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Introduction
The primary objective of any investor is to generate strong returns and grow their wealth. However, achieving this goal can be challenging. This is particularly true when investment options within an investor’s home country are limited. The US is one of the most sought-after destinations for global investors due to an extensive list of high-performing companies listed on the US stock exchanges.
For global investors, the US stock market offers access to many high-performing companies. However, gaining exposure to these stocks can be challenging due to the time zone differences. Understanding the time differences between the US and India for the stock market is crucial for Indian investors aiming to participate in US equity markets.
US Stock Market Time Zone and Regular Trading Hours
The standard US stock timings in Indian Standard Time (IST) are from 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM.
This applies to major exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. The US stock market operates on a standard schedule from Monday to Friday.
The regular trading hours for investors looking to trade in US-listed stocks are from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
US Stock Market Timings in IST: Standard vs. Daylight Saving
Now that we know the regular market hours for the US stock exchanges, it is important to understand the daylight saving hours, as it has an impact on international investors in the US markets.
Here’s a detailed tabular breakdown of the regular market hours for the US market opening and closing hours in the local US time (ET) and the trading hours in Indian Standard Time (IST) during regular as well as daylight saving time (DST)
| Trading Session | Eastern Time (ET) | Indian Time (IST) – During Standard Time | Indian Time (IST) – During Daylight Saving |
| NYSE (Regular Session) | 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (ET) | 8:00 PM to 2:30 AM (IST) | 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM (IST) |
| NASDAQ (Regular Session) | 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (ET) | 8:00 PM to 2:30 AM (IST) | 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM (IST) |
| Dow Jones (Index Trading) | 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (ET) | 8:00 PM to 2:30 AM (IST) | 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM (IST) |
The US market observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) between March to November every year, leading to a 1-hour shift in US stock market timings for Indian traders. This change directly influences the US stock market time for Indian investors, particularly for those who engage in real-time tracking, or evening trades.
These shifts in timings may seem minor, but they can significantly impact decision-making and trading behavior. It’s important for Indian investors to be aware of how US stock market timings affect India, especially when syncing trading activities with the Indian stock market hours.
What is Daylight Saving Time (DST) and How Does DST Affect US Stock Market Timings in India?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clock forward by one hour to make better use of daylight and enhance productivity during the day. As daylight hours shift with the seasons, this adjustment ensures that a country’s working hours stay consistent locally, even though they may appear different from the perspective of other countries’ time zones.
This has an impact on the Indian investors trading US stocks in India.
The US market opening time in India shifts from 8:00 PM IST to 7:00 PM IST, while the closing time shifts from 2:30 AM IST to 1:30 AM IST.
Beyond the Bell: Extended Trading Hours (Understanding Pre-Market and Post-Market Trading)
Extended trading hours are a beneficial feature of the US stock exchanges to accommodate trading requirements beyond the regular trading hours of the market.
For investors, it is helpful to understand what these extended trading hours are, so that you can take advantage of the same and trade during non-core market hours. The US market’s pre-market and post-market hours may vary depending on the broker you use.
What is Pre-Market Trading?
Before the market opens, traders can log into their brokerage accounts and place an order to beat or get ahead of the market. Generally, these are limit orders where traders can place orders for specific quantities at specific prices.
- Pre-market hours in the US stock market run between 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET (Eastern Time), which corresponds to 2:30 PM to 8:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).
- During daylight saving, the pre-market time then changes to 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
- These extended sessions are particularly useful for those trading stocks in India during US market hours, allowing more flexibility in reacting to global developments.
What is Post-Market (After-Hours) Trading?
The post-market or after-market hours work similarly to the pre-market hours, where the investors can log into their brokerage accounts, and place limit orders based on any new developments in the world of financial markets to translate that into an opportunity to make trading gains.
- Post-market hours in the US stock market run from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET (Eastern Time), which corresponds to 2:30 AM to 6:30 AM IST (Indian Standard Time).
- During daylight saving, the post-market time changes to 1:30 AM to 5:30 AM IST (Indian Standard Time).
Here’s a detailed tabular breakdown of the US market hours including the pre-market and post-market hours in ET and IST and IST during daylight saving:
| TRADING SESSION | Eastern Time (ET) | India Time (IST) – Regular | India Time (IST) – Daylight Saving |
| PRE-MARKET HOURS | 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM | 2:30 PM to 8:00 PM | 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM |
| NORMAL HOURS | 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM | 8:00 PM to 2:30 AM | 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM |
| POST-MARKET HOURS | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM | 2:30 AM to 6:30 AM | 1:30 AM to 5:30 AM |
Why US Market Timings are a Strategic Advantage for Indian Investors
The US stock market’s IST timing can be strategically beneficial for Indian investors. Investing in the US stock market offers an opportunity to generate substantial returns and diversify one’s portfolio. It allows investors to gain exposure to many leading companies and global tech giants.
Also, the big time difference between the Indian stock market and the US market allows investors to trade in both markets without having to choose one over the other. Moreover, understanding the nuances of US stock market hours for Indian traders helps in aligning trading strategies across time zones. These differences in stock market timing in India vs the US also present unique diversification opportunities.
The late-night US market trading hours in IST may feel challenging for some investors, but for investors who’d like to take time to assess opportunities and study the market, this can prove to be a boon, as it allows Indian stock market investors sufficient time to study and assess opportunities in the US market after Indian markets close.
