what time does the stock market close in texas
What time does the stock market close in Texas
what time does the stock market close in texas — this guide translates U.S. equity market hours into local Texas time so traders and investors in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso can plan orders, watch news and assess extended‑hours risk. You will learn the standard market close in Central and Mountain Time, NYSE Texas venue specifics, how daylight saving affects conversions, holiday and half‑day rules, brokerage limitations for after‑hours trading, and practical examples for major Texas cities.
Note: As of 2025-12-31, official exchange hours and holiday schedules are published by the NYSE and NASDAQ; always verify with exchange notices and your brokerage platform.
Quick answer
The short answer to "what time does the stock market close in Texas" is: the regular U.S. equity market close (NYSE and NASDAQ) is 4:00 PM Eastern Time, which is 3:00 PM Central Time for most of Texas. For far‑west Texas (El Paso area, Mountain Time) the same close occurs at 2:00 PM Mountain Time. Extended‑hours sessions run outside these times but availability depends on your brokerage and the specific venue (including NYSE Texas sessions).
Standard U.S. equity market hours (NYSE and NASDAQ)
Core trading session
The primary trading window for the major U.S. equity exchanges is the regular session:
- Official hours (Eastern Time): 9:30 AM — 4:00 PM ET.
- Corresponding Times in Texas:
- Most of Texas (Central Time): 8:30 AM — 3:00 PM CT.
- Far‑west Texas (Mountain Time, e.g., El Paso): 7:30 AM — 2:00 PM MT.
When Texans ask "what time does the stock market close in Texas," they are usually referring to the 3:00 PM CT close observed across the majority of the state (or 2:00 PM MT in El Paso). This is the formal end of the core session for exchange‑listed securities on the NYSE and NASDAQ.
Pre‑market and after‑hours (extended hours)
Beyond the core session, many trading venues and brokerages allow extended or electronic trading:
- Typical windows seen across providers:
- Pre‑market: as early as ~4:00 AM ET (1:00 AM CT / 12:00 AM MT) to 9:30 AM ET.
- After‑hours: 4:00 PM ET to as late as ~8:00 PM ET (3:00 PM CT to 7:00 PM CT).
- Availability varies by venue and brokerage. Some brokerages limit order types or restrict liquidity and routing during extended hours.
- Liquidity and spreads are often worse after the regular close; price moves can be more volatile on lower volume.
If you want to trade outside the core hours, confirm with your brokerage whether it supports extended‑hours trading and what order types and pricing rules apply. When Texans wonder "what time does the stock market close in Texas" they should remember that while the exchange close is fixed, the ability to transact later depends on their broker and chosen venue.
NYSE Texas (exchange‑level) trading hours
The NYSE operates multiple trading venues, and NYSE Texas is one of the NYSE marketplace venues with specific session designations. Official NYSE documentation describes the market day in Eastern Time. Key points:
- Core NYSE session: 9:30 AM — 4:00 PM ET (same as NYSE main).
- NYSE Texas also publishes late trading sessions that can extend post‑4:00 PM ET; some NYSE venue pages list a late trading window e.g., 4:00 PM — 8:00 PM ET for certain order types and eligible symbols.
Converted to Texas local times:
- Core NYSE session in CT: 8:30 AM — 3:00 PM CT.
- Core NYSE session in MT (El Paso): 7:30 AM — 2:00 PM MT.
- NYSE Texas late session (example ET 4:00 PM — 8:00 PM): 3:00 PM — 7:00 PM CT for most of Texas (2:00 PM — 6:00 PM MT in El Paso).
NYSE Texas is a venue with its own rule set and eligible order types. If you trade instruments routed to NYSE Texas, confirm with your broker whether late session routing to that venue is supported. For Texans asking "what time does the stock market close in Texas," understanding that venue‑specific sessions may extend activity beyond the 3:00 PM CT exchange close is important.
Time zones in Texas and conversions
Understanding Texas time zones is central to answering "what time does the stock market close in Texas" for different residents.
