1 p.m. ET ### Next day in Korea: 3 a.m.(
December 24 (Wed): Christmas Eve — close at 1 p.m. ET ) Next day in Korea: 3 a.m.(

Comparing Global Stock Market Trading Hours

If you trade stocks from various countries besides the U.S., understanding each exchange’s operating hours is helpful.

Major Stock Exchanges’ Trading Hours )Korea Time(:

Korea Exchange: 09:00~15:30
Tokyo Stock Exchange: 09:00~15:00 (local) ) Break 11:30~12:30( → Korea Time: 10:00~16:00
London Stock Exchange: 08:00~16:30 (local) → Korea Time: 17:00~01:30 ) During daylight saving: 16:00~00:30(
Hong Kong Stock Exchange: 09:30~16:00 (local) ) Break 12:00~13:00( → Korea Time: 10:30~17:00
Shanghai Stock Exchange: 09:30~15:00 (local) ) Break 11:30~13:00( → Korea Time: 10:30~16:00

Successful U.S. Investment Starts with Preparation

Understanding the exact trading hours and holidays of the U.S. stock market is the first step in your investment planning. Due to time differences, the U.S. market operates during Korea’s night hours, so planning ahead and seizing opportunities is essential. Since exchange schedules can change, always check the latest information. This will help you trade more efficiently in the U.S. market.

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