2026 US Stock Market Trading Hours Complete Guide: A Must-See Time Difference Chart for Taiwanese Investors

Don’t Mix It Up! You Must First Understand the Basic Logic of US Stock Trading Hours

The US stock market is not like Taiwan’s stock market, which has only a single exchange. It consists of multiple markets such as the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and the American Securities Exchange. Although each exchange operates independently, the good news is — in most cases, the opening hours of all exchanges are synchronized.

However, an important detail that is often overlooked is that the United States observes daylight saving time and standard time, while Taiwan does not. This causes changes in time difference. If you are still trading at fixed times, you may have missed or pre-placed several orders.

When Do US Stock Trading Hours Actually Start? Here Are the Summer and Winter Seasons

According to the latest standard time rules (effective from November 2, 2025), the regular trading hours for US stocks in Eastern Time are from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. But this is just the basics; in reality, there are three trading sessions:

Pre-market trading: 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM Eastern Time
Regular trading: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time
After-hours trading: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Eastern Time

For traders in Taiwan, during winter time (November to March of the following year), the regular trading hours correspond to 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM local Taiwan time. But during summer time (March to November), the time difference is reduced by one hour, making it 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM.

This time difference may seem small, but for long-term traders, it is a crucial detail to master precisely. The US switches to 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; standard time begins on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM and ends on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM.

The Three Major US Stock Exchanges Have Their Own Characteristics — You Should Know Them

NASDAQ — The Tech Stock Headquarters

NASDAQ is the world’s first fully electronic securities exchange and the largest stock exchange by trading volume globally. It features high-tech companies like Microsoft and Apple. If you want to track tech stocks, this is the place to watch.

New York Stock Exchange — The Home of Blue Chips

Based on the total market capitalization of listed securities, the NYSE is considered the largest stock exchange in the world, with over 3,500 listed stocks. Although it has become electronic, on-floor trading still plays an important role in large institutional transactions and pricing mechanisms. It hosts many traditional blue-chip stocks and large corporations.

American Securities Exchange — The Choice for Small and Mid-Cap Stocks

The American Securities Exchange is the third-largest trading market in the US, mainly listing small and mid-cap stocks. Its unique feature is that it is the only exchange where stocks, futures, and derivatives can be traded simultaneously. After merging with NYSE in 2008, it is now called NYSE American.

When Will the US Stock Market Close in 2026? Keep This Calendar Handy

The US stock market closes or has early closing on federal holidays, so Taiwanese traders must plan ahead. Important closing dates in 2026 are as follows:

January 1 (New Year’s Day), January 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), February 16 (Washington’s Birthday), April 3 (Good Friday), May 25 (Memorial Day), June 19 (Juneteenth) — closed all day.

On July 3, the market closes early due to Independence Day falling on Saturday; July 4 is a normal holiday. September 7 (Labor Day), November 26 (Thanksgiving) — closed all day.

Note that the day after Thanksgiving, November 27, will close three hours early (at 1:00 PM Eastern Time), and December 24 (Christmas Eve) will also close three hours early. December 25 (Christmas Day) is a full-day holiday.

These early closing dates are easy to overlook, so be sure to double-check before trading.

Basic Rules of US Stock Trading You Need to Know

US stocks are priced in USD, with a minimum trading unit of 1 share. Settlement funds are only delivered on the third trading day after the trade (T+3). Regarding fees, manual orders cost about 1%, while electronic trading fees are between 0.5% and 1%.

While these basic rules seem simple, they have a real impact on capital allocation and risk management, especially the T+3 settlement rule, which affects your cash flow.

Quick Comparison Table: No More Calculating Time Differences

Start your US stock trading journey now with three simple steps: fill out your information and submit the application, deposit $50 USD (supports TWD), and quickly find trading opportunities to place orders.