Major changes in US stocks! NYSE announced the extension of US stock trading hours to 22 hours, in line with the trend of round-the-clock trading

On October 25th, Eastern Time, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) made a major announcement to extend the trading hours of its fully electronic exchange, NYSE Arca, to 22 hours per weekday, pending regulatory approval. According to the announcement, the extended trading hours will start at 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time from Monday to Friday and continue until 11:30 p.m. (excluding holidays). This new "22-hour" trading system will apply to all U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), and closed-end funds. This means that investors will have more trading opportunities, and the market will be more active. For Chinese investors, this change implies that in the future, trading of NYSE-listed stocks (during daylight saving time) will close at 11:30 a.m. along with A-shares, and then reopen at 1:30 p.m. Kevin Tyrrell, Head of NYSE Markets, stated in the announcement that this move highlights the strength of the U.S. capital markets and the growing global demand for U.S.-listed securities. He emphasized that as the guardian of the U.S. capital markets, NYSE is pleased to lead exchange-based trading among investors in various time zones globally. This transformation will not only provide investors with more trading convenience but also further solidify NYSE's important position in the global financial markets. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in round-the-clock trading in the U.S. market. With the increasing integration of global financial markets and rapid technological development, investors have higher demands for flexibility in trading hours and methods. The extension of trading hours by NYSE is in line with this trend. In fact, as early as May this year, the U.S. online brokerage Robinhood introduced a "24/5 trading" service, open from 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays to 8 p.m. on Fridays. The global cryptocurrency market operates round-the-clock, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. However, the extension of trading hours by NYSE also faces some challenges and controversies. Analysts point out that extending trading hours may require financial firms to strengthen trading during the early morning and late evening periods, which will increase operational and manpower costs. Additionally, stock prices may experience greater fluctuations during the extended trading hours, requiring traders to be more cautious in seizing market opportunities. Nevertheless, NYSE has decided to take this step. They stated that they will submit the latest rules on extending trading hours to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and seek support from U.S. securities information processors for the extended trading. During the extended trading hours, trading on NYSE Arca will continue to be settled by the U.S. Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. Since its establishment in 1792, the New York Stock Exchange has undergone multiple reforms in its trading hours. From the initial opening at 10 a.m. and closing between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., to gradually settling into the trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the early 1990s. In 1991, NYSE introduced after-hours trading, initially for one hour, which later extended to 4 hours The 22-hour trading system planned this time is in line with the increasing market interest in round-the-clock trading. Wall Street analysts pointed out that the extension of trading hours may mean that financial companies need to strengthen their trading capabilities in the early morning and late afternoon periods of the day. This may lead to greater price fluctuations during extended trading hours, providing more trading opportunities for traders. Although this news has not caused significant market volatility, it marks another significant enhancement of services in the U.S. capital markets. This major change is expected to have far-reaching implications for global financial markets, especially for Chinese investors. This means that in the future, trading of NYSE-listed U.S. stocks (during daylight saving time) will close at 11:30 a.m. together with A-shares, and then reopen at 1:30 p.m. This change may affect the speed and manner in which global investors react to market events, as well as the trading structure and liquidity of financial markets. It is worth noting that after the NYSE announced this news, the market did not experience significant volatility. Overnight, the three major indices closed mixed, with the Dow down 0.61%, the Nasdaq up 0.56%, hitting new intraday highs; and the S&P 500 index slightly down 0.03%. However, the "Tech Seven Giants" in the U.S. stock market all rose, with NVIDIA surging 2.6%, surpassing Apple at one point to become the world's largest listed company by market value. This indicates that the market holds a certain optimistic attitude towards the NYSE's extension of trading hours. In the future, with the formal implementation of the NYSE's extension of trading hours, global financial markets will see more intense competition and more diversified trading opportunities. Investors need to closely monitor market dynamics and policy changes in order to better seize market opportunities and mitigate risks. At the same time, financial institutions also need to strengthen risk management and internal controls to ensure stable operations in a more complex market environment