Is there any event causing the stock market to have extended hours today?

Summary: Today’s Stock Market Hours & the Truth about Extended Hours Announcements If you’ve ever found yourself frantically Googling “stock market hours today” on a random weekday, you’re definitely not alone. Every now and then, rumors swirl about special events, Federal Reserve decisions, or even tech glitches causing the market to stay open longer—or close early. This article cuts through the noise. We'll explore if there are any special extended hours for U.S. stock markets today, break down how to verify this yourself (with screenshots), and discuss how global markets differ in handling such events. I’ll even throw in a personal story about the one time I totally misread a market schedule and missed a trade, plus a quick expert interview tidbit and a real-world case of market hour confusion between two countries. How Can You Actually Know If There’s Extended Trading Today? Let’s get straight to the point: You want an actionable, fool-proof way to know if the U.S. stock market (think NYSE and NASDAQ) has extended hours today. Maybe there’s a Fed announcement, a “quad witching” day, or a major index rebalance. Or you just heard a rumor in a forum and want to check it yourself without relying on hearsay. I’ve been there—last year, I almost chased a “secret after-hours window” that turned out to be nothing more than a misread tweet. So trust me, knowing exactly where to look saves you both money and embarrassment. Here’s my step-by-step process, with screenshots from today’s tools (and where I’ve tripped up in the past). Step 1: Check Official Exchange Websites The most reliable source is the exchange itself. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ publish holiday and special event calendars. Here’s what I do: Go to the NYSE’s Hours & Calendars page. You’ll see a clean calendar grid. Today is highlighted. If there are any special early closes or extended hours, you’ll see a note—usually in red. For NASDAQ, visit their trading calendar. Same deal: holidays, half-days, and special events are clearly marked. Pro tip: I once skipped this step and relied on a trading app notification, only to realize later the app was referencing Pacific Time, not Eastern Time. Rookie mistake, but it cost me a shot at a good after-hours price. Step 2: Check Broker and Financial News Alerts Most brokers send in-app notifications or emails for unusual trading hours. For example, when the market closes early for Independence Day, Schwab and Fidelity send out reminders. But for “extended hours” due to events? That’s rare. Bloomberg, Reuters, and CNBC also run market news tickers with any special trading schedule changes. Today, I checked all three. No alerts for extended hours. Step 3: Cross-Check with SEC Filings or Special Announcements If there’s a major event (think 9/11, a natural disaster, or a sudden technical problem), the SEC or the exchanges will issue a press release. These are archived on the SEC press release page or the exchanges’ own newsrooms. Today, I checked: no extraordinary releases. Last time I saw an intraday closure was in March 2020, at the peak of COVID-19 panic, and even then, it was a halt, not an extension. Step 4: Try the “Rumor Test” in Trader Forums I’m a member of a couple of stock forums (not naming names, but you know the ones). Often, if there’s a real change in hours, the rumor mill goes wild. Here’s a recent Reddit thread where someone asked about a potential “emergency session.” Most replies: “Nope, business as usual.” Screenshot from r/stocks, June 2024: What About After-Hours and Pre-Market Sessions? A lot of confusion comes from the terms “extended hours” versus “after-hours trading.” To be clear: Regular session: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET (NYSE/NASDAQ) Pre-market: 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET (varies by broker) After-hours: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET (varies by broker) These are standard, not “event-driven” extended hours. Brokers like TD Ameritrade and Fidelity have clear guides on their websites. Case Study: The 2012 Hurricane Sandy Closure Let’s get real for a second. The last time the NYSE actually changed hours for an event was during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ closed for two full days—first time since 1888 for weather. The closure was announced on their official sites, the SEC, and major news networks. You can read the official NYSE statement here. No “extended hours” session followed. Instead, trading resumed as normal. This shows how rare it is for the market to deviate from its schedule, except for outright closures. How Do Other Countries Handle “Verified Trade” and Market Hour Changes? One thing I noticed while talking to a friend who trades in both the U.S. and Japan: every country’s “verified trade” standards and market hour adjustment rules are a little different. Here’s a quick comparison: Country / Exchange Verified Trade Law/Standard Legal Basis Enforcement Agency Market Hour Adjustment Rules USA (NYSE/NASDAQ) Regulation NMS SEC Rule 611 SEC Only for emergencies (see SEC statements) UK (LSE) MiFID II FCA MiFID II FCA Pre-announced; rare extended or shortened sessions Japan (TSE) Financial Instruments and Exchange Act FSA Guidelines FSA Strict, only for national emergencies EU (Euronext) MiFID II Euronext MiFID II ESMA Announced at least 2 days in advance As you can see, the U.S., UK, Japan, and EU all treat “market hour changes” as a last resort, usually only for national emergencies. Verified trade rules (like Regulation NMS in the U.S.) are enforced by government agencies and are rarely bent for convenience. Expert Perspective: Interview with a Market Operations Specialist I once asked Mark L., a market operations specialist at a major broker, about this: “In the U.S., special trading sessions are extremely rare and always publicly announced. Most rumors about ‘extended hours’ stem from confusion between regular after-hours trading and truly special event-driven extensions. Always check the exchange’s own website—anything else is just noise.” My Own Goof-Up: Why You Should Double-Check Everything One Friday last year, I got caught up in Twitter talk about a “late close” due to an FOMC emergency meeting. I rushed to place a large after-hours trade at 8:01 PM, only to realize the liquidity had dried up and my broker (Fidelity) had already stopped accepting orders. Turns out, there was no actual extension—just the usual after-hours window. A quick look at the NASDAQ calendar would have saved me the headache. Conclusion + What to Do Next Here’s the bottom line: For today, there are no extended stock market hours in the U.S. due to special events. The regular session, pre-market, and after-hours windows apply as always. If you ever hear rumors of special trading sessions, do what I do now: check the NYSE and NASDAQ official calendars, scan your broker for alerts, and verify with a quick look at the SEC’s press releases. If you trade internationally, expect even tighter rules—most major exchanges are conservative about market hour changes and will only adjust for serious emergencies, with plenty of notice. And if you’re still not sure, ask your broker or check in with a pro (or just DM me on r/stocks—I’ll probably answer!). For more, see the full SEC press archive, or the NYSE hours page. My final advice: triple-check the source before you make any last-minute trades based on “market hours rumors.” It could save you a lot of stress—and maybe even a little money.

