According to Reuters, Nasdaq, home to tech leaders like Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon, is set to submit paperwork to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), aiming to extend trading hours to nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, in response to intensifying worldwide appetite for access to U.S. equities.
The move comes at a time when investors are increasingly seeking around-the-clock access to U.S. stocks. According to figures compiled by Nasdaq, U.S. equities account for almost two-thirds of the global market capitalization, and the total value of foreign holdings in U.S. stocks reached $17 trillion last year.
Nasdaq’s submission to the SEC will launch the formal process for the exchange to introduce 23-hour trading sessions. Back in March, Nasdaq President Tal Cohen confirmed the exchange had begun regulatory discussions and anticipated introducing the nonstop model during the second half of 2026. Competitors such as the New York Stock Exchange and Cboe Global Markets have introduced proposals to similarly expand their trading hours.
Under Nasdaq’s planned overhaul, stocks and exchange-traded products would see their available trading time stretch to 23 hours per day, up from the current 16 hours. Presently, the exchange operates three sessions: a pre-market period from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern U.S. time, a regular session until 4 p.m., followed by post-market trading that ends at 8 p.m.
The transition to near-continuous trading would see just a one-hour daily pause, dedicated to clearing, system maintenance, and testing. The day session would run from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., followed by the night session from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. the next day. Trading each week would open on Sundays at 9 p.m., and conclude Fridays at 8 p.m.
The expansion is contingent on upgrades to the securities information processor, which aggregates the most accurate stock price data across U.S. exchanges. The U.S. Depository Trust and Clearing Corp., the nation’s central clearing system, is scheduled to introduce nonstop clearing by the end of 2026.
Proponents believe extended trading hours will give global investors greater flexibility to respond promptly to news and events occurring outside traditional U.S. trading periods. Nonetheless, major Wall Street banks remain cautious, expressing concerns over diminished liquidity, increased price volatility, and questions over potential investment returns.
