Complete Guide: Trading Hours in the U.S. Stock Markets

Understanding the New York Stock Exchange Schedule and Its Correspondence in Spanish Time

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), located on Wall Street, represents the most important and respected stock market worldwide. For Spanish-speaking investors, it is essential to know not only the trading hours but also their equivalence in Spanish time and other time zones in Latin America.

Trading Sessions: Pre-market, Regular, and After-market

The U.S. market operates through three distinct sessions. The pre-market session begins at 4:00 am (Eastern Time) and extends until 9:30 am, when regular trading starts. The latter remains active from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Subsequently, the after-market session runs from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, allowing investors to continue trading outside official hours.

This schedule is maintained from Monday to Friday. During weekends (saturdays and Sundays), the New York Stock Exchange remains closed, as well as on the public holidays set for 2025.

New York Stock Exchange Schedule in Spanish Time and Other Zones

For investors in Spain, the regular opening time in Spanish time is at 3:30 pm and closing at 10:00 pm. In other Spanish-speaking capitals, the correspondence varies according to the time zone:

• Mexico City: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Buenos Aires: 10:30 am to 5:00 pm
• Santiago de Chile: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
• Lima and Bogotá: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Caracas and Montevideo: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

The Nasdaq: Specific Features and Hours

The Nasdaq (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation) operates on the same hours as the NYSE in terms of regular session: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, with pre-market from 4:00 am and after-market until 8:00 pm.

However, this market is distinguished by its composition. While the NYSE hosts financial securities, the Nasdaq specializes in technology and biotech companies, though it also includes firms from other sectors such as hospitality and airlines. Its main indices are the Nasdaq 100 (the 100 largest companies) and the Nasdaq Composite (all listed companies).

The hours in Spanish time for the Nasdaq are identical to the NYSE: 3:30 pm to 10:00 pm, maintaining the same time correspondence in Latin American capitals.

NYSE American: The Small Cap Market

The NYSE American (AMEX) operates with slightly different hours in its pre-market session. While the NYSE and Nasdaq start pre-market at 4:00 am, the NYSE American begins at 7:00 am and opens regular trading at 9:30 am, closing at 4:00 pm. The after-market follows the same pattern: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

This market is characterized by trading small-cap companies (small caps) with high potential for appreciation, although with greater volatility and lower liquidity than their NYSE and Nasdaq counterparts.

2025 Holiday Calendar for U.S. Markets

The three main markets share almost the same holiday calendar, during which they remain closed:

• January 1: New Year’s Day
• January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 17: Washington’s Birthday
• April 18: Good Friday
• May 26: Memorial Day
• June 19: Juneteenth (celebrated on NYSE and NYSE American; with exception on Nasdaq)
• July 4: Independence Day
• September 1: Labor Day
• November 27: Thanksgiving
• December 25: Christmas

Summary of Time Equivalences for Spanish Investors

To facilitate planning from Spain, it is important to remember that the regular opening time in Spanish time is at 3:30 pm and closing at 10:00 pm for the three main markets (except for the NYSE American pre-market, which begins one hour later). This information is crucial for those wishing to synchronize their investment strategies with U.S. market movements during regular trading hours.