Fleming's answer to: Will there be extended hours due to any events today?

Summary: Today’s Stock Market Hours & the Truth about Extended Hours Announcements

If you’ve ever found yourself frantically Googling “stock market hours today” on a random weekday, you’re definitely not alone. Every now and then, rumors swirl about special events, Federal Reserve decisions, or even tech glitches causing the market to stay open longer—or close early. This article cuts through the noise. We'll explore if there are any special extended hours for U.S. stock markets today, break down how to verify this yourself (with screenshots), and discuss how global markets differ in handling such events. I’ll even throw in a personal story about the one time I totally misread a market schedule and missed a trade, plus a quick expert interview tidbit and a real-world case of market hour confusion between two countries.

How Can You Actually Know If There’s Extended Trading Today?

Let’s get straight to the point: You want an actionable, fool-proof way to know if the U.S. stock market (think NYSE and NASDAQ) has extended hours today. Maybe there’s a Fed announcement, a “quad witching” day, or a major index rebalance. Or you just heard a rumor in a forum and want to check it yourself without relying on hearsay.

I’ve been there—last year, I almost chased a “secret after-hours window” that turned out to be nothing more than a misread tweet. So trust me, knowing exactly where to look saves you both money and embarrassment. Here’s my step-by-step process, with screenshots from today’s tools (and where I’ve tripped up in the past).

Step 1: Check Official Exchange Websites

The most reliable source is the exchange itself. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ publish holiday and special event calendars. Here’s what I do:

Go to the NYSE’s Hours & Calendars page. You’ll see a clean calendar grid. Today is highlighted. If there are any special early closes or extended hours, you’ll see a note—usually in red.
For NASDAQ, visit their trading calendar. Same deal: holidays, half-days, and special events are clearly marked.

Pro tip: I once skipped this step and relied on a trading app notification, only to realize later the app was referencing Pacific Time, not Eastern Time. Rookie mistake, but it cost me a shot at a good after-hours price.

Step 2: Check Broker and Financial News Alerts

Most brokers send in-app notifications or emails for unusual trading hours. For example, when the market closes early for Independence Day, Schwab and Fidelity send out reminders. But for “extended hours” due to events? That’s rare.

Bloomberg, Reuters, and CNBC also run market news tickers with any special trading schedule changes. Today, I checked all three. No alerts for extended hours.

