When Wall Street Opens and Closes
The opening bell rings every morning at 9:30 a.m. EST at the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ to announce the start of trading. It also rings at the end of the day to signify when the trading session ends.
A stock exchange is a marketplace where companies can trade shares of their stocks. These exchanges operate in a variety of countries across the world, and have different opening hours depending on local regulations.
When Wall Street Opens
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ open for trading Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. During this time, the trading floor is usually crowded with people trying to get the best price possible.
Some traders prefer to wait until the market is less crowded before they begin trading. This practice is known as pre-market trading, and it has become more popular in recent years due to the popularity of electronic communications networks, or ECNs, that allow retail investors to trade outside of regular hours.
When Wall Street Closes
The NYSE and NASDAQ both close at 4 p.m. Eastern time, and the trading floor is then empty for the rest of the day.
There is no official lunch closing at the NYSE, but many stock brokers and employees will go home for lunch before returning to work. This is a tradition that dates back to the days when stockbrokers worked without the use of computers, and weekend closings allowed them to have extra time off to prepare for emergencies.
When Wall Street Speculates
Speculation on the stock market has always been a major part of its culture, but it is particularly prominent in the U.S. Today, it can be a dangerous activity, especially for beginners. It can lead to substantial losses and even disaster.
It’s important to note that when speculating on the stock market, you’re generally making short-term investments that are not designed to make long-term profits. This means that you’re more likely to make big losses than you are to make big gains.
If you’re a beginner, it’s important to understand the risk involved before investing. If you’re not sure how to determine your own risk level, talk to a financial advisor or read a trading book.
When Are Stock Market Holidays?
The New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ are closed on certain holidays. The NYSE and NASDAQ are both closed on Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Day. They are also closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, and Juneteenth National Independence Day.
Some of the holidays observed by the NYSE and NASDAQ, such as the Easter and Memorial Day holidays, are sometimes referred to as partial market closures. When these holidays fall on a weekend, they will be observed on the following Monday.
In addition to the major stock markets in the US, the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange both close for lunch during the day, too. In other countries, such as Germany and France, there are also a number of other stock exchanges that have lunch closings.