How are stocks traded after hours
Most investors know that the major stock exchanges have standard trading hours—set periods of time each day when trading occurs through the exchange. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States trade regularly from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm ET, Normal stock market trading hours for the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. However, depending on your brokerage, you may still be able to buy and sell stocks after the market closes, in a process known as after-hours trading. Trading stocks after hours is both legal and useful for savvy investors. The stock market’s regular operating hours for buying and selling stocks and other securities are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. But you can trade many stocks after hours set by the exchanges.