Not one to languish, the Nasdaq market is considering lengthening its hours as well. Closing shop early results in lost opportunity cost. If Nasdaq can trade 12 hours a day, or even 24 hours, it will. The longer it is open, the more potential trading volume. The more trades, the more income for the market and its makers.
Financial markets are far from the only entity poised for eternal change.
Business overall is quickly moving to a time when it will truly never sleep. The Internet is always open. If not already doing so, many companies will need to double or triple relevant staff to run websites round the clock. The Industrial Revolution ushered in a great boom for decades. The electronic revolution could do the same.