NSE Trading Hours
Standard Trading Hours
Monday to Friday:
- Market Opens: 9:00 AM East Africa Time (EAT)
- Market Closes: 3:00 PM East Africa Time (EAT)
Trading Duration: 6 hours per day
No lunch break—continuous trading from 9am to 3pm.
Pre-Market and After-Hours
Currently, NSE operates only during official hours (9am-3pm).
No pre-market or after-hours trading available to retail investors.
Orders placed outside trading hours: Queue for next trading day.
Market Sessions
Opening Session (9:00 AM - 9:30 AM)
Characteristics:
- Highest volatility
- Orders from overnight queue execute
- News from previous evening affects prices
- Large volume
Best for: Experienced traders who react to news
Beginners: May want to wait and observe first 30 minutes
Mid-Day Session (9:30 AM - 2:00 PM)
Characteristics:
- More stable pricing
- Regular trading activity
- Less extreme price swings
- Easier to execute orders at expected prices
Best for: Most investors, especially beginners
Closing Session (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Characteristics:
- Increased activity
- Some volatility as traders close positions
- Institutional investors adjusting portfolios
Last 15 minutes (2:45-3:00 PM): Highest activity after opening
When NSE is Closed
Weekends
Every Weekend:
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
No trading on weekends, regardless of holidays or special circumstances.
Public Holidays
NSE closed on all Kenyan public holidays:
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Labour Day (May 1)
- Madaraka Day (June 1)
- Eid ul-Fitr (varies, Islamic calendar)
- Eid ul-Adha (varies, Islamic calendar)
- Utamaduni Day (October 10)
- Mashujaa Day (October 20)
- Jamhuri Day (December 12)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- Boxing Day (December 26)
If holiday falls on weekend: Monday becomes public holiday (market closed).
Special Closures
NSE may close for:
- National mourning periods
- Emergency situations
- Technical issues (rare)
- Special government declarations
Notice: NSE announces special closures in advance when possible.
Settlement Periods
T+3 Settlement
T+3 means: Trade day + 3 business days
Example 1:
- Trade on Monday (T)
- Settles on Thursday (T+3)
Example 2:
- Trade on Friday (T)
- Skips weekend
- Settles on Wednesday (T+3)
Example 3:
- Trade on Wednesday (T)
- Thursday is public holiday (doesn’t count)
- Friday = T+1
- Monday = T+2
- Tuesday = T+3 (settlement)
What Settlement Means
Before settlement:
- Trade executed
- Shows in broker platform
- But not yet officially yours in CDSC account
After settlement:
- Shares officially in your CDSC account
- You’re the registered owner
- Eligible for corporate actions (dividends, rights, etc.)
Payment Settlement
Buying shares:
- Money must be in broker account before trade
- Broker pays seller
- Shares transfer to you (T+3)
Selling shares:
- Shares sold immediately (if you own them)
- Money available in broker account after T+3
- Withdraw to your bank after settlement
Best Times to Trade
For Long-Term Investors
Time of day doesn’t matter much.
Strategy: Place order whenever convenient during trading hours.
Why: Holding for years, so daily timing less critical.
Tip: Use limit orders to control price.
For Active Traders
Avoid first 15 minutes (9:00-9:15 AM):
- Highest volatility
- Prices can swing wildly
- Risk of bad execution price
Ideal: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM:
- Stable prices
- Clear market direction
- Easier to execute at fair prices
Avoid last 15 minutes if nervous:
- Increased volatility
- End-of-day position closing
Day of Week
Monday:
- Reacts to weekend news
- Can be volatile
- International market movements reflected
Tuesday-Thursday:
- Most stable days
- Typical trading patterns
- Best for beginners
Friday:
- Some traders close positions before weekend
- Slightly lower volume
- End-of-week adjustments
Order Placement Timing
Orders During Trading Hours
Market orders: Execute immediately at best available price
Limit orders: Execute if/when price reaches your limit
Orders After Trading Hours (After 3:00 PM)
What happens:
- Broker accepts order
- Order queues overnight
- Executes next trading day when market opens
- If market order: At opening price
- If limit order: If price reaches limit
Example:
- Place order Friday 5:00 PM
- Market closed Saturday-Sunday
- Order executes Monday 9:00 AM
Orders on Weekends
Accepted by brokers: Usually yes (check your broker)
Execution: Next trading day (Monday, or Tuesday if Monday is holiday)
Note: Opening price Monday may differ significantly from Friday’s close.
Market Information Updates
Real-Time Prices
During trading hours:
- Prices update in real-time
- See live bid/ask spreads
- Volume information current
Platforms:
- Broker platforms
- NSE website (nse.co.ke)
- Financial apps
After Hours
Outside 9am-3pm:
- Prices show last traded price from market close
- No new trades
- No price updates until next trading day
Market Announcements
Company announcements:
- Can be released anytime
- If during market hours: Immediate price impact
- If after hours: Impact shows next trading day
Check: NSE website for official announcements
International Market Influence
Time Zone Context
East Africa Time (EAT): UTC+3
Other major markets:
- London opens: 10:00 AM EAT (summer), 11:00 AM EAT (winter)
- US markets open: 4:30 PM EAT
- Asian markets: Already closed when NSE opens
How It Affects NSE
Morning (9:00 AM NSE open):
- Reflects Asian market closes
- European markets just opening
- US markets still closed (overnight)
Afternoon (NSE close at 3:00 PM):
- European markets still open
- US markets open shortly after
- Some spillover effects possible next day
Limited direct impact during NSE hours since major markets (US, Europe) mostly trade after NSE closes.
