What are the trading hours of the NASDAQ?
Want to trade the NASDAQ? The US index is a popular trade because investors get exposure to stocks in 100 major tech businesses, such as Tesla, Microsoft and Nvidia. There are many ways to trade the index, from buying an exchange-traded fund to spread betting on its movements. The NASDAQ, sometimes also called the US Tech 100, is open for six and a half hours a day.
The index opens at 9.30am Eastern Standard Time (EST) – 4.30pm South Africa time, and closes at 4pm EST – that's 11pm South Africa time.¹ When it's Daylight Savings Time in the US, it's open from 3.30 to 10pm South Africa time. However, you can trade the NASDAQ with us 24 hours a day, Monday to Thursday.
We provide CFD pricing on the exchange, even when the NASDAQ is officially closed. These trading opportunities are listed on our platform under the code 'US Tech 100'.
NASDAQ trading hours at a glance
US holidays
The index is closed for trading during the various US holidays. These include President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
However, with us, investors can continue to benefit from out-of-hours trading services.
Pre- and post-market hours of the NASDAQ
With us, investors can trade the NASDAQ out of hours during the week and also at the weekend. This enables them to react more quickly to major economic announcements, such as GDP growth figures, non-farm payroll data or breaking news on certain tech stocks.
Share dealing on All Session US shares is also offered 12pm to 10.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and 12pm to 10pm, Friday (GMT). Clients can take a position on over 70 key US stocks over these extended hours. We offer CFDs (contracts for difference) on All Session US shares from 9am to 1am, Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 10pm on Friday (GMT).
The NASDAQ offers pre- and post-market hours on stocks. However, as mentioned before, we offer extended hours on the NASDAQ index through CFDs, which means you can trade more or less 24/7.
When is the best time to trade the NASDAQ?
So what is the best time of day to trade on the index? Analysts say there is no specific period of time that is better than others, but there are certain times to avoid, especially if you are new to trading the NASDAQ.
'There is no "best" time to trade the NASDAQ, but many Europeans like to trade just after it opens at 13.30 GMT since the first hour can be volatile', explains our Senior Financial Analyst, Axel Rudolph.'One way to approach it could be to wait for about an hour and see in which direction the daily trend is pointing and then trade in that direction – unless, of course, the NASDAQ shoots up or falls quickly straight from the open.'
According to Rudolph, new traders and investors may wish to avoid trading directly at the NASDAQ's open to avoid potential shocks from economic data. 'The open is often volatile as it can coincide with US data releases such as non-farm payrolls, CPI (consumer price index figures) et cetera', he says. 'Less experienced traders may want to stand aside around those potentially highly volatile periods and, instead, trade once an intraday trend has been established.'
How to take a position on the NASDAQ with CFDs
How to take a position on the NASDAQ with CFDs
- Create an account or log in
- Learn more about the NASDAQ
- Choose CFDs and search for your opportunity
- Select 'buy' to go long or 'sell' to go short
- Set your position size and take steps to manage your risk
- Open and monitor your position
With CFD trading, you predict price movements rather than own the shares yourself. This process is leveraged, so you could gain or lose money quickly – including the potential to lose more than your deposit. It's a good idea to keep in mind that when you're making your predictions, past performance isn't a guarantee of future patterns.
Learn more about the differences between trading and investing.
New to investing or trading? Practise on a demo account to build your confidence.
₁Stock Market Trading Hours for Nasdaq | Nasdaq
