Nasdaq wants to enable trading on the exchange for nearly 24 hours a day during the week. Finance pros are mixed on the idea.

The Nasdaq stock market is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to start allowing nearly round-the-clock trading. Nearly, meaning 23 hours a day, five days a week.

Wells Fargo analysts on Tuesday criticized the Nasdaq Stock Market’s proposal to extend trading on U.S.-listed equities to 23 hours a day for five days a week, calling the plans the “worst thing in the world” and a risk to make stock trading “even more like gambling.”

Shares of Medline, which sells medical products such as ECG/EKG machines and post-operation bandages, were up more than 31% in afternoon trade above 38. The Nasdaq-listed stock opened nearly 21% above its IPO price of $29 a share, which marked $6.26 billion raised by the company.

Wall Street analysts expect another strong year in stocks in 2026, propelled by continued AI sector gains and additional Fed interest-rate cuts.

Although President Donald Trump ordered that the federal government to close on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will keep their trading hours unchanged.

Looking for the stock market outlook for the first half of 2026? See what you should consider heading into the new year to help be prepared.

Nasdaq is planning to submit paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday to roll out round-the-clock trading of stocks, as it looks to capitalize on a global demand for U.S. equities.