Nasdaq plans for 24-hour trading in 2026 amidst rising global demand for US equities

Nasdaq Inc has announced plans to introduce 24-hour trading on its flagship US exchange in an effort to capitalise on the growing global demand for US equities.

The exchange operator said it had begun engaging with regulators, market participants and other key stakeholders to expand trading hours on the tech-heavy Nasdaq stock market.

Nasdaq Inc plans to file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for approval to roll out the new hours in the second half of 2026.

Competitive alignment

The initiative aims to enable trading five days a week around the clock and aligns with similar moves by competitors such as the New York Stock Exchange and Chicago-based Cboe Global Markets.

It will retain existing equities pre-market and after-close extended hours and eliminate downtime entirely during the trading week, enhancing liquidity and flexibility for participants across time zones.

Analysts have billed the move as the “most ambitious plan” to date by a US exchange operator.

Investor demand

Nasdaq president Tal Cohen said the shift was driven by the surging global demand for US equities that has been fuelled by rising retail participation, growing financial literacy and an increasing number of digital trading platforms.

“The global growth of investor demand for US equities means we stand at another pivotal moment for our markets—to broaden investor access, expand wealth-building opportunities and redefine how markets function,” he said.

“Attracting more investment to our markets presents a compelling opportunity for the US and global economy… It is therefore incumbent on us to enhance access for those operating across different time zones.”

Nasdaq expects considerable technological investment will bolster its infrastructure so it can deliver a 24-hour trading experience with overall stability and resilience.

Company concerns

Mr Cohen acknowledged some companies had raised concerns about the 24-hour trading proposal.

A recent survey of Nasdaq-listed companies indicated that around half of the respondents had reservations about expanding trading hours on exchanges, particularly regarding liquidity and corporate actions.

He said that “many problems would need to be ironed out” before 24-hour trading could become a reality.