Planning Your Trading
For First-Time Buyers
Recommended:
- Trade Tuesday-Thursday
- Between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Use limit orders (sets maximum price)
- No rush—place order and wait
For Regular Investing
Set routine:
- Same day each month (e.g., first Monday after salary)
- Same time (e.g., 11:00 AM)
- Automate if broker allows (standing orders)
Benefits: Discipline, dollar-cost averaging, no overthinking.
For Portfolio Monitoring
How often to check:
- Long-term investors: Once per month is enough
- Active traders: Daily, but during market hours
- Beginners: Weekly to learn patterns
Avoid: Checking every hour (causes stress, no benefit).
Technical Factors
Trading Halts
NSE may halt trading temporarily:
- Major news pending
- Extreme volatility
- Technical issues
- Circuit breakers triggered (if prices move too fast)
Usually brief: Minutes to hours
Announced: Via NSE website, broker notifications
System Maintenance
Occasional downtime:
- Usually announced in advance
- May extend market close time if issues during trading day
- Check broker platforms and NSE for updates
Tax and Record-Keeping Timing
Financial Year-End Trading
June 30 (Kenya’s fiscal year-end):
- Some investors sell losses for tax purposes
- Rebalance portfolios
- Slightly higher activity
December 31 (calendar year-end):
- Year-end portfolio adjustments
- Institutional investors rebalancing
Can create opportunities: Some stocks temporarily underpriced.
Dividend Record Dates
Key dates:
- Declaration date: When dividend announced
- Ex-dividend date: Must own shares BEFORE this date
- Record date: CDSC verifies shareholders (usually same as ex-div date)
- Payment date: Dividend paid
Timing matters: Buy shares at least T+3 before ex-dividend date to receive dividend.
Example:
- Ex-dividend date: Friday, June 15
- Must buy by: Tuesday, June 12 (T+3 = Friday)
- If you buy Wednesday or later: No dividend
Tips for Managing Trading Time
- Set alerts: Use broker app alerts for price targets—no need to watch constantly
- Plan ahead: Decide what to buy/sell before market opens
- Avoid emotional trading: Don’t trade impulsively during volatility
- Use limit orders: Especially if can’t watch market constantly
- Trading journal: Note time of trades and outcomes—learn patterns
- Respect weekends: Market closed—time to research, not trade
- Check calendar: Know upcoming holidays—plan trades around them
- Automate when possible: Standing orders for regular investing
- Don’t trade every day: Long-term investing requires patience
- Life first: If you miss market hours, there’s always tomorrow
Checklist: Trading Schedule Awareness
✅ Know standard hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM ✅ Saved NSE holiday calendar ✅ Understand T+3 settlement (3 business days) ✅ Identified best time for my trading style (mid-day for beginners) ✅ Know how to place orders outside trading hours (they queue) ✅ Set up broker app alerts (not checking obsessively) ✅ Understand ex-dividend date timing (buy T+3 before) ✅ Know weekends = no trading (time for research) ✅ Aware of international market influence (limited but exists) ✅ Have routine for regular investing (same day/time monthly)
Common Questions
Q: Can I trade NSE shares outside Kenya’s hours if I’m abroad? A: No. NSE hours are fixed (9am-3pm EAT) regardless of where you are. Adjust for your time zone.
Q: What if I place an order at 2:59 PM? Does it execute? A: Yes, if it’s a market order. As long as entered before 3:00 PM, it should execute.
Q: If I sell shares Friday, when can I withdraw money? A: After settlement (T+3 = Wednesday), money available in broker account. Then withdraw to bank (1-2 days more).
Q: Do prices change overnight (market closed)? A: No. Prices frozen from 3:00 PM close until 9:00 AM open next trading day. But opening price may differ based on queued orders and news.
Q: Is NSE open on Easter Saturday? A: No—Good Friday and Easter Monday are holidays. Regular weekend rules apply to Saturday (always closed).
Next Steps
- Save NSE hours to your calendar: Set recurring event “NSE Trading: 9am-3pm Mon-Fri”
- Add public holidays: Mark NSE closed dates
- Set your trading routine: Choose day/time for monthly investing
- Configure broker alerts: Price targets for stocks you’re watching
- Place your first order: Pick a Tuesday-Thursday, mid-day
- Note settlement dates: When money/shares actually move
- Review this guide before important trades: Especially around dividends or holidays
Understanding when the NSE operates helps you plan trades, avoid surprises, and develop disciplined investing routines. Mark your calendar, set your alerts, and trade with confidence knowing exactly when the market is open and working for you!