Honestly, checking the clock to see if you can finally hit "buy" on that stock you’ve been eyeing is a ritual for most of us. But if you’re asking when does the stock market open today, the answer isn't always as simple as a single timestamp. While most people will tell you "9:30 AM," that’s really only half the story.
Depending on where you are and what exchange you're looking at, today—Thursday, January 15, 2026—might look a bit different than you expect.
The Short Answer for U.S. Markets
If you’re trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the Nasdaq in the United States, the doors swing open for the core session at 9:30 AM Eastern Time (ET). They’ll stay open until the closing bell at 4:00 PM ET.
But here’s the kicker: just because the "official" hours start at 9:30 doesn't mean the action starts then.
The Hidden World of Pre-Market Trading
You’ve probably seen prices moving on your app at 7:00 AM and wondered what was going on. That’s the pre-market session.
For the major U.S. exchanges, the pre-market schedule actually starts way earlier than your morning coffee:
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- Nasdaq Pre-Market: Starts as early as 4:00 AM ET.
- NYSE Arca/American Pre-Market: Also kicks off at 4:00 AM ET.
- Retail Brokerages: Most "regular" apps like Robinhood, Fidelity, or Schwab usually let you in around 7:00 AM ET.
Why does this matter? Well, if a big company drops an earnings report at 8:00 AM, the stock price is going to jump or dive long before the 9:30 AM "opening" bell even rings. If you wait until the official opening, you might miss the entire move.
When Does the Stock Market Open Today in India?
Now, if you’re looking at international markets, specifically the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) or the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India, things are very different today.
Today, January 15, 2026, the Indian stock market is closed.
Wait, why? It’s because of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Elections. The government declared a public holiday to make sure everyone can get out and vote. This means there’s no equity trading, no derivatives, and no commodity trading on the Indian bourses today. If you had a trade planned for the Sensex or Nifty 50, you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow, Friday, January 16, when things get back to normal at 9:15 AM IST.
Time Zones: A Quick Cheat Sheet
It’s easy to get scrambled when you’re living in California but trading in New York. Basically, the world revolves around Eastern Time for U.S. stocks.
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- Eastern Time: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Central Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Mountain Time: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- Pacific Time: 6:30 AM – 1:00 PM
If you’re on the West Coast, you’re essentially starting your workday when most people are mid-commute. It’s a grind, but that’s the life of a trader.
What About After-Hours?
The market doesn't just "die" at 4:00 PM ET. There’s an entire ecosystem called the After-Hours session. This usually runs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET.
Liquidity is a lot lower here. That’s a fancy way of saying there are fewer people buying and selling. Because of that, prices can be incredibly jumpy. One person selling a large block of shares can swing the price much more than they could during the middle of the day. Honestly, unless you really know what you’re doing, after-hours trading is sorta like the Wild West.
2026 Holidays to Keep on Your Radar
Since we're already talking about the schedule, you should probably mark your calendar for the times the market is definitely not opening. For the U.S. in 2026, the next big closure is Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Here are a few other major ones coming up:
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
The market also has "half-days" where it closes early at 1:00 PM ET. In 2026, those fall on the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 27) and Christmas Eve (December 24).
Surprising Details About "Opening"
Did you know the market doesn't actually open all at once?
There’s something called the Opening Auction. Between 9:28 AM and 9:30 AM ET, the computers at the NYSE and Nasdaq are crunching thousands of orders to find the single price that satisfies the most buyers and sellers. That "opening price" you see on CNBC isn't just a random trade—it’s the result of a massive, split-second calculation.
Actionable Next Steps for Today
If you’re getting ready to trade, don't just stare at the 9:30 AM clock. Here is what you should actually do:
- Check the Pre-market Volume: Look at your ticker. If only 100 shares have traded by 8:00 AM, the price movement you see doesn't mean much. If 1 million shares have traded, pay attention.
- Verify the Holiday Calendar: Since you now know the Indian markets are closed today for elections, don't waste time trying to execute trades there.
- Use Limit Orders: Especially in the first 15 minutes of the open (9:30–9:45 AM), the market is incredibly volatile. A "Market Order" might get filled at a price way higher or lower than you intended. A "Limit Order" ensures you only pay what you want.
- Watch the Spreads: Early in the morning, the "bid-ask spread" (the gap between what sellers want and what buyers offer) can be wide. Wait for the market to "settle" if you aren't an experienced day trader.
Trading is 90% preparation and 10% execution. Knowing exactly when the bell rings—and what happens right before it—is the easiest way to make sure you aren't caught off guard.