2026 US Stock Trading Hours Guide | Hong Kong Stocks, Taiwan Stocks, US Stocks Time Difference Chart

2026-01-06 12:29:53

Update Notice - The United States entered Standard Time on November 2, 2025. Regular trading hours are from 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM Taiwan Time; in Hong Kong, it is from 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM.

Why Do You Need to Understand US Stock Market Hours? Three Key Time Points You Must Remember

The biggest pitfall for Asian traders is the time difference. The trading sessions for US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, and Taiwan stocks are completely staggered, and a small mistake can cause you to miss opportunities or make errors. Especially since the US switches between Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time every year, the time correspondence can change unexpectedly.

Current situation: The regular trading hours for US stocks (Eastern Time 9:30-16:00) correspond to 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM Taiwan Time. If you are in Hong Kong, it is from 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM.

US Stock Market Has Three Main Exchanges, All Trading Hours Are Synchronized

The US stock market is different from Taiwan’s; it is not concentrated in a single exchange. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and American Stock Exchange (AMEX) operate independently. Although their opening and closing times are synchronized, the listed stocks and trading characteristics differ.

NYSE is the world’s largest stock exchange, listing over 3,500 stocks, mainly traditional blue-chip stocks. On-site trading remains very important.

NASDAQ is the world’s first electronic trading market, where tech giants like Microsoft and Apple are traded. It is also the favorite exchange among retail investors.

American Stock Exchange (now NYSE American) mainly trades small- and mid-cap stocks, and also offers trading in stocks, futures, and derivatives. It is considered the third-largest trading market in the US.

US Stock Trading Hours Panorama: Pre-market, Regular, After-hours in Three Segments

Want to buy the dip or chase the high? You need to distinguish these three trading periods:

Pre-market Trading (Eastern Time 4:00-9:30, Taiwan Time 16:30-21:30 Standard Time; 17:00-22:30 Summer Time): Liquidity is lower, spreads are wider, but you can react early after news releases.

Regular Trading (Eastern Time 9:30-16:00, Taiwan Time 22:30-Next Day 5:00 Standard Time; 21:30-Next Day 4:00 Summer Time): The most active trading period, with the highest volume and the narrowest spreads. This is the main battlefield.

After-hours Trading (Eastern Time 16:00-20:00, Taiwan Time 5:00-9:00 Standard Time; 4:00-8:00 Summer Time): Usually less volatile, suitable for long-term investors placing orders.

Daylight Saving Time vs. Standard Time: Don’t Fall for the Time Difference Tricks

The US enters Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM, and reverts to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM. Asia does not adjust clocks, so the time difference changes. Simply put:

During Daylight Saving Time: US stock market opens at 9:30 PM Taiwan Time, 8:30 PM Hong Kong Time.
During Standard Time: US stock market opens at 10:30 PM Taiwan Time, 9:30 PM Hong Kong Time.

In 2026, special attention is needed: the switch to Daylight Saving Time occurs on March 8, and back to Standard Time on November 1.

US Stock Market Holidays in 2026: These Days No Trading Allowed

The biggest trap for investors is holidays. The US stock market will be closed or close early on these dates. Remember this list:

January 1: New Year’s Day (Market Closed)
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Market Closed)
February 16: Washington’s Birthday (Market Closed)
April 3: Good Friday (Market Closed)
May 25: Memorial Day (Market Closed)
June 19: Juneteenth (Market Closed)
July 3: Day before Independence Day (Market Closed, since July 4 is Saturday)
September 7: Labor Day (Market Closed)
November 26: Thanksgiving Day (Market Closed)
November 27: Day after Thanksgiving (Early close, 1:00 PM ET)
December 24: Christmas Eve (Early close, 1:00 PM ET)
December 25: Christmas Day (Market Closed)

US Stock Trading Rules Quick Reference Table

Item	Details
Trading Currency	USD (US Dollar)
Trading Unit	1 share
Settlement Time	T+3 (settles 3 trading days later)
Fees	Manual trading 1%; Electronic trading 0.5%-1%

Quick Comparison: When Do Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan Markets Open?

If you trade across markets, this schedule will save your life:

Hong Kong Stock Market (opens at 9:15) corresponds to Taiwan Time 9:15 AM, trading simultaneously.

Tokyo Stock Market (opens at 9:00 AM) corresponds to Taiwan Time 8:00 AM. Tokyo is 1 hour ahead of Taiwan.

London Stock Market (opens at 8:00 AM) corresponds to Taiwan Time 4:00 PM.

So, if you want to track global markets, the typical sequence is: Japan opens in the morning, followed by Hong Kong, then European markets in the afternoon, and US stocks in the evening.

Final Reminder

US stock market hours change with Daylight Saving Time, especially if you are trading US stocks during Hong Kong market hours. Be especially cautious around date transitions. It’s recommended to set reminders on your calendar for 2026’s holiday dates and time change days to avoid mistakes.

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