US Stock Market Opening Time in India

The US is one of the most attractive destinations for investors around the world, thanks to its large and diverse economy, innovative companies, and liquid financial markets. However, if you are an investor based in India, you need to be aware of the time differences and trading schedules that affect your investment decisions. In this article, we will explain the regular trading hours of the US markets, how they vary across different time zone and public holidays, and how you can plan your investments accordingly.

What time does the US market open and close in India?

The US stock market has two main exchanges: the NASDAQ and the NYSE. They usually open for trading from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday to Friday. For Indian investors, the US market opening time in India translates to 7:00 PM and the US market closing time in India is 1:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST). This timing may pose some challenges for those who want to trade during the US market hours, as it overlaps with their evening and night. 

For Indian investors, Vested provides a convenient way to invest in the US market despite the time difference. It offers access to US stocks, curated portfolios (Vests), extended hours trading as well as systematic investment plans (SIPs). Vested’s tools such as tax-loss harvesting and valuation charts, help investors make informed decisions effortlessly. 

3 Things you need to know about US stock market operating hours

1. Regular trading hours

The US stock market operates on a standard schedule from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. The main exchanges, such as the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), open at 9:30 am Eastern Time (ET) and close at 4:00 pm ET. This gives investors six and a half hours to execute their trades during the core market hours.

2. Daylight saving time

The US stock market timings are also influenced by daylight saving time (DST), which is observed from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. During this period, the US clocks are advanced by one hour, which means that the stock market opens and closes an hour earlier than usual. For Indian investors, this means that the US stock market opens at 7 pm India Standard Time (IST) and closes at 1:30 am IST during DST, and opens at 8 pm IST and closes at 2:30 am IST for the rest of the year.

3. Pre-market and after-hours trading hours

In addition to the regular trading hours, some investors may have access to extended hours, which allow them to trade before and after the core-market hours. The pre-market trading hours run from 4:00 am ET to 9:30 am ET, and the after-hours trading hours run from 4:00 pm ET to 8:00 pm ET. However, extended trading hours are subject to higher risks, such as lower liquidity, fewer participants, and higher volatility. Moreover, not all investing platforms offer extended trading hours, so you need to check with your broker before you decide to trade during these periods

Knowing the US stock market timings can help you plan your investment strategy and optimize your returns. However, as a long-term investor, you do not necessarily need to monitor the markets on a daily basis but rather focus on the fundamentals and performance of your portfolio.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the main US stock exchange trading times in Eastern Time (ET):

Exchange	Pre-market hours	Regular hours	After market hours
Nasdaq	4:00 AM – 9:30 AM	9:30 AM – 4:00 PM	4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Dow Jones	4:00 AM – 9:30 AM	9:30 AM – 4:00 PM	4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
NYSE	4:00 AM – 9:30 AM	9:30 AM – 4:00 PM	4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the main US stock exchange trading times in Indian Standard Time (IST):

Exchange	Pre-market hours	Regular hours	After market hours
Nasdaq	1:30 PM – 7:00 PM	7:00 PM – 1:30 AM	1:30 AM – 5:30 AM
Dow Jones	1:30 PM – 7:00 PM	7:00 PM – 1:30 AM	1:30 AM – 5:30 AM
NYSE	1:30 PM – 7:00 PM	7:00 PM – 1:30 AM	1:30 AM – 5:30 AM

Understanding the Eastern Time Zone

The stock market timings in the US are based on the Eastern Time Zone or ET. To understand the US stock market timings in India, you need to assess the following variables:

• Eastern Standard Time (EST): EST is considered during autumn and winter months. It is 5 hours behind the Greenwich Mean Time or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5).

• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): EDT is considered during the spring and summer months. Due to daylight savings, EDT is 4 hours behind the Greenwich Mean Time or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-4).

 

List of US Stock Market Holidays

During these holidays, the US stock market will remain closed or have limited working days. 

 

Holiday	Date	Day
New Years Day	January 1, 2025	Wednesday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	January 15, 2025	Wednesday
Washington’s Birthday	February 19, 2025	Wednesday
Good Friday	March 29, 2025	Saturday
Memorial Day	May 27, 2025	Tuesday
Juneteenth National Independence Day	June 19, 2025	Thursday
Independence Day	July 4, 2025	Friday
Labor Day	September 2, 2025	Tuesday
Thanksgiving Day	November 28, 2025	Friday
Christmas Day	December 25, 2025	Thursday

 

The US stock market operates according to Eastern Standard Time (EST), but Indian investors must align their schedules with Indian Standard Time (IST) to participate effectively. Here’s a quick guide you can follow:

• The market opens at 7 pm IST and closes at 1:30 am IST.
• On Fridays, the market closes early at 1:30 pm EST, which is 12:00 am IST, with crossing session orders accepted from 11:30 pm IST to 12:00 am IST.
• Late trading sessions for platforms like NYSE National, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE American Equities extend until 3:30 am IST on eligible days.  

Vested provides always-on market access

When you use the Vested app, even if the US stock market is not open, you can still enter your buy or sell orders. Here’s how it works. 

When the market is closed, whenever you enter orders, they are queued in our system to be submitted when the market opens. As a result, when you use the Vested app, stock investments don’t have to pause when the Nasdaq or the NYSE are closed. With Vested’s order queuing system, all your planned trades – whether buying or selling – during off-hours will be executed as soon as the market opens again.

When you enter buy or sell orders when the market is closed,  the price of execution, determined when the market reopens, may differ from the price you enter. This is especially true during periods of heightened volatility. Savvy investors can mitigate this risk by using limit and stop orders, both are available on the Vested platform.

Investing in US stocks is a good way to diversify your portfolio and hedge against the depreciation of the INR

One of the benefits of investing in the US stock market is that you are also exposed to the USD currency, which can help you diversify and preserve your portfolio value against the depreciation of the INR (Rupees). By allocating some of your funds to US stock markets, you can also hedge against future economic shocks that would otherwise adversely impact the value of your investments in India.

In conclusion

• The US stock market operates from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST, corresponding to 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM IST for Indian investors.
• Daylight Saving Time (DST) shifts trading hours an hour earlier from March to November.
• Pre-market and after-hours trading carries higher risks due to lower liquidity and volatility.
• The Vested app allows queuing orders during market closure for execution when it reopens.
• Investing in US stocks diversifies portfolios and hedges against INR depreciation.
• Be aware of US stock market holidays for planning investment strategy.

 

FAQs:

 

1. When does after-market trading occur in the US?

The after-market trading runs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, right after the regular sessions ends at 4:00 PM ET. 

 

2. Which major stock exchanges operate in North and South America, and what are their trading hours?

Key North American stock exchanges and hours (local time):

• NYSE and NASDAQ: 9:30 AM to 4 PM
• Toronto Stock Exchange: 9:30 AM to 4 PM
• Mexican Stock Exchange: 8:30 AM to 3 PM

Key South American stock exchanges and hours (local time):

• Brasil Bolsa Balcão (B3): 10 AM to 5:55 PM 
• Buenos Aires Stock Exchange: 11 AM to 5 PM

 

3. Is the US stock market open on Sundays?

No, as per the US stock timings, the markets remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. However, futures trading typically starts at 6 PM Eastern Time on Sunday evenings. 

 

4. How can I invest in US stocks from India, and what time should I trade?

Using platforms like Vested, you can easily invest in US stocks, ETFs, and IPOs. The US market open time is at 7:00 PM IST, allowing you to place orders during that time.