2025 US Stock Market, A Complete Guide to Trading Hours and Holidays That Korean Investors Must Know

U.S. Stock Market Trading Hours: Trade on Time to Make Profits

Anyone investing in the U.S. stock market in Korea faces the same concern. The market opens at 9:30 AM Eastern Time, which is 11:30 PM Korean time, and seasonal daylight saving time (DST) can cause trading hours to shift. If you don’t understand these time differences properly, you may miss trading opportunities or suffer unexpected losses. Fortunately, this article summarizes the trading hours for major U.S. stock exchanges, holiday schedules for 2025, and trading rules based on Korean time at a glance.

The Three Major U.S. Stock Exchanges Have the Same Trading Hours

Let’s look at the three leading U.S. stock exchanges.

NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) - The Traditional Powerhouse

Founded in 1792, the NYSE is the largest in the world by market capitalization. About 2,400 companies are listed, with a total market cap of approximately $23 trillion. It mainly trades large-cap and traditional companies, including blue-chip firms like (BRK.A) Berkshire Hathaway and (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson.

NASDAQ (NASDAQ) - The Tech Stage

Established in 1971, NASDAQ started as an over-the-counter market and has grown into the second-largest exchange globally. It primarily lists IT companies such as Apple(AAPL), Microsoft(MSFT), and NVIDIA(NVDA), making it a key focus for tech investors.

AMEX (American Stock Exchange) - The Breeding Ground for Mid and Small Caps

One of the three major U.S. exchanges, the AMEX mainly lists mid- and small-cap companies, with more active trading in smaller firms compared to NYSE and NASDAQ.

U.S. Stock Market Trading Hours - Regular, Pre-market, After-hours

The important point is that the trading hours for NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX are all the same. However, due to time differences and daylight saving time, trading hours in Korea vary.

For Korean investors, regular trading hours extend from 11:30 PM to 6:00 AM. You should consider that rapid price fluctuations during this time may be difficult to respond to immediately.

U.S. Stock Market Trading Regulations - No Price Limit

All three major U.S. exchanges trade in U.S. dollars(USD), with a trading unit of 1 share. The key difference is that there are no price limit restrictions. Unlike Korean markets, which impose trading limits during declines, the U.S. markets do not have such constraints. Settlement occurs two business days later, and fees vary depending on the brokerage or intermediary.

2025 U.S. Market Holidays - Check Before Planning Investments

The U.S. stock market also observes holidays similar to Korea. The major holidays in 2025 are as follows:

Additionally, on July 3 (the day before Independence Day), November 28 (the day after Thanksgiving), and December 24 (Christmas Eve), the markets close early at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. In Korea, this corresponds to around 2-3 AM the next day.

Global Trading Hours - Comparing Other Countries’ Markets

For investors trading in markets outside the U.S., here is a comparison of major exchanges’ trading hours.

Note that the London exchange observes daylight saving time, and the Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai exchanges have intra-day closures.

Conclusion - Understanding Exact Trading Hours Is the First Step to Successful Investing

Accurately understanding the opening and closing times, holidays, and trading rules of the U.S. stock market is essential for planning your investments. Since trading occurs during nighttime hours in Korea due to time differences, it’s important to check schedules in advance and develop strategies accordingly. Keep in mind that exchange hours and holidays may change, so always verify the latest information.