NYSE Moves to Launch 22-Hour Trading Day On its Arca Equities Exchange

he New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has unveiled plans to extend its trading hours on its electronic NYSE Arca platform, enabling nearly round-the-clock trading of US equities for the first time in its 232-year history.

The proposal, which requires regulatory approval, would see trading hours on NYSE Arca run from 01.30 to 23.30 Eastern Time on weekdays, excluding holidays. The move would allow investors across Asian and European time zones to trade US-listed stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and closed-end funds during their working days.

"The NYSE's initiative to extend U.S. equity trading to 22 hours a day, 5 days a week underscores the strength of our U.S. capital markets and growing demand for our listed securities around the world," said Kevin Tyrrell, Head of Markets at the New York Stock Exchange. "As the steward of the U.S. capital markets, the NYSE is pleased to lead the way in enabling exchange-based trading for our U.S.-listed companies and funds to investors in time zones across the globe."

The expansion will take place on NYSE Arca, which currently leads US exchanges in ETF listings and trading. The platform is fully electronic, unlike the NYSE's flagship exchange floor which maintains human traders and specialists.

All extended-hours trades will be cleared through the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), which has separately announced plans to extend its operational hours to accommodate the longer trading day.

The move comes as global markets become increasingly interconnected and follows similar initiatives by other major exchanges to extend trading hours. The NYSE will need to file updated rules with the Securities and Exchange Commission and seek support from US securities information processors before implementing the changes.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which owns the NYSE, will need to ensure the extended hours maintain the same level of market surveillance and operational integrity as regular trading hours. The exchange has not yet announced a target date for implementing the extended schedule.

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