Nasdaq plans to launch 24-hour trading in 2026: Why is the US tech-heavy index choosing round-the-clock trade?

Nasdaq Inc. plans to introduce 24-hour trading on its flagship US exchange to capitalize on growing global demand for US equities. According to news agency Reuters, the international demand for the lucrative US equity market has surged in recent years, driven by rising retail participation, increasing financial literacy, and easier access to digital trading platforms.

Nasdaq President Tal Cohen took to LinkedIn and wrote in a post that the exchange operator has started discussions with US regulators and expects to launch the 24-hour, five-days-a-week trading in the second half of 2026. 

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Why is the US tech-heavy Nasdaq favouring 24-hour trade? 

A round-the-clock trading model will allow exchanges to tap into global demand—which is currently catered to by alternative trading platforms—by attracting investors across time zones and increasing trading volumes. According to analysts, a round-the-clock trade will also improve market liquidity. 

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"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," said Cohen. 

In planning extended trading hours, Nasdaq joins rival exchanges like Cboe Global Markets and Intercontinental Exchange, the operator of the New York Stock Exchange. A Nasdaq spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the exchange plans to file for approval with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 

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Brokerages Charles Schwab and Robinhood currently offer limited 24-hour trading on their platforms. The Nasdaq 100 index sank into a correction on Friday after market investors continued to sour on the mega-cap technology stocks that led the stock market rally over the past two years.

The index was down 0.8 per cent at 10:37 a.m. in New York and is now 10.2 per cent below a peak hit just last month, surpassing the 10 per cent threshold representing a market correction. Among notable decliners, Nvidia Corp. slid 0.7 per cent, Amazon.com Inc. fell 1.5 per cent, and Microsoft Corp. 1.9 per cent. The Bloomberg Magnificent 7 Total Return Index, which entered a correction of its own in late February, 1.1 per cent on Friday.