March 7 (Reuters) - Nasdaq Inc ( NDAQ ) plans to introduce 24-hour trading on its

flagship U.S. exchange to capitalize on growing global demand for U.S. equities, a senior

executive said in a social media post on Friday.

International demand for the lucrative U.S. equity market has surged in recent years, driven

by rising retail participation, increasing financial literacy, and easier access to digital

trading platforms.

The exchange operator has started discussions with regulators and expects to launch 24-hour,

five-days-a-week trading in the second half of 2026, Nasdaq President Tal Cohen wrote in a

LinkedIn post.

A round-the-clock trading model will allow exchanges to tap into global demand - which is

currently catered to by alternative trading platforms - by attracting investors across time

zones, increasing trading volumes, and improving market liquidity.

"The global growth of investor demand for U.S. equities means we stand at another pivotal

moment for our markets - to broaden investor access, expand wealth-building opportunities, and

redefine how markets function," Cohen said.

Nasdaq joins rival exchanges like Cboe Global Markets ( CBOE ) and Intercontinental Exchange ( ICE )

, the operator of the New York Stock Exchange, in planning extended trading hours.

"I suspect regulatory approval will occur once the securities information processors are

updated to handle round the clock markets," Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and CIO at Running

Point Capital Advisors told Reuters.

Exchanges might initially experiment with extended trading in large market-cap stocks,

but "it will be interesting to see if they charge extra fees for extended trading," Schulman

said. "Liquidity and fair market pricing will be relevant issues to address."

A Nasdaq spokesperson confirmed that the company is planning to file with the U.S.

Securities and Exchange Commission for approvals.

Brokerages Charles Schwab ( SCHW ) and Robinhood currently offer limited 24-hour

trading on their platforms.