US Stock Market Holidays & Early Market Closures 2025
Like any stock market across the globe, the US market is also non-operational during some public holidays. The given list of public holidays from 2025 to 2027 is as follows:
| Holiday | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| New Year’s Day | Wednesday, January 1 | Thursday, January 1 | Friday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Monday, January 20 | Monday, January 19 | Monday, January 18 |
| Washington’s Birthday | Monday, February 17 | Monday, February 16 | Monday, February 15 |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 18 | Friday, April 3 | Friday, March 26 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 26 | Monday, May 25 | Monday, May 31 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | Thursday, June 19 | Friday, June 19 | Friday, June 18 (Juneteenth National Independence Day observed) |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 4 | Friday, July 3 (Independence Day observed) | Monday, July 5 (Independence Day observed) |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 1 | Monday, September 7 | Monday, September 6 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 27, 2025 | Thursday, November 26, 2026 | Thursday, November 25, 2027 |
| Christmas Day | Thursday, December 25, 2025 | Friday, December 25, 2026 | Friday, December 24 (Christmas Day observed) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the US share market trading hours and when does it open?
The US stock market operates from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) which is 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM IST for Indian investors From March to November. These hours cover both NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the US market opening time in India is either 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM IST, depending on the season.
What are the pre-market and post-market trading hours for US stocks in IST?
The extended trading hours in the US stock market are subdivided into pre-market and post-market hours. During regular trading days, the pre-market hours in IST are 2:30 PM to 8:00 PM, and post-market hours in IST are 2:30 AM to 6:30 AM.
Can I trade US stocks from India during Indian night hours?
Yes, the regular hours for the US Stock market coincide with Indian night hours. The regular hours for US stock trading falls between 8:00 PM to 2:30 AM IST.
How does Daylight Saving Time affect US market timings in IST?
The daylight saving time shifts the US market time in IST by 1 hour. The pre-market hours in IST move to 1:30 PM TO 7:00 PM, the regular hours shift to 7:00 PM TO 1:30 AM, and the post-market hours shift to 1:30 AM to 5:30 AM.
Is it safe or advisable to trade US stocks during after-market hours?
Trading US stocks during regular or extended hours is solely to the discretion of the investors. Trading in the extended hours i.e., pre-market and post-market, has its own set of pros and cons. It is recommended to consider the same and take a rational and suitable decision.
Is the US stock market open on weekends?
No, the US stock market only operates from Monday to Friday.
Do US market holidays affect trading hours in IST?
Yes, on US market holidays, the stock exchanges are non-operational. Hence, investors cannot place trades regardless of their time zone.
What is the Dow Jones opening time in India?
The Dow Jones opening time in India is 8:00 PM IST during standard time and 7:00 PM IST during daylight saving time. This index follows the same US stock market timings as the NYSE and NASDAQ, with trading hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET.
Since it tracks 30 major companies listed on these exchanges, the Dow Jones market time does not differ and is aligned with regular US market open time.
What is the NASDAQ opening time in India? Is it different from NYSE?
The NASDAQ opening time in India is the same as the NYSE – 8:00 PM IST during standard time and 7:00 PM IST during daylight saving time. Both exchanges operate from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, making the US stock market timings per Indian time identical for NYSE and NASDAQ.
There’s no timing difference between the two for Indian investors tracking US market opening time in India.
Can I place orders for US stocks when the market is closed?
Yes, you can place orders for US stocks even when the market is closed. Most brokers support after-hours order placements, which get queued and executed when the US market opens.
This is useful for Indian investors who prefer placing trades during local business hours, outside the standard US stock market timings in India.
How can Indian investors effectively manage US stock market timings?
Indian investors can manage US stock market timings by aligning their strategies with pre-market and post-market sessions. Tools like alerts, watchlists, and limit orders can help stay updated across US market open time and closing time in IST.
The overlap between Indian market hours and the US pre-market session (1:30 PM – 7:00 PM IST during DST) allows for research and preparation before the US market opens.
What happens to my US stock orders during market holidays?
During US market holidays, trading is completely paused, and no orders are executed. If you place an order on a holiday, it will remain pending until the US stock market reopens.
Always refer to the US market holiday calendar to plan trades in sync with us market timings and avoid missed opportunities.
Is it better to trade US stocks during regular hours or extended hours from India?
Trading during regular US stock market hours from 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM IST during daylight saving offers better liquidity and tighter spreads.
However, extended hours trading (pre-market/post-market) allows Indian investors to act on global news outside of core US stock market timings, offering flexibility but at lower volumes and wider spreads.
Can I track Dow Jones trading time live from India?
Yes, Indian investors can track Dow Jones trading time live through brokerage platforms and financial apps. The Dow Jones time in India aligns with stock market timings, starting at 7:00 PM IST (DST) or 8:00 PM IST (standard time).
Real-time charts and market feeds help monitor Dow Jones market time and performance alongside other indices like NASDAQ.
Does Dow Jones have different trading hours from NASDAQ or NYSE?
No, the Dow Jones trading time is exactly the same as NYSE and NASDAQ. Since it’s an index that includes companies listed on both these exchanges, its timings are synchronized with US stock market opening and closing times.
For Indian investors, this means that Dow Jones opening time in India is also 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM IST, depending on daylight saving adjustments.
