It’s possible to trade after the market closes — if your platform supports it. But before you engage in after-hours trading, weigh the benefits against the risks.
After-hours trading means placing a trade after the market closes, which you can do long as your broker allows it. Market hours differ based on the stock exchange. Not all trading platforms offer pre- and post-market trading, and those that do limit extended trading to set time windows that vary by broker.
| Broker | After-hours trading | Details | Go to site |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Yes | After-hours trading is available, but some products can only be traded during regular hours. See after hours products on IB Trader Workstation. | Go to site |
 | Yes | Clients must contact an Investment Representative representative to submit an after-hours trade. | |
 | Yes | You can place limit orders — but not market orders — after market hours. | Go to site |
 | Yes | Follows after-hours trading times of Canadian exchanges, 4:30-5:00 p.m. ET for US securities (cutoff time for trading ECNs is 5:30 p.m.) | Go to site |
 | Yes | Clients can place an order at any time | Go to site |
 | No | But orders cannot be submitted after hours, but clients can queue orders after hours to be submitted when the market opens next. | |
 | Yes | Clients must contact a BMO representative representative to submit an after-hours trade. | |
 | Yes | After-hours trades can be placed 24/7 via WebBroker, Advanced Dashboard or by phone. | |
 | Yes | Not available online, but clients can call RBC to submit after-hours orders |
Extended trading hours vary by platform and trades are facilitated by electronic communication networks (ECNs) instead of stock exchanges. Trades run through the platform’s partnered ECN and buy and sell orders are matched by price.
Typically, there aren’t as many traders after hours. Not all platforms offer pre- or post-market trading and most active traders restrict their activity to regular market hours. Plus, there may be more competition from institutional investors after-hours. There are perks to after-hours trading, including the ability to quickly respond to changes in the market, regardless of time of day. However, for many investors, the risks — primarily low liquidity — outweigh the benefits.
It depends on your broker. If your trading platform allows after-hours trading, your order is submitted. If your platform doesn’t offer extended hours, your order will be executed at market open the following trading day.
Some orders are riskier than others when executing an after-hours trade. A market order instructs your broker to buy or sell stock at the prevailing market price: While you have no control over the price, trades are executed quickly. Market orders placed after the market closes are executed the following morning.
The risk of placing a market order after the market closes is that if anything happens overnight to affect the stock price, you could face a drastic loss.
To mitigate this risk, you could opt for a limit order: You tell your broker what price you’re willing to buy or sell and your order is only executed if those conditions are met. The trouble with limit orders is that the trade isn’t guaranteed — if the stock never hits the price you specify, the order won’t be executed.
Thanks to the time difference, it’s possible for Canadian investors to trade in Australian and Asian markets on Sunday evenings.
Traders can also use electronic communication networks (ECNs) to trade on the weekend in the same way after-hours trades are conducted during the week. The network attempts to match potential buyers and sellers based on the trades they want to execute, but fills aren’t always possible — or profitable.
Any trade that takes place before the market opens or after it closes is considered an after-hours trade. Standard hours and after-hours vary by market:
| Exchange | Early/Pre-Opening Trading | Normal Hours | Extended/Late trading session |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSX/TSXV | Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | Weekdays from 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET |
| CSE | Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | Weekdays from 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET |
| NASDAQ | Weekdays from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | Weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET |
| NYSE Tape A | Weekdays starting at 6:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | N/A |
| NYSE Tapes B & C | Pre-opening. Weekdays starting at 6:30 a.m. ET Early trading. Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | N/A |
| NYSE American Equities, NYSE Chicago, NYSE National | Pre-opening. Weekdays starting at 6:30 a.m. ET Early trading. Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | Weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET |
| NYSE Arca Equities | Pre-opening. Weekdays starting at 3:30 a.m. ET Early trading. Weekdays from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | Weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET |
| AMEX | Pre-opening. Weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. ET Early trading. Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET | Weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET | Weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET |
| International exchanges | Varies | Most open between 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and close between 3:00 p.m – 5:30 p.m. local time. | Varies |
After-hours trading comes with unique benefits and risks. Investors have the opportunity to react to news events and trade at a time that’s potentially more convenient — but reduced trading volume means more volatility, wider spreads and ultimately, greater risk.
If you’re interested in after-hours trading, find a brokerage account that offers extended hours alongside the features best suited to your investment goals.
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