NZX and ASX trading hours in NZ and Australian time
When the NZX and ASX open and close, the pre-open and closing auctions, how daylight saving shifts the ASX in New Zealand time, and what happens on public holidays.
Knowing exactly when each market trades helps you place orders at sensible times and understand why prices jump at the open. Here are the NZX and ASX schedules, with the ASX converted to New Zealand time.
NZX trading hours
All times are New Zealand time, Monday to Friday excluding NZX market holidays.
| Session | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-open | Before 10:00am | Orders can be entered, changed and cancelled, but nothing trades |
| Opening auction | About 10:00am | Orders are matched at a single opening price |
| Normal trading | 10:00am to 4:45pm | Continuous buying and selling |
| Pre-close | 4:45pm to about 5:00pm | Orders build up for the closing auction |
| Closing auction | About 5:00pm | A single closing price is set |
The NZX doesn't close for lunch and has no after-hours trading for retail investors. The exact auction times are randomised by a few seconds so nobody can game the last moment.
ASX trading hours
Times are Sydney time, Monday to Friday excluding ASX holidays.
| Session | Time (Sydney) | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-open | 7:00am to 9:59am | Orders can be entered, nothing trades |
| Opening auction | From 9:59am, about 30 seconds | Orders are matched at a single opening price |
| Normal trading | About 10:00am to 4:00pm | Continuous trading |
| Pre-CSPA | 4:00pm to 4:10pm | Orders build for the closing auction |
| Closing single price auction | About 4:10pm | The official closing price is set |
| Adjust | Late afternoon into evening | Orders can be cancelled or amended, but nothing trades |
Like the NZX, the auction start times are randomised by a few seconds.
ASX hours in New Zealand time
New Zealand is usually two hours ahead of Sydney, so for most of the year:
- ASX pre-open starts at 9:00am NZ time.
- ASX normal trading runs from about noon to 6:00pm NZ time.
- The ASX closing auction happens at about 6:10pm NZ time.
The daylight saving wrinkle
New Zealand starts daylight saving on the last Sunday in September; New South Wales starts on the first Sunday in October. For that week or so, New Zealand is three hours ahead, and the ASX trades from about 1:00pm to 7:00pm NZ time. Both countries end daylight saving on the first Sunday in April, so there's no mismatch in autumn.
Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory don't use daylight saving, but the ASX runs on Sydney time regardless of where a company is based.
When both markets are open
On a normal day, the NZX and ASX overlap from about noon to 4:45pm New Zealand time. Dual-listed companies such as Fisher & Paykel Healthcare or Infratil can trade on both at once during this window, and prices on each market tend to track each other closely once currency is taken into account. See dual-listed NZX and ASX companies.
Why the open and close matter
- The opening auction absorbs overnight news: results released before the open, moves on Wall Street, commodity prices and currency. Prices can open well away from the previous close.
- The closing auction sets the official closing price, which index funds use. Large volumes often trade in it, especially on index rebalance days.
- Company announcements often land before the open or after the close, so the auction is where the market first prices them. See how to read company announcements.
If you're buying a lightly traded share, placing a limit order during normal trading rather than a market order into the opening auction gives you more control over the price you pay.
Public holidays
Each exchange closes on its own country's national public holidays, so there are days when one is open and the other isn't. For example, the NZX closes on Waitangi Day and the ASX trades as normal; the ASX closes on Australia Day while the NZX is open. Both exchanges publish their holiday calendars each year, and some have shortened sessions around Christmas and New Year.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the NZX open?
The NZX opens for normal trading at 10:00am New Zealand time, after a pre-open session where orders can be entered. It closes at 4:45pm, followed by a short pre-close and closing auction.
What time does the ASX open in New Zealand?
Usually at about noon New Zealand time, because Sydney is two hours behind. For about a week each spring, when New Zealand has started daylight saving and New South Wales hasn't, it opens at about 1:00pm New Zealand time.
Can I buy shares outside trading hours?
You can usually place orders with your broker at any time. They wait in the queue and take part in the next opening auction or trade when the market opens.
Does the ASX close for lunch?
No. Both the ASX and NZX trade continuously through the middle of the day.
Why did my share price jump at the opening?
The opening auction is the first chance for the market to react to overnight news, such as company announcements, overseas markets or commodity prices, so the first trade can be well above or below the previous close.
This guide is general information, not financial or tax advice. Rules and market hours change; check the exchange, IRD or ATO, or a licensed adviser for your situation.