The Global Split
Traders accustomed to Western markets (New York, London, Frankfurt) are used to continuous trading. The NYSE runs from 9:30 to 4:00 without pause. Algorithms and floor traders eat at their desks.
However, Asia retains a traditional "Lunch Break" structure that can trap unwary international traders.
Major Markets with Lunch Breaks
- Tokyo (TSE): 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Shanghai (SSE): 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (A massive 90-minute pause)
- Hong Kong (HKEX): 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Shenzhen (SZSE): 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Why This Matters
If you place a "Market Order" just as the clock hits 11:30 AM in Tokyo, your order might sit in limbo for an hour. Worse, news continues to break during lunch. If an economic report comes out at 12:00 PM, the market will gap significantly when it reopens at 12:30 PM.
Strategy Tip: Avoid opening new short-term positions in the 15 minutes leading up to the lunch break. Liquidity often thins out as local traders square up their positions to go eat, leading to erratic spreads.