Stock market trading hours around the world

If you love trading stocks and you want to trade 24/7, then the good news is that there is always somewhere open for business. Stock market trading hours vary around the world due to different opening hours and time zones.

In this guide, we take a look at the stock market trading hours around the world. We also answer common questions like “should I buy stocks after hours?” and “what is the best time of day to buy stocks?”

What are stock exchange hours?

Stock exchanges around the world are only open for business at certain times of the day. That means most of the stock market trading in these countries happens during these hours. Stock exchanges open during normal working hours in their country, but the precise hours vary considerably.

The London and Frankfurt stock exchanges both have the earliest starts – opening at 08:00 local time. Frankfurt also has the longest and latest trading day, not closing until 20:00 local time.

UK stock market trading hours

Stock market trading hours on the London Stock Exchange are from 08:00 until 16:30 Monday to Friday. You can still trade after those hours on some trading platforms, but the trading volumes are much lower so stock prices may be extra volatile.

North and South America hours

Stock market trading hours in both the New York and Toronto stock exchanges are slightly later than in London. They trade from 09:30 until 16:00 Monday to Friday (14:30 until 21:00 GMT).
The stock market in Brazil opens later still, trading from 10:00 until 17:30 (13:00 until 20:30 GMT).

Europe and Africa hours

Stock market trading hours in Frankfurt are some of the longest in the world. The exchange is open from 08:00 until 20:00 Monday to Friday (07:00 until 21:00 GMT). The stock trading hours in the Europe-wide Euronext are from 09:00 until 5:30 (08:00 until 4:30 GMT), and in Switzerland, they are slightly shorter, with the market open from 09:30 until 17:00 (08:00 until 16:30 GMT).

Asia and Oceania hours

If you want to trade through the night, then the Asian markets might be for you. Stock market trading hours in Asia and Oceania are during the UK night time due to the time difference. The Japanese stock exchange opens from 09:00 until 15:00 Monday to Friday (00:00 until 06:00 GMT). The Australian securities exchange opens from 10:00 until 16:00 (00:00 until 06:00 GMT). The Hong Kong stock exchange is open from 09:30 to 16:00 (01:30 until 8:00 GMT).

Stock trading hours from all time zones

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What are the 3 stock market trading sessions?

Although stock markets are closed at certain times of the day, it is still possible to trade when the markets are closed. There are actually 3 stock market trading sessions:

• Regular market trading: Takes place while the stock market is open (08:00 until 16:30 in London).
• Post-market trading: Takes place after the main market is closed.
• Weekend trading: Takes place in some markets on Saturday and Sunday.

Some trading platforms allow you to trade in post-market or weekend trading sessions.

Are stock markets closed at the weekend?

Most stock markets around the world are closed at the weekend. This is because many stock market traders and money managers don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays.

In times of financial crisis, governments sometimes use the weekend to sort out problems while the market is closed. For example, in the financial crisis of 2008, governments worked over the weekend to sort out bailouts and stop-gap measures to prevent banks from collapsing.

Are stock market trading hours different at Christmas?

Many stock markets have different opening hours over Christmas. The London Stock Exchange is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and closes early at 12:30 on New Year’s Eve.

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Bottom line

Stock markets around the world have set trading hours and aren’t open 24 hours per day. However, it is possible to buy and sell stocks at any time if you are trading stocks in a different country or time zone.

It’s also possible to buy stocks out of hours, although prices can be more volatile due to lower trading volumes. If you’re a new investor, it’s probably safer to stick to trading during normal stock market opening hours.

Frequently asked questions

• Is the UK stock market open 24 hours?

  The UK stock market isn’t open for 24 hours a day. Most stock markets are only open for 6 to 12 hours. However, it is still possible to trade out of hours on some trading platforms.

• Should I buy stocks after hours?

  Buying stocks after hours can be extra risky. During out-of-hours periods, lower trading volumes can lead to a wider spread between bid and ask prices and larger movements in the value of stocks.

  Even professional investors can get stung by these large swings during out-of-hours periods, so it pays to be extra careful if you’re thinking of trading out of hours.

• What are the pros and cons of buying stocks after hours?

  Here are the main pros and cons of buying stocks after hours:

  Pros

  • New information. Companies often report results out of hours, and you may be able to act on this information before the main market opens.
  • Good prices. Because there are lower trading volumes, you may be able to spot better prices than buying during the day.
  • Convenience. It may be easier to trade out of hours if you live in a different time zone or work during the day.

  Cons

  • Wide price fluctuations. Due to lower trading volumes, prices tend to fluctuate more than during the day.
  • Wider spread between bid and ask prices. This means it may be harder to get a good price as an individual investor.
  • Hard to beat the market. It’s very difficult for even experienced investors to beat the market. It’s possible that new information may already be known by traders and “baked in” to prices.
  • Not all shares are available. The shares you want may not be available out of hours.

• Can I buy stocks 24 hours a day?

  Because stock markets trade around the world, it is possible to buy stocks 24 hours a day. You can also buy some stocks out of hours, depending on the trading platform you use.

• What time do stock markets open in the UK?

  Stock markets in the UK open at 08:00 in the morning from Monday to Friday.

• What is the best time of day to buy stocks?

  Stock market trading can be a risky business and prices fluctuate widely from day to day and hour to hour. It’s hard to predict the best day to buy stocks as prices depend on so many factors.

  Nevertheless, some experts believe that the early morning is the best time to buy stocks. But it’s also the riskiest period. It’s often when the market sees the biggest fluctuations as changes in stock prices reflect any new business news. Experienced traders can take advantage of these large swings to get big returns.

  If you’re new to investing, then it may be best to avoid the early morning and trade in the middle of the day when prices tend to be less volatile.

• On which days is the stock market closed?

  In most countries, stock markets are closed at the weekend and also on some bank holidays. In the UK, the stock market is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and on other public bank holidays. The London Stock Exchange also closes early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

• How can I trade in the after-hours market?

  Some trading platforms allow individuals to trade in the stock market after hours. You may not be able to trade in every share, but some of the biggest companies like Apple and Facebook may be available.

  Depending on the platform, some brokers will only accept trades after hours that have a stop loss or limit order (stocks will only be bought once they reach a certain price). This is designed to protect investors from incurring big and unexpected losses due to fluctuating prices.

• Do stock markets close for lunch?

  Some stock markets in Asia close for lunch, including stock markets in Hong Kong, Japan and Shanghai.

  The London Stock Exchange does not close for lunch, although trading tends to be quieter and prices less volatile in the middle of the day.

• Is it illegal to buy stocks after hours?

  It’s not illegal to buy stocks out of hours in the UK.

Written by

Alice Guy

Writer

Alice Guy is a Suffolk-based finance writer, a busy mum of 4 older kids and a self-confessed personal finance geek. She trained as a chartered accountant with KPMG London before working for Tesco Plc as a business analyst. She loves to write about budgeting, saving, investing and building wealth. See full bio