Is it Possible to Trade Before the Market Opens at 4 a.m. on Robinhood?
I#39;m curious about this. For several nights, I#39;ve watched my balance plummet due to stock drops at exactly 4 a.m. How is any change, let alone a large change, happening in the middle of the night?
Is it Possible to Trade Before the Market Opens at 4 a.m.?
No, it is not possible to trade before the market opens at 4 a.m. on Robinhood. The pre-market session is from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. EST. Trading cannot take place before 4 a.m. because the pre-market session does not start until 4 a.m. EST.
Does Robinhood Offer Pre-Market Trading at 4 a.m.?
Given the popularity of Robinhood, it would be unfortunate if it didn#39;t offer pre-market and post-market trading as many online brokers do. Fortunately, you do have the flexibility to trade during the pre- and post-market sessions with Robinhood. However, the options are limited to the pre-market from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and post-market from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
Consider Other Brokers for More Flexible Options
If you need more extended trading hours, consider using Fidelity. Fidelity offers extended-hour trading and has many other benefits. It also has no account or trading fees for most stock and ETF trades and no minimum balance.
You may want to clarify this with Robinhood, but according to their site, the trading hours are as follows:
Pre-Market Hours: 9 AM to 9:30 AM EST Regular Market Hours: 9:30 AM to 4 PM EST After Hours: 4 PM to 6 PM ESTExtended Hours Trading: An Extra Layer of Market Access
Traditionally, the stock markets are open from 9:30 AM to 4 PM EST during business days. With extended-hours trading, you get an additional two and a half hours of market access every single day.
Robinhood, like most online brokers, allows you to place orders at any time, but these orders will not be completed until the market opens. You can set a best price order, but this could be financially risky if the price jumps, leading to higher per-share costs.
Alternatively, you might be enticed by an opening spike, but minutes later, you might face a steep price drop. The best strategy is to trade during the market's open hours, where you won#39;t blame external factors for your losses.
Conclusion: Market Access During Non-Traditional Hours
Ultimately, stock markets are not open to the public outside of their regular trading hours. If you need to trade outside of these hours, consider brokers that offer extended-hour trading and additional benefits. Remember, market access during non-traditional hours comes with risks, so it's crucial to be well-informed and prepared.