Abstract：How many trading days are there in a year？ In general, the length of the trading day depends on the market and the exchange. This article will explain various related topics, including trading week, trading hours, best trading dates, and best trading times.
In the U.S. stock and currency markets, there are typically 252 trading days a year. This includes weekends and public holidays, when the forex market is open almost 24 hours a day, but is still affected by holidays.
How many trading days are there in a year? In general, the length of the trading day depends on the market and the exchange. This article will explain various related topics, including trading week, trading hours, best trading dates, and best trading times.
In the U.S. stock and currency markets, there are typically 252 trading days a year. This includes weekends and public holidays, when the forex market is open almost 24 hours a day, but is still affected by holidays.
How Many Trading Days are there in a Year?
There are about 252 trading days in a year for stock markets (such as the US stock market), including weekends (2 days per week) and holidays (such as public holidays).
The Forex market operates almost 24/7, usually five days a week (Monday to Friday). As a result, the forex market typically has about 252 trading days in a year.
How Many Trading Weeks Are There in a Year?
Assuming there are no holidays or special circumstances, there are usually 52 weeks in a year (365 days divided by 7).
In most markets, each trading week generally runs from Monday to Friday, unless there are holidays or special circumstances (such as bank holidays or market closures).
As a result, the number of trading weeks in a year is typically around 52, although the actual number can be slightly less if certain holidays cause the market to close.
How to Calculate Trading Days?
- Determine the total number of days in the year: For example, 365 days (non-leap year) or 366 days (leap year).
- Exclude weekends: There are 2 non-trading days each week (Saturday and Sunday), so the number of trading days after excluding weekends can be calculated as:
- There are 5 trading days per week (Monday to Friday).
- With 52 weeks in a year, multiply 52 × 5 = 260 trading days.
- Then, subtract the relevant public holidays based on whether there are any.
- Exclude holidays: For example, in the US, common stock market holidays include New Years Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, etc. You need to check the public holidays for the entire year and subtract those days from the total trading days.
Major Public Holidays in the United States
Here are the public holidays when the U.S. stock markets (such as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ) will be closed in 2025:
- New Year's Day – January 1 (Wednesday)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20 (Monday)
- Presidents' Day – February 17 (Monday)
- Memorial Day – May 26 (Monday)
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19 (Thursday)
- Independence Day – July 4 (Friday)
- Labor Day – September 1 (Monday)
- Thanksgiving – November 27 (Thursday)
- Christmas Day – December 25 (Thursday)
What is a Trading Session?
A trading session refers to a specific time period during which financial markets are open and allow trading. During these sessions, investors can perform buy and sell operations, and market prices are influenced by trading activity.
Classification of Trading Sessions (using the Forex market as an example):
- Asian Session: Typically from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Beijing Time, with major trading centers in Tokyo, Singapore, etc.
- European Session: Typically from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM Beijing Time, with London as the main trading center.
- U.S. Session: Typically from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM Beijing Time, with New York as the main trading center.
Impact of Trading Sessions:
- Volatility: Volatility is usually higher when major markets open. For example, when the New York and London markets overlap, volatility in the Forex market tends to be higher.
- Liquidity: Liquidity is better during active sessions, meaning the bid-ask spread is narrower and trading is more efficient.
- Strategy Adjustment: Investors adjust their strategies based on the characteristics of each session. For instance, day traders often prefer sessions with higher volatility for trading.
What are Extended Trading Hours?
Extended trading hours refer to the time periods before and after the normal market trading session during which you can still buy and sell securities.
Pre-market trading occurs before the market officially opens, usually from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern Time, while after-hours trading happens after the market closes, typically from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
Which Markets Offer Extended Trading Hours?
Some major financial markets offer extended trading hours, allowing you to buy and sell securities outside of regular trading hours. Here are some of them:
- New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
- Pre-market trading hours: 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern Time
- After-hours trading hours: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time
- NASDAQ
- Pre-market trading hours: 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern Time
- After-hours trading hours: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time
- London Stock Exchange (LSE)
- Some securities can be traded on the London Stock Exchange International Order Book from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM local time, with certain instruments available for extended trading hours.
Trading Days and Trading Opportunities
Although there are fixed trading days throughout the year, not every day offers the same trading opportunities. For example, by 2025, the United States will have 252 trading days, while Hong Kong will have 245. However, trading opportunities depend on factors such as market trends, economic news and major events driving activity.
Successful traders do not try to trade every day, but instead focus on days when the market is more active and the opportunity for profit is greater. By knowing when to act and when to wait, you can make the most of trading days throughout the year.
Which Days of the Week Are Best for Trading?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally considered to be the best trading days of the week. Historically, the market tends to show a more consistent and favorable trend these days.
Monday could be volatile due to the accumulated news over the weekend, while Thursday and Friday could be influenced by traders adjusting their positions ahead of the weekend. By midweek, the market usually stabilizes, providing better opportunities for strategic deals.
When is the Best Time of the Year for Trading?
The best times to trade during the year are typically at the beginning of the year, as well as in November and December. Market activity increases at the start of the year because investors adjust their portfolios based on new annual strategies and economic outlooks.
Additionally, November and December are influenced by the “Santa Claus Rally,” a phenomenon where stock prices tend to rise due to holiday optimism and year-end tax considerations.
Conclusion
Knowing how many trading days there are in a year and being familiar with the trading hours is crucial for anyone involved in the market. In the United States, there are 252 trading days per year, as weekends and public holidays take up part of the 365 days.
Each trading day represents the opening hours of markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, which are usually 9:30 am to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. In addition, trading hours are extended before and after regular trading hours, providing more trading opportunities, although the level of activity and risk of these opportunities may vary.
