ZAforexJSE All Share
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JSE Top 40
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Stock market opening times in South African time
| Market | Index | Opens (SAST) | Closes (SAST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg (JSE) | All Share, Top 40 | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| Tokyo | Nikkei 225 | 02:00 | 08:30 |
| Hong Kong | Hang Seng | 03:30 | 10:00 |
| Frankfurt | DAX 40 | 09:00 (10:00 in SA winter*) | 17:30 (18:30*) |
| London | FTSE 100 | 09:00 (10:00*) | 17:30 (18:30*) |
| New York | S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq | 15:30 (16:30 in US winter) | 22:00 (23:00 in US winter) |
Stock market news today
Understanding the indices
- S&P 500: 500 large US companies, the main benchmark for US shares.
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30 blue-chip US stocks, price-weighted (US30 at brokers).
- Nasdaq 100: the 100 largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks, tech-heavy (NAS100/US100).
- Russell 2000: 2,000 US small caps, sensitive to interest rates.
- VIX: the "fear index", the market's expected 30-day volatility of the S&P 500. A VIX above 30 signals stress.
- DAX 40 (Germany), FTSE 100 (UK), Nikkei 225 (Japan), Hang Seng (Hong Kong).
Why South Africans should care: when global stocks sell off, the rand usually weakens and the JSE falls with them; strong US markets tend to support risk assets including SA shares and bonds.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the US stock market open in South Africa?
At 15:30 SAST from mid-March to early November, and 16:30 SAST during the US winter. It closes at 22:00 (or 23:00) SAST.
What is the stock market doing today?
The market overview at the top of this page shows the live move in each major index for the day.
What is a recession and how does it affect stocks?
A recession is a significant decline in economic activity, often defined as two consecutive quarters of falling GDP. Stocks often fall in anticipation of recessions. See economic indicators.