Most of Texas — Central Time (CT)
- Cities in CT: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Arlington, Plano, and many others.
- Conversion rule: Eastern Time minus one hour = Central Time. Example:
- 4:00 PM ET = 3:00 PM CT.
- 9:30 AM ET = 8:30 AM CT.
Hence, most Texans observing the NYSE/NASDAQ close see the market end at 3:00 PM local time.
Far‑west Texas — Mountain Time (MT)
- Cities in MT: El Paso and some far‑west counties.
- Conversion rule: Eastern Time minus two hours = Mountain Time. Example:
- 4:00 PM ET = 2:00 PM MT.
- 9:30 AM ET = 7:30 AM MT.
If you live in El Paso and ask "what time does the stock market close in Texas," the locally observed close is 2:00 PM MT for the standard exchange session.
Daylight Saving Time considerations
- U.S. daylight saving time (DST) is observed in ET, CT, and MT regions. The offsets (ET → CT = −1 hour; ET → MT = −2 hours) remain consistent during DST and standard time because all three zones switch on the same date.
- However, special market session notices sometimes list times in ET only; during switch days (the Sunday and Monday of clock changes) verify any short‑term operational notices from exchanges and your broker.
Holidays, half‑days and early closings
Exchanges follow a published calendar of market holidays and sometimes schedule early closings (half‑days). Key points for Texas traders:
- Standard full‑day exchange holidays include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (subject to calendar adjustments).
- Early closes are common on certain days, for example the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve in some years; the early close is often at 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT / 11:00 AM MT) or 2:00 PM ET, depending on the exchange calendar.
- Always consult the official exchange holiday and early‑close calendar before trading around these dates.
Practical conversion examples for holidays/early closes:
- If an exchange lists an early close at 1:00 PM ET, Texans in CT should expect a 12:00 PM local close; El Paso (MT) will see an 11:00 AM close.
When planning trade activity around major announcements and load times, answer the question "what time does the stock market close in Texas" by checking the NYSE/NASDAQ holiday calendars and your brokerage’s operating schedule.
Brokerage and venue differences (practical details)
While exchanges publish formal market open and close times, your ability to trade is governed by your brokerage and the liquidity on different venues.
- Broker support for extended hours: Not all brokerages allow pre‑market or after‑hours trading. Some provide limited windows, others none.
- Order types and execution: Market orders may be restricted after the core close; limit orders are often required. Order routing can send executions to different ECNs or exchange venues (including NYSE Texas). Slippage and partial fills are more likely in low‑liquidity windows.
- Fees and margin rules: Margin and fee structures can differ for extended hours trades.
- Market data timing: Real‑time quotes and news updates may vary in availability and cost; verify whether your subscription includes extended‑hours quotes.
For Texas residents asking "what time does the stock market close in Texas," remember: the exchange close is fixed but your brokerage may or may not let you trade later. If you prefer a single provider for both regular and extended sessions, consider a broker that supports the full range of market hours — including Bitget for crypto and web3‑related services, and broker partners for equities — and verify equities execution rules on that platform.
Practical examples (city‑based)
Here are quick conversion examples showing the core session open and close times for major Texas cities:
-
Houston / Dallas / Austin / San Antonio:
- Exchange hours (ET): 9:30 AM — 4:00 PM ET.
- Local hours (CT): 8:30 AM — 3:00 PM CT.
- So when someone in Houston asks "what time does the stock market close in Texas," the answer is 3:00 PM CT.
-
El Paso (far‑west Texas, MT):
- Exchange hours (ET): 9:30 AM — 4:00 PM ET.
- Local hours (MT): 7:30 AM — 2:00 PM MT.
- For El Paso residents, "what time does the stock market close in Texas" resolves to 2:00 PM MT.
-
Example day with an early close at 1:00 PM ET:
- Houston/Dallas/Austin/San Antonio (CT): 12:00 PM local close.
- El Paso (MT): 11:00 AM local close.
