International Stock Exchange Hours

If you're an investor, you may have thought about investing in other country's markets. Many exchanges around the world operate (in local time) around the same hours as U.S. exchanges; this presents a few difficulties for U.S. investors.

Time disparities can cause setbacks for U.S. investors who want to trade internationally. Many of these exchanges allow orders to be placed before opening, but trades are only executed during that market's local operating hours—and the trades you can make may be limited, depending on your broker's rules or the rules of the exchange.

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 in many countries markets close for lunch. Exchanges may also be closed on different national holidays.

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

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.

Some of the largest countries by population are in the Eastern Hemisphere. That means huge opportunities can be found trading stocks 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.

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.

Investing directly on foreign exchanges is possible by setting up a global account on any major online stockbroker, such as Fidelity or Charles Schwab. However, investing internationally can be tricky, as you must understand foreign currencies and accept different costs and tax considerations. Different languages may also add challenges for the investor. 

If you are interested in investing in foreign stocks, there are simpler ways to do it. You can purchase shares of an international mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF), giving you access to a broad set of overseas investments. Some foreign companies also sell shares in the U.S. using an instrument called an American Depository Receipt.

Investors can also get international exposure by purchasing shares of American companies with a big overseas presence. McDonald’s is an example of a multinational corporation offering access to dozens of markets.