What are after-hours trading hours?

After-hours trading takes place after the trading day for a stock exchange, and it allows you to buy or sell stocks outside of normal trading hours. Typical after-hours trading hours in the U.S. are between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET.

Can you trade the stock market after hours?

Trade the Stock Market After Hours? Is It Possible? What Is After-Hours Trading, and Can You Trade at This Time? The period of time in a day when trading activity takes place is known as the trading session. For most stock markets, the main trading session takes place during the daytime, when one trading session represents a single day of business.

Why do traders trade after-hours?

Traders and investors engage in after-hours trading for a variety of reasons. They may prefer trading with fewer market participants or their schedules may require it. They may want to take positions as a result of news that breaks after the close of the stock exchange. Or, they may want to close out a position before they leave on vacation.

What is the difference between premarket and after-hours trading?

Generally, after-hours trading refers to trading that takes place after normal market hours and up until about 8 pm. Premarket trading refers to trading that takes place before the start of normal market hours, generally from 7 a.m. until 9:25 a.m. Together, after-hours trading and premarket trading are referred to as extended-hours trading .