Leifras ADSs to Gain from Nasdaq's 23-Hour Trading Expansion…

Event summary

Nasdaq plans to extend trading hours to 23 hours per weekday starting December 6, 2026, following SEC approval.
Japanese brokerages Rakuten Securities and SBI Securities are expanding access to extended-hours trading for U.S. equities, including Leifras ADSs.
Rakuten Securities already offers up to 16 hours of U.S. equity trading per day and will support 23-hour trading from December 6, 2026.
SBI Securities plans to launch pre-market and after-hours trading for U.S. equities during 2026, enabling up to 23 hours of trading per day.

The big picture

Nasdaq's move to 23-hour trading aligns with broader trends in financial market infrastructure aimed at enhancing accessibility and liquidity. For Leifras, this expansion could improve investor engagement and trading efficiency, particularly in its home market of Japan. The shift also reflects growing demand for flexible trading options in the Asia-Pacific region, where time zone differences have historically limited participation in U.S. markets.

What we're watching

Trading Volume Impact: How the expanded trading hours will affect Leifras ADS trading volume and liquidity, particularly during Japanese daytime hours.
Investor Engagement: Whether the increased accessibility will attract more Japanese investors to Leifras ADSs and broaden its investor base.
Market Infrastructure Development: The pace at which other U.S. exchanges and Japanese brokerages adopt similar extended-hours trading models.