The Nasdaq opens at 15:30 SAST while US daylight saving time applies (8 March to 1 November 2026) and at 16:30 SAST for the rest of the year. It closes at 22:00 SAST in the US summer period and at 23:00 SAST in the US winter period.
South Africa stays on UTC+2 all year, so only the US clock change moves these times. The next switch is Monday 2 November 2026, when the open moves from 15:30 to 16:30 SAST.
Nasdaq trading hours in South African time
Nasdaq runs three weekday sessions in US Eastern Time (ET): pre-market, the regular session and after-hours. Here they are in SAST.
| Session | US time (ET) | SAST, US summer (8 Mar to 1 Nov 2026) | SAST, US winter (2 Nov 2026 to 13 Mar 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-market | 04:00 to 09:30 | 10:00 to 15:30 | 11:00 to 16:30 |
| Regular session | 09:30 to 16:00 | 15:30 to 22:00 | 16:30 to 23:00 |
| After-hours | 16:00 to 20:00 | 22:00 to 02:00 (next day) | 23:00 to 03:00 (next day) |
“US summer” and “US winter” refer to US daylight saving time, not South African seasons. The South African summer months of December to February fall in the US winter period, so the Nasdaq opens at 16:30 SAST then. US daylight saving time starts again on Sunday 14 March 2027, which brings the open back to 15:30 SAST from Monday 15 March 2027.
Session times are from Nasdaq’s trading hours FAQ. The regular session is the one that sets the official open and closing prices, and it is when most volume trades.
What time does NAS100 open in South Africa?
NAS100 is the name most brokers use for a CFD on the Nasdaq-100 index (see what is NAS100). Outside the cash session, brokers price it from Nasdaq-100 futures, which trade almost around the clock. CME lists its E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures from Sunday 18:00 to Friday 17:00 ET, with a daily maintenance break from 17:00 to 18:00 ET. In SAST that works out as follows.
| Futures session | SAST, US summer | SAST, US winter |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Monday 00:00 | Monday 01:00 |
| Daily break | 23:00 to 00:00 | 00:00 to 01:00 |
| Weekly close | Friday 23:00 | Saturday 00:00 |
CFD brokers quote NAS100 on a similar near 24-hour session with a daily break, but each broker sets its own open, break and close, often based on its server time. Check the symbol specification in MT4 or MT5 (right-click the symbol in Market Watch and choose Specification) or the broker’s contract specifications page before you rely on a time.
Pre-market and after-hours trading from South Africa
Pre-market (10:00 or 11:00 SAST) and after-hours (from 22:00 or 23:00 SAST) trading is open to share accounts that offer extended hours on US stocks. Volume is thinner and spreads are wider than in the regular session, and prices can jump on earnings released outside the cash session.
Nasdaq plans to add a night session for 23-hour weekday trading, with a target launch of Sunday 6 December 2026, subject to market data (SIP) readiness and regulatory steps. The regular 09:30 to 16:00 ET session does not change.
Best time to trade Nasdaq (NAS100) in South Africa
For NAS100 and Nasdaq shares, these windows usually carry the most volume and movement:
- The cash open: the first hour or two after the open, so 15:30 to 17:30 SAST in the US summer period and 16:30 to 18:30 SAST in the US winter period.
- US economic data at 08:30 ET: 14:30 SAST in the US summer period and 15:30 SAST in the US winter period. Inflation figures and Non-Farm Payrolls can move the index sharply before the cash open.
- The last hour: 21:00 to 22:00 SAST (US summer) or 22:00 to 23:00 SAST (US winter), when funds rebalance into the close.
The quietest period is the Asian morning, when NAS100 CFDs move on thin futures volume. Our New York session guide covers how the US session lines up with the London afternoon.
Inside the cash session, the US lunch period is the slowest stretch: roughly 12:00 to 13:30 ET, which is 18:00 to 19:30 SAST in the US summer period and 19:00 to 20:30 SAST in the US winter period. Ranges narrow and breakouts often fail, so momentum traders usually wait for the afternoon.
What moves NAS100 the most
The Nasdaq-100 is weighted towards large technology companies, so it reacts to a slightly different set of news than the Dow:
- Interest-rate expectations: growth and technology shares are sensitive to rates, so CPI data, Fed speeches and rate decisions move NAS100 sharply. The remaining 2026 Fed decisions are on Wednesday 28 October (statement at 20:00 SAST) and Wednesday 9 December (21:00 SAST).
- Big Tech earnings: the largest index members report quarterly, mostly after the US close, so NAS100 CFDs can gap in the evening and at the next cash open.
- US Treasury yields: rising long-term yields tend to weigh on the index and falling yields tend to support it.
- Jobs data: Non-Farm Payrolls moves NAS100 mainly through what it means for rates.
When the day’s news favours rate cuts, NAS100 often outperforms the Dow; when it favours economic growth over rates, US30 often holds up better.
What time does the Nasdaq close in South Africa?
The regular session closes at 16:00 ET, which is 22:00 SAST in the US summer period and 23:00 SAST in the US winter period. On early-close days the session ends at 13:00 ET instead.
US market holidays for the rest of 2026
Nasdaq’s trading calendar lists these remaining 2026 closures, as at October 2026:
| Date | Holiday | Cash session |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 26 November | Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Friday 27 November | Day after Thanksgiving | Early close 13:00 ET (20:00 SAST) |
| Thursday 24 December | Christmas Eve | Early close 13:00 ET (20:00 SAST) |
| Friday 25 December | Christmas Day | Closed |
On US holidays most brokers keep NAS100 open on shortened hours or close it early. Brokers usually publish a holiday schedule a few days ahead, so check it before you leave positions open. The same calendar applies to the Dow Jones; see our US30 trading hours guide.
FAQs
What time does Nasdaq open in South Africa?
The Nasdaq regular session opens at 15:30 SAST from 8 March to 1 November 2026 and at 16:30 SAST from 2 November 2026 until US daylight saving time resumes on 14 March 2027.
What time does NAS100 open in South Africa?
NAS100 CFDs follow Nasdaq-100 futures, which open for the week on Monday at 00:00 SAST in the US summer period and 01:00 SAST in the US winter period. Your broker’s exact hours may differ slightly, so check the symbol specification.
What are the NAS100 trading hours in South Africa?
Most brokers quote NAS100 almost 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, with a daily break of about an hour around 23:00 to 01:00 SAST. Liquidity is best during the cash session, 15:30 to 22:00 SAST or 16:30 to 23:00 SAST depending on US daylight saving time.
What is the best time to trade Nasdaq in South Africa?
The first one to two hours after the cash open usually offer the most movement and the tightest spreads. US data releases at 14:30 or 15:30 SAST are also active, but spreads can widen around them.
What time does Nasdaq close in South Africa?
The regular session closes at 22:00 SAST during US daylight saving time and 23:00 SAST otherwise. After-hours trading continues until 02:00 or 03:00 SAST.
Ready to trade NAS100? Compare FSCA-authorised brokers that offer US index CFDs.
Trading CFDs is high risk. Leverage can magnify losses, and you may lose your deposit. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
