The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), home to a quarter of companies with dual listings, is closely monitoring moves by global exchanges toward extended trading hours, reports Business Day.
Both the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and New York–listed Nasdaq and NYSE are reportedly considering or planning 24-hour platforms.
Extended hours have gained traction, particularly across Asian markets, and the rise of cryptocurrencies and blockchain has accelerated the shift toward continuous trading.
Also driving the push are factors like globalisation, advances in trading infrastructure, and rising investor demand.
“Extended hours for trading have been discussed quite widely globally with the announcement by Nasdaq to get to 24/7 trading by 2026, and now NYSE and LSEG are also referencing a move,” said Valdene Reddy, director of capital markets at the JSE, in an interview with Business Day.
“The use case and operating model for 24 hours has been proven with trading across digital assets and, in particular, crypto. So, it’s a model that has been in play with traditional assets looking to catch up.”
Nasdaq recently confirmed plans to roll out 24-hour trading for its main US exchange in the second half of 2026, citing increased global demand for US equities. “The global growth of investor demand for US equities means we stand at another pivotal moment for our markets,” said Nasdaq President Tal Cohen.
Other platforms, including Cboe Global Markets and Intercontinental Exchange – the parent company of NYSE – are also exploring similar extensions. Still, challenges remain.
As Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and CIO at Running Point Capital Advisors, told Reuters, “Liquidity and fair market pricing will be relevant issues to address,” and retailers may initially limit 24-hour trading to large-cap stocks while possibly introducing premium fees.
Nasdaq has begun engaging regulators, preparing to submit filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Brokerages like Charles Schwab and Robinhood have already moved toward limited 24-hour trading, testing the waters ahead of full-scale implementation.