Step 3: Cross-Check with SEC Filings or Special Announcements

If there’s a major event (think 9/11, a natural disaster, or a sudden technical problem), the SEC or the exchanges will issue a press release. These are archived on the SEC press release page or the exchanges’ own newsrooms.

Today, I checked: no extraordinary releases. Last time I saw an intraday closure was in March 2020, at the peak of COVID-19 panic, and even then, it was a halt, not an extension.

Step 4: Try the “Rumor Test” in Trader Forums

I’m a member of a couple of stock forums (not naming names, but you know the ones). Often, if there’s a real change in hours, the rumor mill goes wild. Here’s a recent Reddit thread where someone asked about a potential “emergency session.” Most replies: “Nope, business as usual.”

Screenshot from r/stocks, June 2024:
Reddit stock market hours post

What About After-Hours and Pre-Market Sessions?

A lot of confusion comes from the terms “extended hours” versus “after-hours trading.” To be clear:

Regular session: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET (NYSE/NASDAQ)
Pre-market: 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET (varies by broker)
After-hours: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET (varies by broker)

These are standard, not “event-driven” extended hours. Brokers like TD Ameritrade and Fidelity have clear guides on their websites.

Case Study: The 2012 Hurricane Sandy Closure

Let’s get real for a second. The last time the NYSE actually changed hours for an event was during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ closed for two full days—first time since 1888 for weather. The closure was announced on their official sites, the SEC, and major news networks. You can read the official NYSE statement here.

No “extended hours” session followed. Instead, trading resumed as normal. This shows how rare it is for the market to deviate from its schedule, except for outright closures.

How Do Other Countries Handle “Verified Trade” and Market Hour Changes?

One thing I noticed while talking to a friend who trades in both the U.S. and Japan: every country’s “verified trade” standards and market hour adjustment rules are a little different. Here’s a quick comparison:

Country / Exchange	Verified Trade Law/Standard	Legal Basis	Enforcement Agency	Market Hour Adjustment Rules
USA (NYSE/NASDAQ)	Regulation NMS	SEC Rule 611	SEC	Only for emergencies (see SEC statements)
UK (LSE)	MiFID II	FCA MiFID II	FCA	Pre-announced; rare extended or shortened sessions
Japan (TSE)	Financial Instruments and Exchange Act	FSA Guidelines	FSA	Strict, only for national emergencies
EU (Euronext)	MiFID II	Euronext MiFID II	ESMA	Announced at least 2 days in advance

As you can see, the U.S., UK, Japan, and EU all treat “market hour changes” as a last resort, usually only for national emergencies. Verified trade rules (like Regulation NMS in the U.S.) are enforced by government agencies and are rarely bent for convenience.

Expert Perspective: Interview with a Market Operations Specialist

I once asked Mark L., a market operations specialist at a major broker, about this:

“In the U.S., special trading sessions are extremely rare and always publicly announced. Most rumors about ‘extended hours’ stem from confusion between regular after-hours trading and truly special event-driven extensions. Always check the exchange’s own website—anything else is just noise.”

My Own Goof-Up: Why You Should Double-Check Everything

One Friday last year, I got caught up in Twitter talk about a “late close” due to an FOMC emergency meeting. I rushed to place a large after-hours trade at 8:01 PM, only to realize the liquidity had dried up and my broker (Fidelity) had already stopped accepting orders. Turns out, there was no actual extension—just the usual after-hours window. A quick look at the NASDAQ calendar would have saved me the headache.

Conclusion + What to Do Next

Here’s the bottom line: For today, there are no extended stock market hours in the U.S. due to special events. The regular session, pre-market, and after-hours windows apply as always. If you ever hear rumors of special trading sessions, do what I do now: check the NYSE and NASDAQ official calendars, scan your broker for alerts, and verify with a quick look at the SEC’s press releases.

If you trade internationally, expect even tighter rules—most major exchanges are conservative about market hour changes and will only adjust for serious emergencies, with plenty of notice. And if you’re still not sure, ask your broker or check in with a pro (or just DM me on r/stocks—I’ll probably answer!).

For more, see the full SEC press archive, or the NYSE hours page.

My final advice: triple-check the source before you make any last-minute trades based on “market hours rumors.” It could save you a lot of stress—and maybe even a little money.