The Stock Market's Transition to 24/7 Trading
The stock market's traditional 9:30-to-4 workday, complete with opening and closing bells dating back to the 1870s, is becoming outdated. This change parallels how headsets worn on the New York Stock Exchange floor have become a relic of the past.
Wall Street is moving quickly to adopt the continuous trading model seen in cryptocurrency and prediction markets, responding to the needs of a new generation of retail traders who want nonstop market activity.
Expanding Trading Hours
- Exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq are working toward extending trading hours; Nasdaq aims for 24-hour trading while the NYSE targets 22-hour trading sessions.
- Some platforms hope to implement these changes before the end of the year.
Market Structure and Retail Involvement
This shift is fueled by a surge in retail investor participation, which now makes up at least 20% of daily U.S. trading volume. It also reflects the global demand for American equities worth trillions.
A version of this article originally appeared in Quartz’s members-only Weekend Brief newsletter. Quartz members get access to exclusive newsletters and more.
The move to round-the-clock trading marks the most significant transformation in market structure since electronic trading replaced the traditional trading floor.
Author’s Summary
The stock market is evolving from fixed hours to continuous trading, driven by rising retail demand and global interest, reshaping how equities are bought and sold.