The Stock Market Is Going 24/7
The move toward continuous trading marks the most significant structural evolution since electronic trading replaced traditional floor exchanges. This transformation signals a turning point in how global financial markets operate and interact.
For more than a century, Wall Street adhered to its classic 9:30-to-4 schedule, complete with opening and closing bells dating back to the 1870s. Today, that schedule looks increasingly outdated, similar to the headsets still used on the New York Stock Exchange floor.
The stock market's genteel 9:30-to-4 workday, complete with opening and closing bells that date back to the 1870s, is becoming as anachronistic as the headsets still worn on the New York Stock Exchange floor.
Wall Street is now racing to adopt the always-on mindset of cryptocurrency platforms and prediction markets. This shift aims to satisfy a new generation of retail traders who expect constant access and round-the-clock opportunities.
- NYSE plans to expand its trading hours to 22 hours a day.
- Nasdaq is preparing to operate 24 hours a day.
- Several trading platforms intend to launch extended-hour capabilities before the end of the year.
The surge in retail investor participation—now responsible for at least one-fifth of daily U.S. trading volume—combined with a growing global appetite for American equities, is driving this transformation.
A shift toward round-the-clock trading represents the most fundamental change to market structure since electronic trading replaced the trading floor.
Author Summary
This article highlights Wall Street’s push toward a 24/7 trading model, fueled by retail investors and global demand, signaling a historic overhaul in market operations.