Nasdaq joins the New York Stock Exchange and platforms like Robinhood in the push toward a round-the-clock market|Ajay Suresh|CC BY 2.0
America’s second-largest stock exchange, Nasdaq, has formally requested the SEC to approve extending its trading window to 23 hours on weekdays.
The proposal adds a new overnight session running from 9 P.M. to 4 A.M. ET. The exchange already runs from 9:30 A.M to 4 P.M. ET. Trading is also available outside these hours.
North American Nasdaq’s senior VP, Chuck Mack, says the evolution reflects global investors' desire to trade in their own time zones rather than wait for Wall Street to open.
With the request, Nasdaq joins the New York Stock Exchange and platforms like Robinhood in the push toward a round-the-clock market. NYSE plans to trade for 22 hours on weekdays, and its proposal received SEC approval in February.
Analysts told Bloomberg the move could be a “game-changer” for global liquidity and retail participation. However, to make the move possible, clearinghouses like the DTCC must also extend their operation hours.
Nasdaq hopes to implement its plan by the third quarter of 2026.
Despite the optimism, some market participants warn that trading during low-volume overnight hours could lead to increased volatility and less precise pricing.