There are several stock markets around the world where securities are traded. The first official stock market in living memory was opened in the Netherlands in 1602 under the supervision of the East India Company. Today, modern stock markets are more than a marketplace where buyers and sellers congregate to trade securities. The state of the stock market is a strong indicator of the country’s economic condition.

When the United States suffered from an economic recession in 2008, all of the country’s stock markets suffered heavily. With the US being one of the strongest economies in the world, it has always been an attractive marketplace for investors.

While the United States has multiple stock exchanges, the main ones are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ.

NYSE: The NYSE is located on New York’s Wall Street. It is the largest stock market in the world based on capitalisation. NYSE is regulated and owned by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The ICE is also listed on NYSE. The NYSE first came into operation on 1792.

NASDAQ: NASDAQ is not only the second-largest stock exchange market in the US but also in the world. It is situated at One Liberty Plaza in New York City. NASDAQ was founded in 1971. 

Since the US stock market is based on the Eastern Time Zone or ET, it has two different variables. They are:

Eastern Standard Time (EST): EST is in operation in the US in the autumn and winter months. It is 5 hours behind the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): EDT operates in the US in the summer and spring months. It is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

US stock market holidays

Interesting facts about the US stock market

After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2011, the US stock market (NYSE) was closed for a record 4 straight sessions. The markets reopened on September 17, a Monday.

The NYSE closed again on 29th October 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. 

Due to the ongoing covid pandemic in the country, NYSE has proposed to take its operations online.

Conclusion

With the US stock markets being some of the highest performing on the planet, investors always have a keen eye on the operations of the major ones, such as the NYSE and NASDAQ. Hence, it is essential to know the trading hours beforehand and gain a strategic advantage. The recently concluded presidential election in 2020 could see a significant change in the long-standing schedules of the US stock markets.