Nasdaq Plans Near 24/7 Stock Trading to Meet Global Demand

Nasdaq's Proposed Trading Hours Expansion

• 💡 The Nasdaq is planning to expand its stock trading hours to nearly 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.
• 📌 This expansion aims to increase trading from the current 16 hours to 23 hours daily.
• ⏰ The proposed schedule would begin on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and conclude on Friday at 8:00 p.m., with a one-hour break for maintenance.

Rationale and Market Context

• 🚀 This move is driven by a surge in investor demand for non-stop trading of US stocks.
• 📊 The US stock market accounts for nearly two-thirds of the global market value of listed companies.
• 💰 Foreign holdings of US equities reached $17 trillion last year, highlighting significant international interest.

Benefits and Concerns

• 🌍 Advocates suggest extended hours would allow international investors to react more swiftly to global events.
• ⚠️ Major Wall Street banks express caution, citing concerns about lower liquidity, increased volatility, and uncertainty over returns.
• 📈 The Nasdaq's proposal follows similar initiatives from the New York Stock Exchange and SIBO Global Markets to extend trading hours.