Nasdaq pushes toward 23-hour trading days after SEC gives green light

Nasdaq filed a proposal with the SEC in December 2025 to stretch its equity trading hours from 16 to 23 hours per day, five days a week. On April 10, 2026, the SEC granted accelerated approval, putting the exchange on a path toward a December 6, 2026, launch date. What the new schedule looks like Nasdaq’s plan, branded as “global trading hours,” would carve the trading day into two sessions. The first runs from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, covering the pre-market, regular session, and after-hours windows that already exist. The second session picks up from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET, capturing the overnight hours when Asian and European markets are active. Between those two blocks sits a one-hour technical pause from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET on weekdays, long enough to run maintenance on data feeds, clearing systems, and related infrastructure. The SEC’s accelerated approval aligns with similar measures already greenlit for the NYSE and 24X Exchange, a newer venue that was purpose-built for extended-hours trading. Why this matters for global investors Nasdaq President Tal Cohen has framed the initiative as a necessary evolution, one designed to serve investors across time zones while...