After-hours trading, also known as extended-hours trading, is the trading of stocks outside of regular market hours, which are typically 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States. After-hours trading allows investors to buy and sell stocks before the market opens and after it closes, providing them with more flexibility and the opportunity to react to news and events that occur outside of regular trading hours.
There are several benefits to after-hours trading, including the ability to: