Nasdaq said on Thursday it will introduce a suite of upgraded market products intended to support a planned expansion of U.S. equities trading to 23 hours a day, five days a week. The move is part of an effort to broaden international access to high-demand U.S. listings as global participation in U.S. equities has increased.
The exchange said the new products are tailored to accommodate heightened activity and will include enhancements in data analytics and market visibility across all three of its equity exchanges. Nasdaq described the upgrades as necessary to provide the infrastructure and transparency needed to handle higher levels of trading, though it did not provide additional technical specifications in its announcement.
Under its current schedule, Nasdaq operates three distinct weekday sessions: a pre-market period from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, the regular session from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, and a post-market session from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. The proposed 23-hour trading day would run from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, changing the cadence of trading across those established windows.
Nasdaq said it expects the extended trading hours to begin on December 6, but noted that the start date is contingent on receiving the necessary regulatory approvals. The company framed the product rollout as part of a broader response to growing overseas interest in U.S. equities, which it said has risen in recent years alongside stronger retail participation, increased financial literacy and easier access to digital trading platforms.
The announcement focuses on market infrastructure improvements - particularly enhancements to analytics and cross-exchange visibility - intended to support the planned lengthening of trading hours. Nasdaq emphasized the products are designed to operate across its three equity exchanges, aligning data and visibility tools with the proposed new trading window.
Nasdaq did not elaborate on implementation details beyond the product focus and the expected December 6 start date, nor did it provide further information on the regulatory path or approval timeline. The exchange's statement framed the changes as part of an effort to expand access to U.S. stocks for international investors while adapting its technology and data services to anticipated higher activity.
Summary - Nasdaq will roll out enhanced market products aimed at supporting a planned extension of U.S. equities trading to 23 hours per day, five days a week. The upgraded tools will focus on data analytics and visibility across Nasdaq's three equity exchanges. The extended hours are expected to begin on December 6, subject to regulatory approvals.