U.S. Stock Market Holidays and Trading Hours: The Complete 2025 Guide (Real-time Comparison Based on Korea Time)

2025-12-24 16:46:35

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Must-Know Information for U.S. Stock Investors

If you are investing in the U.S. stock market, you must accurately understand the trading hours and market holidays. Factors such as the time difference between Korea and the U.S., daylight saving time, and other elements can complicate your trading plans. This guide systematically summarizes U.S. stock market holidays, trading hours, and the characteristics of each stock exchange.

Overview of the Three Major U.S. Stock Exchanges

To understand the U.S. stock market, you first need to know the features of the main exchanges.

New York Stock Exchange(NYSE)

Founded in 1792, it is the world’s largest stock exchange with a market capitalization of approximately $23 trillion. It lists about 2,400 companies, mainly large-cap blue-chip stocks. Traditional giants like Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, and Walmart are listed here.

NASDAQ(NASDAQ)

Established in 1971, it has grown to become the second-largest exchange in the world. It is home to many IT companies, including Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia, making it a hub for technology stocks. It initially started as an over-the-counter market but quickly grew into a recognized on-exchange market.

American Stock Exchange(AMEX)

One of the three major U.S. exchanges, it primarily lists mid-sized and small-cap companies, serving as a major platform for trading small stocks.

Actual Trading Hours and Regulations for U.S. Stocks

All three exchanges operate during the same trading hours. The important point is that, when converted to Korean time, trading occurs during nighttime hours. Additionally, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, daylight saving time is applied, moving trading hours one hour earlier.

Trading is conducted only in U.S. dollars, with settlement completed two business days later. Notably, the U.S. stock market does not have price limit restrictions like Korea. If a sharp decline occurs during nighttime hours in Korea, quick response may be difficult, so it is essential to develop a cautious trading strategy.

Category	Regular Trading Hours	Pre-market	After-hours	Trading Currency	Settlement Days
Eastern Time(EST)	09:30~16:00	04:00~09:30	16:00~20:00	USD	2 business days
Korea Standard Time(Standard)	23:30~06:00	18:00~23:30	Next day 06:00~10:00	-	-
Korea Standard Time(Daylight)	22:30~05:00	17:00~22:30	Next day 05:00~09:00	-	-

2025 U.S. Stock Market Holidays Checklist

When planning U.S. stock trading, be sure to check these holidays:

Date	Holiday Name
January 1(Wed)	New Year’s Day
January 9(Thu)	National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter
January 20(Mon)	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 17(Mon)	Presidents’ Day
April 18(Fri)	Good Friday
May 26(Mon)	Memorial Day
June 19(Thu)	Juneteenth
July 4(Fri)	Independence Day
September 1(Mon)	Labor Day
November 27(Thu)	Thanksgiving Day
December 25(Thu)	Christmas Day

Early Market Close Schedule

On certain dates, the market closes early at 1:00 PM Eastern Time:

July 3rd: Day before Independence Day → Closes at 2:00 AM Korea time
November 28th: Day after Thanksgiving → Closes at 3:00 AM Korea time
December 24th: Christmas Eve → Closes at 3:00 AM Korea time

Comparison of Global Stock Exchange Trading Hours

For investors trading stocks in other countries besides the U.S., here are the trading hours of major exchanges:

Exchange	Local Time	Korea Time(Standard)	Korea Time(Daylight)
Korea Exchange	09:00~15:30	09:00~15:30	-
Tokyo Stock Exchange	09:00~15:00 (Break 11:30~12:30)	10:00~16:00	-
London Stock Exchange	08:00~16:30	17:00~01:30	16:00~00:30
Hong Kong Stock Exchange	09:30~16:00 (Break 12:00~13:00)	10:30~17:00	-
Shanghai Stock Exchange	09:30~15:00 (Break 11:30~13:00)	10:30~16:00	-

Practical Advice for Trading U.S. Stocks

Even after understanding the holidays and trading hours, there are additional considerations. Since trading occurs during nighttime hours in Korea, risk management is crucial. Also, pre-market and after-hours trading may have lower liquidity, so caution is advised. Brokerage fees vary by platform, so it’s recommended to check in advance.

Final Thoughts

Knowing U.S. stock market holidays in advance and planning your trades accordingly is the first step to increasing your investment profitability. Although the time zone differences and daylight saving time may seem complicated, following this guide will help you trade efficiently. However, always verify the latest official regulations, as exchanges may update their policies.

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