What are the differences between trading hours in the Japanese stock market and ours? Is there a midday break?
Hello there! Regarding the trading hours of the Japanese and Chinese stock markets, let me break it down for you in simple terms.
The trading schedules of these two markets are indeed different, especially the lunch breaks, where the contrast is quite noticeable.
Japanese Stock Market (Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Like ours, the Japanese market has a lunch break, meaning "no trading during lunchtime."
- Morning Session: Tokyo Time 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- Lunch Break: Tokyo Time 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (break lasts 1 hour)
- Afternoon Session: Tokyo Time 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Summary for Japan: Starts at 9:00 AM, closes at 3:00 PM, with a 1-hour break in between. Total trading time is 5 hours.
Chinese Stock Market (A-shares, Shanghai & Shenzhen)
You're probably familiar with China's A-share market. It also has a lunch break.
- Morning Session: Beijing Time 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
- Lunch Break: Beijing Time 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (break lasts 1.5 hours)
- Afternoon Session: Beijing Time 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Summary for China: Opens at 9:30 AM, closes at 3:00 PM, with a 1.5-hour break. Total trading time is 4 hours.
Key Differences? This Table Makes it Clear
| Comparison Item | Japanese Market (Tokyo Time) | Chinese Market (Beijing Time) | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Time | 9:00 AM | 9:30 AM | Japan opens half an hour earlier. |
| Lunch Break Duration | 1 hour (11:30 AM-12:30 PM) | 1.5 hours (11:30 AM-1:00 PM) | This is the biggest difference! Japan's lunch break is shorter. |
| Afternoon Session Start | 12:30 PM | 1:00 PM | Due to the shorter break, Japan resumes trading earlier in the afternoon. |
| Closing Time | 3:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Closing time is the same. |
| Total Trading Hours | 5 hours | 4 hours | Japan trades for 1 hour longer each day. |
| Time Zone Note | Tokyo is 1 hour ahead of Beijing | - | Remember: When it's 9:00 AM in Tokyo, it's 8:00 AM in Beijing. |
Simply put, you can remember it like this:
- Opening: Japan starts earlier.
- Lunch Break: Japan's is shorter; China's is longer.
- Total Trading Hours: Japan trades longer; China trades shorter.
So, if you're following both markets, you'll notice Japan has a longer morning session and starts trading earlier in the afternoon. Hope this explanation helps!