SEC to Hold September Roundtable on 24-Hour Stock Trading

The US Securities and Exchange Commission will hold a public roundtable in September to explore the shift toward round-the-clock trading in US equity markets. The event is scheduled for September 17 at the SEC’s Washington, DC headquarters.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the agency is preparing for a new phase in equity markets that extends into overnight hours, adding that aligning US markets with those that already trade continuously is a welcome step forward.

Discussions at the roundtable will cover how markets can prepare for overnight trading, along with the operational and resiliency challenges of running a 24-hour system.

Global Exchanges Move Toward Continuous Trading

The push comes as major exchanges worldwide edge closer to near round the clock trading. The London Stock Exchange is reportedly planning a night time trading venue for early 2027, while Nasdaq said in March it had started talks with US regulators about offering 24-hour trading five days a week, targeting a launch in the second half of 2026 pending regulatory approval.

Retail Investors Could Gain Crypto-Like Access

The shift would give stock market investors trading flexibility long available on cryptocurrency exchanges, which already operate continuously.