NASDAQ trading hours: when does the NASDAQ open and close?
This guide covers NASDAQ trading hours in full, how they compare to other major exchanges, and how UK investors can access NASDAQ-listed stocks.
NASDAQ opening and closing times
The NASDAQ stock exchange, based in New York, operates on Eastern Time (ET). Its regular trading session runs from 9:30am to 4:00pm ET, Monday to Friday. For UK investors, that translates to the following:
| Session | Eastern Time (ET) | UK time (GMT, winter) | UK time (BST, summer) |
| Regular session open | 9:30am | 2:30pm | 3:30pm |
| Regular session close | 4:00pm | 9:00pm | 10:00pm |
| Pre-market session | 4:00am to 9:30am | 9:00am to 2:30pm | 10:00am to 3:30pm |
| After-hours session | 4:00pm to 8:00pm | 9:00pm to 1:00am | 10:00pm to 2:00am |
The NASDAQ observes US public holidays, during which the exchange is closed. Key dates include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day (4 July), Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. On the day before some holidays, the NASDAQ may close at 1:00pm ET (6:00pm UK time in winter). The FTSE 100 operates on very different hours, running from 8:00am to 4:30pm UK time, so UK traders dealing in both need to plan around the NASDAQ's afternoon-to-evening UK session.
Key Takeaway
UK investors trading NASDAQ stocks need to plan around the exchange's 2:30pm to 9:00pm UK window in winter. The most active and liquid part of the NASDAQ session is typically the first hour after open (2:30pm to 3:30pm UK time) and the final 30 minutes before close (8:30pm to 9:00pm). Volatility increases significantly around earnings releases and major US economic data publications.
NASDAQ at a glance
9:30am ET
NASDAQ regular session open (2:30pm UK time in winter, 3:30pm BST in summer)
4:00pm ET
NASDAQ regular session close (9:00pm UK time in winter, 10:00pm BST in summer)
3,000+
Number of companies listed on the NASDAQ, including the world's largest technology stocks
Pre-market and after-hours trading
The NASDAQ offers extended trading outside its regular session. Pre-market trading runs from 4:00am to 9:30am ET, and after-hours trading from 4:00pm to 8:00pm ET. These sessions are significant for UK investors because many of the major earnings releases, economic data publications and company announcements that move NASDAQ-listed stocks occur outside regular hours.
However, extended-hours trading has lower liquidity than the regular session. Spreads tend to be wider, and price movements can be more volatile. Significant gaps between the pre-market or after-hours price and the opening price of the regular session are common, particularly around major earnings announcements. We offer extended hours trading on selected NASDAQ-listed stocks, giving access to price movements around earnings and news.
Quick fact
Some of the most important price movements in major NASDAQ stocks like Nvidia, Apple and Meta occur in after-hours trading, immediately after quarterly earnings releases. Apple typically reports in late January, late April, late July and late October. Nvidia's quarterly reports have been among the most market-moving events for the broader technology sector in 2025 and 2026.
Does the NASDAQ close on public holidays?
The NASDAQ is closed on the following US public holidays in 2026:
| Holiday | 2026 date | NASDAQ status |
| New Year's Day | 1 January (Thursday) | Closed |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 19 January (Monday) | Closed |
| Presidents' Day | 16 February (Monday) | Closed |
| Good Friday | 3 April (Friday) | Closed |
| Memorial Day | 25 May (Monday) | Closed |
| Independence Day | 3 July (Friday, observed) | Closed |
| Labor Day | 7 September (Monday) | Closed |
| Thanksgiving Day | 26 November (Thursday) | Closed |
| Christmas Day | 25 December (Friday) | Closed |
On days before some holidays, the NASDAQ may close early at 1:00pm ET. The exchange also announces any unscheduled closures, which are rare but can occur in extraordinary circumstances.
NASDAQ trading hours vs other major exchanges
| Exchange | Regular trading hours (local) | UK time (winter) | Time zone |
| NASDAQ / NYSE | 9:30am to 4:00pm | 2:30pm to 9:00pm | Eastern Time (ET) |
| London Stock Exchange | 8:00am to 4:30pm | 8:00am to 4:30pm | GMT / BST |
| Euronext Paris / Amsterdam | 9:00am to 5:30pm | 8:00am to 4:30pm | CET |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange | 9:00am to 3:30pm (lunch 11:30am to 12:30pm) | 1:00am to 7:30am | JST |
| Hong Kong Stock Exchange | 9:30am to 4:00pm (lunch 12:00pm to 1:00pm) | 1:30am to 8:00am | HKT |
| Frankfurt (Xetra) | 9:00am to 5:30pm | 8:00am to 4:30pm | CET |
For context on how UK trading hours work and how sessions across global markets overlap, our silver trading hours guide offers a clear breakdown of how liquidity shifts as markets open and close through the day, which applies equally to equities, metals and other asset classes.
How to trade NASDAQ-listed stocks from the UK
UK investors can access NASDAQ-listed stocks in several ways. For long-term investing, a share dealing account or stocks and shares ISA provides direct ownership of NASDAQ-listed companies like Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft, with all trades denominated in GBP after FX conversion.
For those who prefer to access US markets through funds rather than individual stocks, US ETFs provide a practical route. UCITS-compliant US ETFs listed on the London Stock Exchange, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF, track NASDAQ-heavy indices and can be held in an ISA.
For short-term leveraged trading, we offer spread bets and CFDs on NASDAQ-listed stocks and on the NASDAQ 100 index itself. These are available during both regular NASDAQ hours and extended-hours sessions for selected stocks.
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NASDAQ trading hours FAQs
What time does the NASDAQ open in UK time?
The NASDAQ regular session opens at 9:30am Eastern Time, which is 2:30pm UK time in winter (GMT) and 3:30pm UK time in summer (BST). The regular session closes at 4:00pm ET, which is 9:00pm UK time in winter and 10:00pm BST in summer.
Is the NASDAQ open on weekends?
No. The NASDAQ is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. We do not offer weekend trading on NASDAQ-listed individual stocks, though we do offer weekend trading on selected indices through spread bets and CFDs.
What happens if I place an order when the NASDAQ is closed?
Orders placed outside NASDAQ trading hours are typically queued and executed at the next available opportunity when the market reopens. For limit orders, execution will only occur if the price reaches your specified level. During pre-market and after-hours sessions, execution may be available at different prices than the regular session close.
Can I trade NASDAQ stocks outside market hours?
We offer extended hours trading on selected NASDAQ-listed stocks, allowing access to price movements around earnings releases and major news events outside the regular 2:30pm to 9:00pm UK window. This is available through our spread betting and CFD trading platforms.
How do NASDAQ hours compare to the FTSE 100?
The FTSE 100 trades from 8:00am to 4:30pm UK time, meaning it has already closed by the time the NASDAQ opens. There is no overlap between the two exchanges' regular sessions. UK traders who want exposure to both need to manage positions in two separate time windows.
Important to know
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.
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