Nasdaq wants to cater to international and insomniac investors.
The NYC-based stock exchange said this week it has asked regulators to approve a nighttime trading session from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., which would leave it open 23 hours on weekdays. The move would add to Nasdaq’s current early morning and late night trading—that complement its regular daytime session running from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Expanding Nasdaq’s hours would allow quick trades on news dropping in the wee hours of the night, a big boon for international traders who would be able to participate in the US stock market in real time when the sun is up for them.
But critics say it could leave investors with less time to ponder after-hours news, potentially leading to less efficient pricing. Some on Wall Street worry that extending trading hours would make trading volumes sparser, increasing market volatility. Wells Fargo's trading desk called it “literally the worst thing in the world,” saying it would make stock investing “even more like gambling.” Stock exchanges deliver the best value to investors when there are many simultaneous trades—which typically occurs around opening and closing times.
Nasdaq is aiming to debut its 23-hour days in the second half of 2026.
📸 : 'Industry' / HBO Max
Nasdaq wants to cater to international and insomniac investors.
The NYC-based stock exchange said this week it has asked regulators to approve a nighttime trading session from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., which would leave it open 23 hours on weekdays. The move would add to Nasdaq’s current early morning and late night trading—that complement its regular daytime session running from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Expanding Nasdaq’s hours would allow quick trades on news dropping in the wee hours of the night, a big boon for international traders who would be able to participate in the US stock market in real time when the sun is up for them.
But critics say it could leave investors with less time to ponder after-hours news, potentially leading to less efficient pricing. Some on Wall Street worry that extending trading hours would make trading volumes sparser, increasing market volatility. Wells Fargo's trading desk called it “literally the worst thing in the world,” saying it would make stock investing “even more like gambling.” Stock exchanges deliver the best value to investors when there are many simultaneous trades—which typically occurs around opening and closing times.
Nasdaq is aiming to debut its 23-hour days in the second half of 2026.
📸 : 'Industry' / HBO Max