How to confirm the correct time (tools & tips)
Reliable confirmation is essential when coordinating trades or news monitoring:
- Check official exchange pages: Exchange hours and holiday calendars are authoritative for NYSE, NASDAQ and NYSE Texas scheduling.
- Verify brokerage hours: Your trading platform lists supported session windows, permitted order types, and execution policies.
- Use timezone converters: When converting ET times to CT or MT, use reputable time‑zone tools or your device clock, but treat exchange schedules as primary.
- Monitor exchange notices: Firms publish special session announcements for technical events or scheduling changes.
If your question is "what time does the stock market close in Texas" for a particular event (earnings, IPO, or holiday), verify the specific date on the exchange holiday calendar and your broker’s platform.
Implications for traders and investors in Texas
Understanding the exact local close time has operational and strategic implications:
- Order timing and execution: Market orders placed near the close may execute at different prices than intended. Use limit orders if you need price certainty.
- News and earnings: Corporate press releases and earnings reports often occur outside of core hours. Events after 4:00 PM ET (3:00 PM CT) can move prices in after‑hours trading; limited liquidity may mean larger price changes by the next regular session.
- Portfolio rebalancing and tax considerations: End‑of‑day pricing rules or settlement windows (T+2/T+1) are based on exchange days, not local convenience.
- Risk management: Extended‑hours orders have different exposures; be cautious about overnight and after‑hours positions where liquidity is lower.
If you trade from Texas and want an integrated experience across standard and extended hours, confirm with your broker whether they support the venues you need and how they handle routing to late sessions such as NYSE Texas. Consider using platforms that provide clear extended‑hours access and data — and remember that exchange close time answers like "what time does the stock market close in Texas" are a starting point for operational planning.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: Does the market ever close earlier in Texas? A: The normal exchange close is fixed by the exchange in ET. Texas local close times change only when the exchange schedules an early close (for holidays or special events). On those days, convert the early‑close ET time to CT or MT to know local closing time.
Q: Can I trade after 3:00 PM CT? A: You can trade after 3:00 PM CT if your brokerage supports after‑hours trading and routes orders to venues that accept late session orders. Availability varies by broker and by symbol; check your broker’s policies.
Q: What if I live in El Paso — when does the market close for me? A: For El Paso (Mountain Time), the standard exchange close of 4:00 PM ET corresponds to 2:00 PM MT. So the regular market session ends at 2:00 PM local time in El Paso.
Q: Do pre‑market and after‑hours trades have the same rules? A: No. Extended hours often limit order types (e.g., only limit orders), have different liquidity and execution characteristics, and may incur different fees.
Q: Where can I find authoritative times and holiday schedules? A: Exchange websites and the calendar pages for the NYSE and NASDAQ list official hours and holiday closures. Also consult your brokerage’s published trading hours.
References
- NYSE — official trading hours and holiday calendar (NYSE market pages and NYSE Texas market information). (As of 2025-12-31, referenced from the NYSE official publications.)
- NASDAQ — standard market hours and holiday calendar. (As of 2025-12-31, referenced from NASDAQ official publications.)
- Fidelity — stock market hours overview and time‑zone conversion guidance. (As of 2025-12-31.)
- Cash App — stock market hours and example time‑zone conversions. (As of 2025-12-31.)
Sources cited above include exchange operator documentation and brokerage education pages; official exchange calendars are the ultimate authority. As of 2025-12-31, these sources provide the scheduling and holiday information summarized here.
Additional notes and guidance
- This article focuses on exchange and brokerage hours for U.S. equities and venue specifics; it does not cover cryptocurrency markets (which operate 24/7) or non‑U.S. exchanges.
- For live trading decisions, always confirm times with the exchange and your brokerage platform because special sessions and early closes may be announced.
Further explore trading tools and platform options that support both regular and extended hours. If you need an integrated web3 or crypto wallet experience, consider Bitget Wallet; for broader trade execution across exchange hours, check with your brokerage provider about supported sessions and order routing.
Explore more practical guides and platform features to align your trading schedule with local Texas time and exchange session rules.























