2025 US Regular Trading Hours Complete Guide: Opening and Closing Times, Holidays, and Korea Time Comparison

MEV_Whisperer · 2026-01-06T13:59:20+00:00

The essay provides a comprehensive guide for Korean investors on U.S. stock market hours, holidays, and trading regulations, detailing the three major exchanges and their characteristics, as well as global market hours for strategic planning.

MEV_Whisperer

2026-01-06 13:59:20

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Introduction

To invest in US stocks, you need to understand the trading hours and holidays of the US regular market accurately. The US operates daylight saving time, and due to the time difference with Korea, it is not in the same time zone. Misunderstanding this could lead to missed trading opportunities.

This guide summarizes the trading hours, holidays in 2025, and conversion times to Korea Standard Time in a table for the major US stock exchanges. Additionally, the trading hours of major global stock markets are provided for your reference in developing a global investment strategy.

Understanding the 3 Major US Stock Exchanges

The US regular market consists of three major exchanges.

New York Stock Exchange(NYSE)

Founded in 1792, this historic exchange is the largest in the world by market capitalization. About 2,400 companies are listed, with a total market cap of approximately $23 trillion. Traditional large companies such as Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, and Walmart are mainly traded here.

NASDAQ Stock Market(NASDAQ)

Established in 1971, it initially operated as an over-the-counter market but quickly grew to gain official exchange status. It ranks second in the world by market cap and is known as a technology-focused exchange. Major listed companies include Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

American Stock Exchange(AMEX)

One of the three major US exchanges, primarily listing mid-sized and small companies. While the NYSE focuses on large corporations, this is the trading hub for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Trading Hours and Regulations of the US Regular Market

Trading Hours Overview

All three exchanges follow the same trading hours, divided into regular trading, pre-market(Pre-market), and after-hours(After-hours) sessions.

Regular trading in Eastern US time is from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. In Korea time, trading is available from 11:30 PM on the same day to 6:00 AM the next day. (During daylight saving time, Korea time is from 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM)

Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern US time, which corresponds to 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM Korea time. (During daylight saving time, it is from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM)

After-hours trading occurs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern US time, which is 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM Korea time the next day. (During daylight saving time, it is from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM)

Trading Regulations

All three exchanges conduct trading in US dollars, and trading is available in units of 1 share. An important difference from the Korean stock market is that there are no price limit restrictions. This means rapid price fluctuations can occur, so traders should plan accordingly.

Settlement is completed within 2 business days(T+2) after trading, and fees vary depending on the brokerage or intermediary.

Item	Details
Regular trading hours(Eastern US time)	09:30~16:00
Regular trading hours(Korea time)	23:30~06:00 (22:30~05:00)*
Pre-market(Eastern US time)	04:00~09:30
Pre-market(Korea time)	18:00~23:30 (17:00~22:30)*
After-hours(Eastern US time)	16:00~20:00
After-hours(Korea time)	Next day 06:00~10:00 (05:00~09:00)*
Trading currency	US Dollar(USD)
Trading unit	1 share
Price limit	None
Settlement period	2 business days

*During daylight saving time

US Market Holidays in 2025

The US stock markets are closed on national holidays and special days. Please refer to the following schedule when planning your trades.

Date	Holiday Reason
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

On some special days, the US regular market closes early at 1:00 PM(Eastern US time).

Date	Early Close Reason
July 3(Thu)	Day before Independence Day (Closes at 2:00 AM next day Korea time)
November 28(Fri)	Day after Thanksgiving (Closes at 3:00 AM next day Korea time)
December 24(Wed)	Christmas Eve (Closes at 3:00 AM next day Korea time)

Comparison of Trading Hours of Major Global Stock Markets

For managing a global portfolio, it’s important to check the trading hours of other regional exchanges.

Exchange	Local Time	Korea Time
Korea Exchange (KRX)	09:00~15:30	-
Tokyo Stock Exchange	09:00~15:00 (Break 11:30~12:30)	-
London Stock Exchange	08:00~16:30	17:00~01:30 (Break 16:00~00:30)*
Hong Kong Stock Exchange	09:30~16:00 (Break 12:00~13:00)	10:30~17:00 (Break 13:00~14:00)
Shanghai Stock Exchange	09:30~15:00 (Break 11:30~13:00)	10:30~16:00 (Break 12:30~14:00)

*During daylight saving time

Conclusion

By accurately understanding the trading hours, holidays, and regulations of the US regular market, you can make more strategic investment decisions. Since exchange hours and holidays can change, always check the latest information to stay updated.

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