From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-30 19:06:00

The stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. ET and closes at 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Trading occurs on the NYSE and Nasdaq. The market is closed for 10 holidays in 2025 and early on some days. Extended trading hours are available with some brokerages.

During regular trading hours, you receive real-time price quotes and orders executed at the best price. Protections from extreme volatility exist. Broker restrictions are fewer with various order types allowed. Extended hours have less protection and more restrictions, making regular trading safer.

When the market is open, there is more liquidity, less volatility, and tighter bid-ask spreads. Extended trading windows include pre-market and after-hours sessions. Overnight trading is also available. Closing bell marks the end of trading hours with a closing auction for final trades.

Extended trading begins after the market closes. Companies release major announcements outside of trading hours. Investors use extended trading to react to news in real-time, affecting the market when it opens. Opening prices are determined by supply and demand, with trading activity spiking after the opening bell.

Not all brokerages allow extended trading. Trading during normal hours is safer due to volatility and lower liquidity outside of regular hours. The 10 a.m. rule suggests stock prices are set by then. The market is open the Friday after Thanksgiving with shortened hours.

Stock market hours and trading rules provide insights into when to trade stocks safely and efficiently.

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