NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) Trading Hours

NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is the world's first electronic stock market and the premier global venue for technology and growth companies. Launched in 1971, it has no physical trading floor; instead, it operates as a dealer's market where market makers provide liquidity digitally. It is home to the "Magnificent Seven" tech giants, including Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Amazon. The exchange is tracked by the NASDAQ Composite and the NASDAQ-100 index. Due to its heavy concentration of tech and biotech stocks, NASDAQ is often more volatile than the NYSE and serves as a key barometer for global risk appetite. **Trading Nuances:** NASDAQ is famous for its extended trading sessions. While core hours are 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET, "Pre-Market" trading can begin as early as 4:00 AM, and "After-Hours" trading continues until 8:00 PM. These sessions allow traders to react to earnings reports released outside standard hours, though liquidity is significantly lower.