SEC Sets September Roundtable 24-Hour Trading

Summary

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to host a public roundtable on September 17 at its Washington, DC headquarters to discuss the possibility of moving toward 24-hour trading in U.S. equity markets. SEC Chair Paul Atkins expressed enthusiasm about the potential for U.S. equity markets to expand trading hours into overnight periods, aligning more closely with other markets that already operate continuously. The roundtable will cover topics including preparations for supporting overnight trading, operational challenges, and ensuring market resiliency in a 24-hour environment.

This development occurs amid a global trend where major stock exchanges are moving toward longer or near-24-hour trading schedules. For example, the London Stock Exchange has plans to launch a night-time trading venue by early 2027. In the U.S., Nasdaq announced in March that it began engaging with regulators to offer 24-hour trading five days a week, targeting a launch in the second half of 2026, contingent on regulatory approval and coordination.

Why it matters

The significance of the SEC’s roundtable and these efforts by major exchanges lies in expanding retail investor access to longer trading hours, a feature that cryptocurrency exchanges have offered for years. This move could represent a substantial shift in how traditional stock markets operate by extending trading activity beyond the conventional hours well-known to investors. The discussions aim to ensure that any extension of trading hours would maintain market stability and operational efficiency.