What Time Of Day Can I Trade?

Trading Times

For the stock trader there are many options when it comes to stock market hours trading.  The major markets such as the New York Stock Market or NASDAQ keep regular hours opening each day at 9:30am (Eastern Standard Time) and close each day at 4:00pm, Monday thru Friday.  The stock markets are closed on weekends and major holidays.  If one is trading in other non-typical markets such as the Forex, the foreign currency exchange market, or the pink sheets or OCTBB (Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board) the hours are different for each.  The pink sheets and OTCBB markets have no real schedule.  They are digitalized using ECNs (Electronic Communication Networks) which put traders in contact with one another.  In this system pink sheets stocks, usually referred to as penny stocks, and OTCBB stocks can be traded at any time.  The Forex, due to its service and use for international commerce is open for trading 24 hours a day Monday thru Friday.  During the normal market schedule any trade can be when one wishes.

After Hours Trading

The stock market hours are important to the average trader, yet there exists a complete separate time span for important trading.  The trading hours exist for the markets to determine official opening and closing prices for stocks, shares, and other commodities.  This does not mean trading ends when the bell rings.  There exist both pre-market trading and after hours trading.  Both are referred to as after hours trading or extended trading as they fall outside the normal market schedule.  Early trading begins at 7:30am and continues until the market opens at 9:00am.  After hours, evening trading begins at 4:01pm and continues until 6:30pm, again Eastern Standard Time.

International Markets

Trading in international markets such as the Nikkei or the Australian based markets opens the schedules for trading up even more.  In fact if one is trading on many markets on many continents it is possible to continue trading 24 hours a day.  The major Asian markets open typically the evening before the same trading day in the States, such as 7:00pm EST for the Tokyo market.  On the flip side European markets open very early in the morning US Time and close soon after the major US markets are just getting underway.

Related posts:

1. What Are Pink Sheets?
2. What Is Over The Counter Trading?
3. What Is After Hours Stock Trading?
4. How Does After Hours Trading Work?
5. When Is Day Trading Illegal?