TheCorporateCounsel.net

As Liz shared last month, “Nasdaq has begun engaging with regulators, market participants and other key stakeholders, with a view of enabling 24-hour trading five days a week on the Nasdaq Stock Market” by the second half of 2026. Personally — like Liz — my main reaction was trepidation. But, if you hadn’t read through the LinkedIn newsletter she linked to, it’s worth a closer look — I’m not sure why, but I found it somewhat reassuring to consider in more detail how IR monitoring tools, processes and responsibilities will evolve.

Here are a few of the open questions and tips shared in the newsletter:

– Extended “active” hours: IR teams may need to decide how to offer consistent coverage beyond the typical workday. Even if there is no expectation of “live” spokesperson availability at 3 am, you might need a system in place to post (and monitor) updates on your IR website and social media channels when market-moving news surfaces at unconventional times.

– Communication handoffs: For companies with truly global footprints, rotating IR responsibilities across regional offices could be a solution, ensuring an IRO is always ready to clarify or contextualize price changes for global stakeholders.

– Earnings release timing: Should a company still release earnings after the “official” close if there is no final close in a seamless, extended session? Companies might look at scheduling announcements to align with windows of higher liquidity (even if it’s in the middle of the night in the US).

– Rapid-response mechanisms: IR professionals need to map out escalation protocols if unexpected global events (such as geopolitical announcements or macro shocks) trigger premarket or overnight volatility. Preparing rapid-turnaround Q&As, bullet-point summaries, or video statements could help settle investor nerves in real time.

– Meredith Ervine