Sep. 15, 2026
I am writing to voice my objection to the 23-hour trading rollout because it creates a fundamentally unfair playing field for retail investors. Publicly traded companies release critical financial disclosures and material news during specific windows, leaving overnight markets highly vulnerable to wild, speculative price swings driven by rumors or unchecked algorithms. Operating markets when official corporate communication is offline invites predatory trading practices, and the SEC should halt or severely restrict overnight expansion until equal information access can be guaranteed around the clock. Mental Health & Emotional Risk Subject: Public Comment on File Number 4-913: Protecting Retail Investors from the Psychological Harms of 24-Hour Trading I strongly oppose the transition to 23-hour stock market trading due to the severe psychological toll it will inflict on everyday market participants. Round-the-clock market access gamifies investing and encourages emotional, sleep-deprived decision-making outside of normal business hours. The SEC has a duty to protect investor welfare, and removing the natural overnight pause in trading will inevitably lead to an increase in impulsive, high-risk behavior that benefits algorithmic firms at the expense of retail mental and financial health. You have ruined the greatest institution the financial world has ever seen for greed. You have turned the market into a gambling casino. Not once was the retail trader asked their feelings on this. I have traded/invested for 55 years, and no one asked for my input. In fact, I thought sept 17 was the date it would be discussed only to find it has already been decided upon. You were quiet on this one and snuck it past the retail trader. I can just see a husband or wife getting up at night to urinate and checking their account to see if there is any carnage and never getting back to sleep. Psychological harm to the family will be great.