Is the Stock Market Open Today? Your Guide to US Trading Hours and Weekend Markets

If you’re wondering whether stocks are open today or whether the US stock market operates on weekends, here’s the straightforward answer: major US equity exchanges close on Saturdays and Sundays. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq—the two largest US stock markets—observe a Monday-through-Friday schedule exclusively. This guide explains standard trading hours, why weekends bring market closures, what alternative options exist, and how to verify market status at any given moment.

Standard US Stock Market Hours: When Stocks Are Open

The primary US equity exchanges maintain consistent trading hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday. During this window, the vast majority of stock trading volume occurs, price discovery happens through continuous order matching, and official trades are reported on the exchange tape.

This five-day schedule represents the core session when stocks are open and trading is most active. Weekend market access for traditional equities does not exist through NYSE or Nasdaq under standard circumstances. Public holidays and half-day sessions are accommodated within the Monday–Friday framework, so the weekend closure is not suspended even on holiday weeks.

Historical Context

While the modern market operates Monday through Friday, this wasn’t always the standard. In the early 20th century, some US exchanges included Saturday trading sessions. The transition to the current five-day week reflected the modernization of electronic settlement and clearing infrastructure during the mid-20th century. Today’s unified weekday schedule enhances transparency, standardizes price discovery across market participants, and streamlines clearing and settlement processes.

Extended Trading Sessions: Pre-Market and After-Hours

Even though stocks are not open on weekends, many brokers offer trading outside the official 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. window—but only on business days (Monday through Friday).

Pre-market trading typically begins around 4:00 a.m. ET and runs until the 9:30 a.m. market open. After-hours trading generally runs from 4:00 p.m. to roughly 8:00 p.m. ET. These sessions come with important caveats: lower liquidity, wider bid-ask spreads, larger potential price movements, and a higher risk that your order may not execute as intended.

Extended sessions do not operate on Saturdays or Sundays. Weekend trading in equities through traditional brokers is not available, though some platforms offer CFDs or synthetic products that mimic stock price movements—these are not executed on NYSE or Nasdaq and carry different settlement and pricing characteristics.

Checking If Markets Are Open Now: Tools and Resources

To determine whether stocks are open today at any given time, use these reliable methods:

• Official exchange calendars: NYSE and Nasdaq publish detailed holiday calendars and regular trading hours on their websites. These are the authoritative source.
• Your broker’s platform: Most brokerages display market status and session hours directly on their trading platforms or mobile apps.
• Exchange status pages: Both NYSE and Nasdaq maintain live status pages that indicate whether markets are open, halted, or closed.
• Time zone awareness: Convert ET to your local time zone to avoid confusion about whether markets are currently operating.

During market closures (evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays), orders placed through your broker are typically queued and executed when markets reopen. Weekend news can create significant price gaps at the Monday open, so be aware that market conditions may shift substantially between Friday’s close and Monday’s open.

Alternative Assets That Trade When Stocks Don’t

If you’re looking for trading opportunities outside standard US stock market hours, several asset classes offer weekend and extended-hour access:

Stock index and commodity futures: Exchange-traded futures through venues like the CME and ICE typically trade nearly 24 hours during the business week. Most futures reopen Sunday evening (US time) and close Friday evening. Weekend futures trading is limited; continuous 24-hour weekend liquidity is not typical for equity index futures.

Foreign exchange (FX) markets: Certain currency pairs and commodity markets offer trading windows that extend into Sunday evening and early-week sessions, though continuous weekend access depends on the instrument and trading venue.

Cryptocurrencies: Digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum trade 24/7, including weekends and holidays. If weekend market access is a priority, cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms provide round-the-clock liquidity. Cold wallet solutions and crypto portfolio management tools enable weekend holdings and transfers.

CFDs and OTC products: Some brokers offer synthetic weekend products or over-the-counter (OTC) offerings tied to equity indexes or commodities. These are not executed on NYSE or Nasdaq and follow different pricing, settlement, and risk rules than official exchange trades.

Why US Markets Stick to Weekday-Only Hours

The Monday-through-Friday trading schedule reflects several foundational market design principles:

• Liquidity concentration: Grouping all trades into five days concentrates order flow, deepens liquidity pools, and ensures efficient price discovery.
• Settlement and clearing efficiency: A unified weekday schedule allows clearinghouses to process and reconcile trades systematically, reducing operational complexity.
• Regulatory consistency: Consolidated trading hours simplify compliance, surveillance, and regulatory oversight across market participants.
• Operational practicality: Support staff, compliance teams, and risk management functions operate most efficiently during business hours.
• Market structure: Participants—from institutional traders to retail investors to market makers—align their operations around a single five-day schedule, reducing fragmentation.

This structure prioritizes transparency and fairness for all market participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I trade stocks on Saturday through my broker? A: Generally no. The major US stock exchanges do not operate on Saturdays, and official trades cannot be executed on NYSE or Nasdaq. Some brokers offer limited synthetic products or CFDs that track stock prices, but these are not actual exchange trades and have different rules.

Q: Do pre-market and after-hours sessions run on weekends? A: No. Extended trading sessions are available only on Monday through Friday. If you place an order on a weekend, it will typically queue until the market reopens Monday morning.

Q: Are equity index futures available for weekend trading? A: Most index futures reopen Sunday evening (US time) and trade through Friday evening. Weekend futures availability is limited and does not provide continuous liquidity. Check your futures broker for exact trading windows.

Q: Do digital assets trade on weekends? A: Yes. Cryptocurrencies and digital assets operate 24/7, including weekends and holidays, across decentralized and centralized exchange platforms. Weekend crypto trading is actively available.

Verifying Whether Stocks Are Open Today

The most reliable way to confirm whether stocks are open today is to check the official NYSE and Nasdaq calendars and status pages. Your broker’s platform also displays current market status. Convert Eastern Time to your local timezone to ensure accuracy. If markets are closed and you wish to remain active, consider extended-hours sessions on business days, equity index futures for after-hours exposure, or 24/7 cryptocurrency markets. Always verify status through official channels before placing any order.