24/5 trading is the ability to trade eligible stocks and ETFs nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, across overnight, pre-market, regular market, and after-hours sessions. On Public, eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs can be traded from Sunday at 8:00 PM ET through Friday at 8:00 PM ET, creating a nearly continuous five-day trading window.
24/5 Trading: How Pre-Market, After-Hours & Overnight Trading Work
Table of Contents
- 24/5 Trading hours at a glance
- How does 24/5 trading work?
- What is 24/5 trading?
- What is pre-market trading?
- What is after-hours trading?
- What is overnight trading?
- Is 24/5 trading the same as extended-hours trading?
- Pre-market vs. After-hours vs. Overnight trading
- How do the four 24/5 trading sessions fit together?
- Why trade stocks and ETFs outside regular market hours?
- What are the risks of 24/5 and extended-hours trading?
- Trade eligible stocks 24/5 on Public
24/5 Trading hours at a glance
| Trading session | Hours (ET) | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight trading | 8:00 PM–4:00 AM | Trading between the traditional after-hours and pre-market sessions. |
| Pre-market trading | 4:00 AM–9:30 AM | Trading before the regular U.S. market opens. |
| Regular market hours | 9:30 AM–4:00 PM | The primary trading session for U.S. stock exchanges. |
| After-hours trading | 4:00 PM–8:00 PM | Trading after the regular U.S. market closes. |
24/5 trading connects these sessions into a nearly continuous weekday trading window. On Public, eligible stocks trade from Sunday 8:00 PM ET through Friday 8:00 PM ET. Availability varies by security.
How does 24/5 trading work?
24/5 trading connects four trading sessions: overnight, pre-market, regular market hours, and after-hours. For eligible stocks and ETFs on Public, trading begins Sunday at 8:00 PM ET and continues through Friday at 8:00 PM ET.
The result is a nearly continuous weekday market experience. Instead of waiting for the next 9:30 AM ET opening bell, investors may be able to trade eligible securities when earnings, company news, economic data, or global market developments occur outside regular U.S. market hours.
What is 24/5 trading?
24/5 stock trading means eligible stocks can be traded nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week instead of only during the 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET regular market session. It includes overnight, pre-market, regular market, and after-hours trading.
For investors, this means market-moving events do not always require waiting for the next opening bell. Earnings, company announcements, economic data, geopolitical developments, and moves in international markets can all occur outside regular U.S. market hours.
What is pre-market trading?
Pre-market trading is stock trading before the regular U.S. market opens, typically from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET. Investors may use pre-market trading to respond to earnings, economic releases, company news, or global market activity before the opening bell.
With 24/5 trading, pre-market is one part of a broader trading cycle. An eligible stock or ETF may already have been trading overnight before the pre-market session begins. On Public, investors can trade eligible stocks and ETFs during pre-market hours from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET as part of 24/5 trading.
What is after-hours trading?
After-hours trading is stock trading after the regular U.S. market closes, typically from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET. It gives investors an opportunity to respond to earnings reports, corporate announcements, and other developments released after the closing bell.
With 24/5 trading, 8:00 PM ET does not necessarily mark the end of trading. Eligible stocks and ETFs can continue into the overnight session. On Public, investors can trade eligible stocks and ETFs after hours from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET as part of 24/5 trading.
What is overnight trading?
Overnight trading refers to stock trading between the traditional after-hours and pre-market sessions, generally from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET. It extends access to eligible U.S. stocks while the regular U.S. market is closed and other global markets may be active.
Overnight trading can allow investors to respond to late-evening news, geopolitical developments, or moves in Asian and European markets without waiting for the next pre-market session. On Public, investors can trade eligible stocks and ETFs overnight from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET as part of 24/5 trading.
Is 24/5 trading the same as extended-hours trading?
24/5 trading is broader than the traditional pre-market and after-hours sessions commonly described as extended-hours trading. A 24/5 schedule also includes overnight trading, connecting the major trading sessions into a nearly continuous window from Sunday evening through Friday evening for eligible stocks.
Pre-market vs. After-hours vs. Overnight trading
The main difference is when each session occurs. Pre-market runs before the opening bell, after-hours runs after the closing bell, and overnight trading bridges the period between after-hours and the next pre-market session.
24/5 trading brings those periods together with regular market hours. The exact securities, order types, and trading functionality available can vary by brokerage and session.
How do the four 24/5 trading sessions fit together?
Overnight trading runs from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET, pre-market from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET, regular market hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, and after-hours from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET. Together, these sessions form the 24/5 trading cycle for eligible stocks and ETFs.
Why trade stocks and ETFs outside regular market hours?
Stock prices can react whenever new information changes what buyers and sellers are willing to pay. Common catalysts outside regular market hours include earnings reports, company announcements, economic data, geopolitical events, analyst actions, and moves in international markets.
For example, if a company reports earnings at 4:15 PM ET, its stock may move during after-hours trading. If eligible for overnight trading, price discovery can continue after 8:00 PM ET rather than stopping until the next morning.
What are the risks of 24/5 and extended-hours trading?
Trading outside regular market hours can involve lower liquidity, wider bid-ask spreads, greater volatility, and execution uncertainty. These effects may be more pronounced in less actively traded stocks or during overnight hours.
Prices outside regular hours can also differ from the prior closing price and from prices available when the regular market opens. Investors should review current quotes, order details, eligibility, and applicable disclosures before trading.
Trade eligible stocks 24/5 on Public
Public offers 24/5 trading for eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs from Sunday at 8:00 PM ET through Friday at 8:00 PM ET. That includes overnight, pre-market, regular market, and after-hours trading.
Public also provides market data and research so investors can follow stocks and ETFs across trading sessions. Explore pricing and available pre-market or after-hours activity, research investments, and trade eligible securities from the same platform.
24/5 Trading FAQs
Which brokers offer 24/5 trading for stocks and ETFs?
Public offers 24/5 trading in eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs from Sunday at 8:00 PM ET through Friday at 8:00 PM ET. Other U.S. brokerages also offer overnight or extended-hours trading, though supported securities, trading hours, order types, and restrictions can vary by brokerage.
Where can I trade stocks and ETFs pre-market or after hours?
You can trade stocks and ETFs pre-market or after hours through brokerages that support extended-hours trading. On Public, eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs can trade pre-market from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET and after hours from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET as part of Public’s broader 24/5 trading experience.
Can I trade stocks and ETFs overnight or after 8:00 PM ET?
Yes, when the security and brokerage support overnight trading. Public offers overnight trading for eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET, connecting the after-hours session with the next pre-market session as part of 24/5 trading.
What are the pre-market, regular, after-hours, and overnight trading hours?
Overnight trading generally runs from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET, pre-market from 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET, regular market hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, and after-hours trading from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET.
Is 24/5 trading the same as extended-hours trading?
24/5 trading is broader than traditional extended-hours trading. Extended hours commonly refers to pre-market and after-hours sessions, while 24/5 trading also includes overnight trading, creating a nearly continuous weekday trading window for eligible stocks and ETFs.
Are all stocks and ETFs available for 24/5 trading?
No. 24/5 trading availability depends on the security and brokerage. Not every stock or ETF is eligible for overnight or extended-hours trading. On Public, investors can check a security’s eligibility before placing a trade.