Stock Market Basics New York Stock Exchange

The NYSE is located in New York, New York at 11 Wall Street between Broad Street and New Street and is the largest stock exchange in the world. Additional trading rooms and other facilities are located in other buildings along Broad Street.

The NYSE is part of NYSE Euronext which operates several exchanges worldwide, including the Euronext exchange in Paris, France.

What time does the stock market open, is a frequent question of new investors. Part of the difficulty lies in time zones which can make it difficult to remember if the NYSE opens at 8:30 a.m. your time or New York time.

The New York Stock Exchange opens Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Eastern Time is GMT -4 during dayli Daylight Savings Time and GMT -5 when on standard time. The opening bell is literally a ringing bell which is often ceremoniously started as a promotional opportunity by either the representatives of an exchange traded company, or by other persons such as representatives of charities or other groups.

The stock exchange closes each day at 4:00 p.m. The market's closing is signified by the same bell that opens the exchange in the morning, and also concludes with the banging of a gavel

The NYSE trading floor is closed each year for several major holidays. If New Year's Day falls on the weekend the market is not closed for New Years. The 2009 New York Stock Exchange Holiday calendar shows the market closed for:

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

President's Day

Good Friday

Memorial Day

Independence Day (July 3rd)

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas

For 2010, the NYSE will be closed for the same holidays. Independence Day will be observed on July 5th because the 4th of July falls on a Sunday in 2010.

The stock exchange floor is seen on many news programs at both the market opening and the closing, as well as in numerous movies. However, regular visitors are not allowed on the stock exchange floor at any time.