World Stock Market Hours

As an investor, you may have thought about investing in the markets of other countries. Many exchanges around the world operate around the same hours as U.S. exchanges, but in local time. This presents a few difficulties for U.S. investors.

This breakdown of the general stock market hours for the major exchanges around the world can help you coordinate your international trades. Times are listed both in local and U.S. time zones, as well as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Times reflect Eastern Standard Time (not daylight saving time), and it’s important to note that markets close for lunch in many countries. Exchanges may also be closed on different national holidays.

North America Stock Market Hours

While the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are two of the most well-known stock exchanges, there are others for investors to consider in Canada and Mexico.

South America Stock Market Hours

South American countries like Brazil and Argentina boast some sizable emerging economies and potentially solid investment opportunities.

Europe Stock Market Hours

You can access a significant portion of the world’s wealth by trading on European markets, especially those from heavily developed nations, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, Portugal, and France.

Asia Stock Market Hours

With some of the most populous countries in the world located in the Eastern Hemisphere, there are huge trading opportunities to be found on the exchanges in India, South Korea, Japan, and China. It’s important to note that many of the exchanges in Asia close for lunch every day.

Africa Stock Market Hours

Some of the biggest long-term growth opportunities may come from emerging economies in Africa. You might consider getting up early to trade on some of the continent’s largest exchanges.

Australia/Oceania Stock Market Hours

One of the world’s leading financial market exchanges is located in Sydney, Australia. Along with the Australian Securities Exchange, the New Zealand Stock Exchange is another notable market in the Australia/Oceania region.

Tips for International Trading

Investing directly on foreign exchanges is possible by setting up a global account on any major online stockbroker, such as Fidelity or Charles Schwab. If you are interested in investing in foreign stocks, you can purchase shares of an international mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF), giving you access to a broad set of overseas investments.

Investors can also get international exposure by purchasing shares of U.S. companies with a big overseas presence. McDonald’s is an example of a multinational corporation offering access to dozens of markets. There are many ways to take advantage of investment opportunities across the globe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many stock markets are there around the world?

There are 60 major exchanges in the world, and more than half of them are located in Europe and Asia. U.S. stock exchanges account for about 40% of global stock value.

What are the biggest stock markets in the world?

The New York Stock Exchange is the largest in the world, followed by the Nasdaq, the Japan Exchange Group, and the Shangai Stock Exchange.