DTCC’s NSCC extends clearing hours to 24/5 model
30 June 2026 US, UK, Hong Kong
Image: fotofabrika/stock.adobe.com
The National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), has extended its clearing hours to 24/5 availability, supporting overnight trading activity from Alternative Trading Systems (ATS) and exchanges.
The move expands the firm’s clearing hours from Sundays at 20:00 Eastern Time (ET) to Fridays at 20:00 ET.
According to the firm, it reflects growing global demand for increased access to US markets as investors seek greater flexibility to trade outside traditional hours.
It enables NSCC to apply its central counterparty guarantee immediately to transactions executed across extended trading hours and multiple time zones.
DTCC opened its testing environment in January 2026, requiring all consumers of the Universal Trade Capture real-time messages to test the required changes.
All firms completed testing successfully prior to the recent go-live.
ATS have already been using NSCC’s previously extended operating window, introduced in September 2024 with clearing beginning approximately 2.5 hours earlier than before, while exchanges are expected to follow with longer trading hours in late 2026, alongside planned extensions from securities information processors.
Brian Steele, managing director and president of Clearing and Securities Services, DTCC, notes: “Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the US equities market. By increasing clearing hours to operate on a near-continuous basis, we are enhancing access to US markets for investors around the world, while maintaining the robust risk management and resiliency capabilities that are critical to market stability.
“DTCC has collaborated closely with our clients and industry stakeholders to prepare for this moment. With 24/5 trading now in place, we are enabling market participants to operate confidently in a more accessible, globally connected trading environment.”
The move expands the firm’s clearing hours from Sundays at 20:00 Eastern Time (ET) to Fridays at 20:00 ET.
According to the firm, it reflects growing global demand for increased access to US markets as investors seek greater flexibility to trade outside traditional hours.
It enables NSCC to apply its central counterparty guarantee immediately to transactions executed across extended trading hours and multiple time zones.
DTCC opened its testing environment in January 2026, requiring all consumers of the Universal Trade Capture real-time messages to test the required changes.
All firms completed testing successfully prior to the recent go-live.
ATS have already been using NSCC’s previously extended operating window, introduced in September 2024 with clearing beginning approximately 2.5 hours earlier than before, while exchanges are expected to follow with longer trading hours in late 2026, alongside planned extensions from securities information processors.
Brian Steele, managing director and president of Clearing and Securities Services, DTCC, notes: “Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the US equities market. By increasing clearing hours to operate on a near-continuous basis, we are enhancing access to US markets for investors around the world, while maintaining the robust risk management and resiliency capabilities that are critical to market stability.
“DTCC has collaborated closely with our clients and industry stakeholders to prepare for this moment. With 24/5 trading now in place, we are enabling market participants to operate confidently in a more accessible, globally connected trading environment.”
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