## Essential Guide for Taiwanese Investors: Complete Schedule of U.S. Stock Market Opening Times in 2026

As a Taiwanese investor, if you want to participate in U.S. stock trading, the first thing you need to understand is the **correspondence between U.S. stock market opening hours and Taiwan local time**. Many people overlook the time zone differences, which can lead to missed trading opportunities or order mistakes.

### Viewing U.S. Market Opening and Closing Times in Taiwan Time

The U.S. stock market follows Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Standard Time, meaning Taiwanese investors need to adjust their trading schedules seasonally.

**Standard Time (typically November to March)** is the current trading rule — the market opens at 9:30 AM Eastern Time, which is **10:30 PM Taiwan Time**. Regular trading continues until 4:00 PM Eastern Time, corresponding to **5:00 AM Taiwan Time the next day**. If you want to trade pre-market, the market opens at 4:00 AM Eastern Time, which is 5:00 PM Taiwan Time; after-hours trading runs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time, which is 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM Taiwan Time.

**Daylight Saving Time (typically March to November)** shifts the time forward by one hour — 9:30 AM Eastern Time corresponds to **9:30 PM Taiwan Time**, and the market closes at 4:00 PM Eastern Time, which is **4:00 AM Taiwan Time**.

This time difference change results from the U.S. implementing DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, while Taiwan maintains a consistent time year-round. **Key tip: Always update your trading schedule when switching between March and November each year**.

### U.S. Stock Market Trading Rules and Major Exchanges

The biggest difference between the U.S. stock market and Taiwan stocks is that — **it is not a single exchange**. The U.S. stock market consists of three major exchanges, each operating independently.

**New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)** is the world's largest stock exchange, listing over 3,500 stocks, mainly large-cap blue chips. It uses a hybrid trading model, combining electronic trading with floor traders handling large transactions.

**NASDAQ Stock Market** is the world's first fully electronic trading platform, home to tech giants like Microsoft and Apple. Investors trade entirely via the internet and phone, with no physical trading floor.

**American Stock Exchange (AMEX, now NYSE American)** is the third-largest U.S. trading venue, mainly listing small- and mid-cap stocks, and is the only exchange that trades stocks, futures, and derivatives simultaneously.

All exchanges follow the same trading hours: regular trading from Monday to Friday for 6.5 hours, with pre-market trading starting at 4:00 AM and after-hours trading closing at 8:00 PM.

### 2026 U.S. Stock Market Holiday Schedule

Major U.S. holidays can cause the market to close all day or close early. Here are the key dates to note in 2026:

**Full-day closures** include New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19), Washington’s Birthday (February 16), Good Friday (April 3), Memorial Day (May 25), Independence Day (July 4, with a half-day on July 3), Labor Day (September 7), Thanksgiving (November 26), and Christmas (December 25).

**Early close (3 hours earlier)** occurs the day after Thanksgiving (November 27) and the day before Christmas (December 24), with the market closing at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, which is **2:00 AM Taiwan Time**.

**Investor advice:** Trading volume may significantly decrease around these holidays, and liquidity can be lower, so exercise caution.

### Major Global Stock Market Times Comparison

If you want to diversify your investments, you can also pay attention to other countries’ stock markets. The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) is more convenient for Taiwanese investors, with the Tokyo morning session from 8:00 to 10:30 Taiwan Time, and the afternoon session from 11:30 to 2:00. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) opens from 4:00 PM to 12:30 AM Taiwan Time, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) operates on the same schedule as Taiwan (9:15 AM to 4:00 PM), suitable for ultra-short-term trading.

Once you understand these timing rules, you can plan your trading activities flexibly according to your schedule and strategy, making the most of U.S. market hours.