Glossary
Extended-hours trading
Trading outside the regular 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET session, in the premarket and after-hours sessions.
Extended-hours trading is buying and selling US stocks outside the regular session, which runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. It covers the premarket before the open and the after-hours session after the close. Many earnings reports and economic releases land outside regular hours, so these sessions are often where the first reaction to big news happens.
When it runs (as of 2026)
Nasdaq operates from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET: premarket 4:00 to 9:30 a.m. and post-market 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. NYSE Arca's early session also starts at 4:00 a.m., while other NYSE venues open their early sessions at 7:00 a.m. Each broker chooses which windows it offers clients. An overnight 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. session targeted by exchanges for December 2026 depends on data-feed readiness and SEC approvals, and was not live on a primary exchange as of October 30, 2026; some brokers already offer overnight trading through alternative venues.
How it differs from the regular session
- Fewer participants, so spreads are wider and prices can jump on small orders.
- Order limits. Many brokers accept only limit orders and may require you to mark the order for the extended session.
- Separate prices. An after-hours price does not set the official close, and the next open can be far from it.
- Halts and limits. Limit Up-Limit Down bands apply during regular hours; extended sessions have their own venue-level protections.