Stock Market Hours in Los Angeles
NYSE, NASDAQ, and trading hours from the West Coast perspective
US Markets: Closed
⚡ Quick Answer
The NYSE and NASDAQ open at 6:30 AM PST and close at 1:00 PM PSTon weekdays. For West Coast traders, this means early mornings — the opening bell rings before most Californians are at their desk. Pre-market trading starts at 4:00 AM PST, and after-hours extends until 8:00 PM PST.
📊 Complete Trading Schedule (LA Time)
| Session | LA Time (PST/PDT) | ET Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Market | 4:00 AM - 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Limited liquidity, wider spreads |
| Regular Hours | 6:30 AM - 1:00 PM | 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Peak trading volume & liquidity |
| After-Hours | 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Extended trading, lower volume |
| Closed | 8:00 PM - 4:00 AM | 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM | No trading |
⏰ West Coast Trading Challenges
❌ The Challenges
- 6:30 AM Opening: Before most people's commute
- 1:00 PM Closing: Markets close during lunch
- Missing Morning Moves: Sleep through early volatility
- Earnings Calls: Often at 2-5 PM ET (11 AM-2 PM PST)
- Economic Data: Released 5:30 AM PST (8:30 AM ET)
- Breaking News: Happens before you wake up
✅ The Advantages
- Afternoon Free: Markets close at 1 PM
- Less Emotional: Sleep through opening panic
- Research Time: Analyze after-close till evening
- Asian Markets: Trade Tokyo/HK in evening
- Crypto Never Sleeps: West Coast friendly
- After-Hours: Full access 1-8 PM PST
📅 Recommended Trading Schedules for LA
🌅 Day Trader Schedule
- 5:30 AM: Wake up, check overnight news & pre-market
- 6:00 AM: Review watchlist, plan trades
- 6:30 AM: Market open — most active first 90 minutes
- 8:00-11:00 AM: Main trading window
- 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Reduced activity, close positions
- 1:00 PM: Market close, done for the day
- Afternoon: Research, analysis, life outside trading
📈 Swing Trader Schedule
- 7:00-8:00 AM: Check positions, set alerts
- 12:00-1:00 PM: Review before close, adjust if needed
- After 1:00 PM: Research new opportunities
- Evening: Earnings calls, company research
- Flexibility: No need for 6:30 AM wake-up
💼 Long-Term Investor Schedule
- Any time after 6:30 AM: Place orders when convenient
- Lunch hour trading: Use 12-1 PM to check in
- After close: Research and portfolio review
- Weekend: Deep analysis without market pressure
- No rush: West Coast time lag is irrelevant
🔔 Critical Times to Watch (LA Time)
| Time (PST) | Time (ET) | Event | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:30 AM | 8:30 AM | Economic Data Releases | 🔥 Critical - Jobs, GDP, CPI |
| 6:30 AM | 9:30 AM | Market Open | 🔥 High volatility first 30 min |
| 7:00-8:00 AM | 10:00-11:00 AM | Morning Trading Peak | ⚡ Highest volume window |
| 11:00 AM-1:00 PM | 2:00-4:00 PM | Afternoon Session | 📊 Closing moves, position adjustments |
| 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM | Market Close | 🔥 Final trades, index rebalancing |
| 2:00 PM | 5:00 PM | FOMC Announcements | 🔥 Fed rate decisions (8x/year) |
💻 Recommended Platforms for LA Traders
Mobile-First (For Early Hours)
- Robinhood: Simple, mobile-native, 6:30 AM ready
- Webull: Extended hours (4 AM-8 PM PST)
- TD Ameritrade Mobile: Full platform on phone
- E*TRADE Mobile: Quick trades from bed
Desktop Power Tools
- Interactive Brokers: Pro features, low fees
- TD Ameritrade thinkorswim: Advanced charting
- TradeStation: For serious day traders
- Fidelity Active Trader Pro: Research heavy
💡 Pro Tips for West Coast Traders
- ✓ Set multiple alarms: 5:45 AM, 6:15 AM, 6:25 AM for market open
- ✓ Automate pre-market research: Emails/alerts overnight
- ✓ Use limit orders: Set them night before, execute at open
- ✓ Embrace after-hours: 1-8 PM PST is your advantage
- ✓ Consider swing trading: Less stress than day trading at 6:30 AM
- ✓ Weekend analysis: Research when not fighting time zones
- ✓ Coffee ready: Brew at 6:20 AM, trade at 6:30 AM ☕