Courses > Stocks > Beginner Stocks Tutorial
When can you trade Stock CFDs?
Stock CFDs are available to trade during the same hours as the exchange where the underlying stock is listed. For instance, if you’re trading Stock CFDs on U.S. companies like Apple or Tesla, your trading hours will coincide with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, which typically operate between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday. Similarly, European stocks like BMW or Barclays follow the trading hours of their respective exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE), which runs from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM GMT.
Many brokers also offer access to pre-market and post-market trading sessions. Pre-market trading occurs before the stock market officially opens, while post-market trading takes place after the market closes. These extended hours can offer additional opportunities for trading Stock CFDs, particularly around important news events, earnings reports, or other market-moving announcements. However, liquidity during these sessions tends to be lower, which can result in wider spreads and increased volatility.
It’s also important to consider global time zones when trading Stock CFDs from different regions. If you’re trading multiple stocks listed on exchanges around the world, you’ll need to be aware of overlapping trading sessions. For example, the London and New York sessions overlap for a few hours, creating a period of higher liquidity and volatility, which can present more trading opportunities. Knowing when these overlaps occur can help you optimize your trading strategy.
In addition to regular trading hours, it's essential to keep an eye on market holidays and early closing days, which vary by exchange. Stock markets close on public holidays, and trading volume can significantly decrease around holiday periods, leading to lower liquidity and more unpredictable price movements.