Normal trading for the ASX runs from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday Sydney Time. This ASX Stock Market Open Time is when most trading is performed.
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday for the cash market, with a pre-market running from 7am to 10am. Traders and investors are able to trade during the cash market, while brokers enter orders into the ASX in preparation for the market open.
ASX Open Times & Daylight Savings, What Traders Need to Know
When daylight savings ends (typically in April) and clocks roll back one hour in NSW, VIC, and other states, it can affect:
- Pre-market news timing
- Overlap with international market sessions
- Volatility windows during open/close
If you’re trading international markets or using a strategy tied to volatility or news catalysts, this 1-hour shift can impact trade timing, alerts, and execution.
Because Sydney varies between AEST and AEDT, the easiest way to know what the time is in Sydney is the search for Time in Sydney Now.
ASX Opening Phase to Spread System Load and Reduce Volatility Spikes
The ASX staggers the open of stocks by alphabetical groups based on their first letter or number. This helps to spread the load on the system and reduce spikes in volatility across the market.
Ther are 5 groups, running for close to 2 minutes each starting from 10am Sydney time. The groups run as follows:
0-9 and A-B go first, then Group 2 is C-f followed by Group 3 containing G-M. Group 4 consists of N-R and finally S-Z go last.
This is important to know, as many traders look to enter and exit positions at the open of the market. Knowing that your shares starting with s through z may take a little longer to open is helpful when looking to get in or out first thing in the morning.
ASX Options Expiry & Security Volatility
For the ASX, options usually expire on the third Thursday of the month, or for weekly options, the expiry is each Thursday. This expiration often has an effect on market volatility, so it’s good to know the times it occurs. ASX options expire at the open time of the market at 10am and this can have an effect on security price movement.
What If I Work During the Day?
For many people who work during the hours the ASX is open for trade, they may turn to US Stocks or other markets available on our platform.
How Does the ASX Stock Market Open Time Compare Globally?
Understanding the ASX Stock Market Open Time in a global context can help international investors align strategies across multiple time zones. For example, while the ASX opens at 10:00 AM AEST, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) begins trading at 9:30 AM EST, and the London Stock Exchange opens at 8:00 AM GMT. These differences create windows of opportunity for global arbitrage, particularly for traders who operate across markets.
Does Daylight Saving Time Affect ASX Stock Market Open Time?
Yes, and it often catches traders off guard. When daylight saving begins in October, the ASX Stock Market Open Time shifts from AEST to AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time), typically one hour ahead. This affects trading synchronisation with markets in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., making it essential to adjust trading hours accordingly if you’re operating internationally.
Public Holidays and the ASX Stock Market Open Time
The ASX is closed on certain Australian public holidays, which impacts the regular ASX Stock Market Open Time schedule. These include New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Traders should always check the official ASX calendar to avoid surprises in their trading schedule.
Key Phases of the ASX Trading Day
To fully understand the ASX Stock Market Open Time, it’s important to be familiar with the structure of the trading day:
- Pre-Open (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM AEST): Order placement and adjustments occur, but trades don’t execute.
- Opening Phase (10:00 AM – 10:10 AM AEST): A staggered start to avoid price spikes and ensure smooth market entry.
- Normal Trading (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM AEST): Continuous order matching and execution.
- Pre-CSPA (4:00 PM – 4:10 PM AEST): Order modifications before the final price auction.
- Closing Auction (4:10 PM – 4:12 PM AEST): Final trades set the closing price.
- Adjust Phase (4:12 PM – 5:00 PM AEST): Back-office adjustments and system reset.
Frequently Asked Questions About ASX Stock Market Open Time
Is the ASX open on weekends?
No, the ASX is only open Monday to Friday during designated trading hours.
What is the most active time during the ASX trading day?
Liquidity peaks at the ASX Stock Market Open Time and again around the closing auction, due to institutional order flow and rebalancing.
Can I place trades outside of ASX market hours?
Yes, you can place orders during the Pre-Open phase, but they won’t execute until the ASX officially opens at 10:00 AM AEST.
ASX Stock Market Open Time & When Traders Look for Opportunity
Around the ASX Stock Market Open Time is when many traders look for opportunity. They seek the added volatility from the order influx at the time of the open, especially for the ASX Index. Traders who are watching a particular stock, know to wait for their stock group to commence the open of trade each day. Often the initial movements can play a part in defining the sentiment in the leadup to other groups opening trades.
As you can see, the ASX stock market open time is subjective depending on what stock you are seeking to invest in. This grouped method of opening also has an effect on the market function behind the ASX stock index market and how it moves in the early moments of trade each day.
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