can we buy stocks today? Market hours & how to trade
Can we buy stocks today? Market hours & how to trade
Short answer: When someone asks “can we buy stocks today,” they usually mean whether exchanges are open now and whether buy orders will execute immediately. This article explains market hours, holidays, pre-market/after-hours trading, broker limits, risks of extended sessions, and how crypto’s 24/7 trading differs — with a practical checklist to decide whether you can (and should) place orders today. You’ll also find updated market context as of 21 January 2026 and trusted resources to confirm today’s status.
Meaning and scope of the question
When people ask “can we buy stocks today,” they can mean different things:
- Can I place a buy order on my broker right now? (many brokers accept orders 24/7 but behave differently when markets are closed)
- Will my order execute immediately, or will it be queued until the next market session? (execution depends on order type, session, and liquidity)
- Can I trade during pre-market or after-hours sessions? (some brokers support extended hours with restrictions)
- How does the ability to buy stocks compare to buying crypto, which trades 24/7?
This guide covers the operational meaning (market open/closed), the practical meaning (execution likelihood), and the regulatory/settlement background you need to make an informed operational decision — not investment advice.
Stock market operating hours
Regular trading hours (U.S. exchanges)
The standard U.S. equity regular trading session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. When people ask “can we buy stocks today,” they most often refer to whether this regular session is open.
Most U.S.-listed stocks trade primarily during this window. Market orders executed during regular hours generally fill against displayed liquidity and available quotes.
Pre-market, after-hours, and extended/overnight sessions
There are additional sessions outside the 9:30–16:00 ET window:
- Pre-market: many brokers and market centers accept trades starting as early as 4:00 a.m. ET, but typical retail access often begins around 7:00–8:00 a.m. ET.
- After-hours: many platforms allow trading after 16:00 ET, commonly up to 8:00 p.m. ET, with some liquidity venues closing earlier (e.g., 20:00 ET or 18:00 ET depending on venue).
Exact pre-market and after-hours hours vary by broker and venue. When you ask “can we buy stocks today” outside regular hours, know that although an order may be accepted, execution depends on whether the broker permits that order type in extended hours and whether counterparties are available.
Exchange-specific schedules and late/early sessions
Different exchanges and market centers have their own micro-schedules: pre-open auctions, opening crosses, intraday auctions, and closing auctions. Some venues provide limited continuous trading in extended sessions and hold auctions to discover opening/closing prices.
If you need to know whether you can trade a particular listing right now, check the exchange’s market status and your broker’s marketplace details for that security’s venue.
Holidays, early closures, and market calendars
U.S. exchanges observe a set of holidays and occasional early-close days. Common full-day closures include New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. There are also scheduled early-closes (half-days) around certain holidays, such as the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve when they fall on weekdays.
When people ask “can we buy stocks today” on a holiday or half-day, the answer depends on whether the exchange is closed (no regular session) or operating reduced hours (shorter regular session). Always refer to the current-year exchange holiday calendars for exact dates and special rules.
As with other schedule questions, exchanges publish official calendars and notices for the trading year; brokers and market-data sites commonly repost these schedules and note time-zone conversions.
How to check if the market is open today
Official exchange pages and trading calendars
To confirm whether U.S. markets are open today, consult the official exchange calendar and status pages. Exchanges publish holiday schedules, early-close notices, and special session rules. Use these primary sources to avoid outdated third-party summaries.
Broker platforms and market-status trackers
Broker dashboards often show real-time market status and will indicate whether extended-hours trading is available on your account. Market-status trackers and financial data platforms can also show “Market Open/Closed” for each venue and include local time conversion.
Time zone considerations
U.S. markets use Eastern Time. If you are outside ET, convert your local time to ET and account for daylight saving transitions. A common source of confusion when people ask “can we buy stocks today” is mixing local time with ET.
Placing orders when the market is closed
Order types and behavior (market, limit, GTC, day)
- Market orders: If you place a market order when the regular session is closed, many brokers will queue the order and execute it at the next regular-market open. Some brokers may allow market orders in extended hours, but execution and pricing are riskier.
- Limit orders: Limit orders specify a maximum purchase (or minimum sale) price. They can often be entered while the market is closed and may be eligible for execution in extended hours if the broker supports that session.
- Good-til-canceled (GTC) vs. Day: GTC orders persist until filled or canceled (subject to broker retention rules); Day orders expire at the end of the trading day. Decide which fits your needs when placing orders outside regular hours.
When the market is closed, placing a market order will frequently result in execution at the next open — potentially at a price substantially different from the quote at the time you placed the order.
Broker policies and platform differences
Brokerage firms differ in whether they accept orders during pre-market and after-hours sessions, which order types they allow in those sessions, and which securities are eligible. Confirm with your broker whether they support extended-hours trading for a given stock, what order types they accept, and what fees or quote displays apply.
Some brokers permit extended-hours limit orders but disallow market orders outside regular hours to protect retail clients from extreme price moves.
Bitget — as a platform that offers both spot trading for digital assets and brokerage-like services for certain securities in supported jurisdictions — provides transparent session availability and wallet integration for web3 assets. If you prefer consolidated workflows between crypto and tokenized assets, Bitget and Bitget Wallet can simplify custody and order flows (check platform announcements for the latest support and regional availability).
Settlement and clearance
Equity trades commonly settle on a T+2 basis (trade date plus two business days). Settlement timing is independent of whether a trade was placed during regular hours or extended hours. The market calendar affects settlement only insofar as non-business days extend the T+2 window.
Risks and limitations of trading outside regular hours
Trading outside the regular session increases several risks:
- Reduced liquidity: Fewer participants result in thinner order books and larger spreads.
- Wider spreads and worse execution: Limited counterparties often widen bid-ask spreads, meaning you may pay materially more for immediate execution.
- Higher volatility: News releases that occur outside regular hours can move prices sharply in low-liquidity sessions.
- Order type restrictions: Some order types (e.g., market orders) may not be accepted or recommended in extended hours.
- Price gaps at open: Even if a trade executes in extended hours, prices can gap at the regular open, affecting the market value and possible stop/limit behavior.
Because of these constraints, many investors use limit orders in extended sessions, and larger or institutional traders often stay in regular hours when liquidity is deeper.
Differences: Stocks vs. Cryptocurrencies
A key contrast when asking “can we buy stocks today” is between equities and crypto:
- Stocks: Defined exchange hours, holiday closures, auction processes, and T+2 settlement.
- Cryptocurrencies: Most major crypto exchanges and blockchains operate 24/7/365, allowing near-instant execution at any hour (subject to network congestion and exchange maintenance windows).
If you require the ability to buy an asset at any hour, crypto provides continuous access. Bitget supports 24/7 crypto spot and derivatives trading and offers Bitget Wallet for custody, which is useful when you want round-the-clock market access under one interface.
International and other market considerations
“Can we buy stocks today” also depends on which market you mean. Global exchanges (e.g., London, Tokyo, Hong Kong) have their own hours and holiday calendars. When trading foreign-listed stocks or ADRs, confirm the local exchange hours and convert times to your time zone.
Cross-listings and ETFs that trade on U.S. exchanges follow U.S. market hours, but underlying foreign market events can still cause movement during U.S. sessions.
Practical checklist: Can I buy stocks today? (step-by-step)
- Check whether the exchange hosting the stock is open today using the exchange’s official calendar.
- Confirm your broker’s session availability (does your broker accept pre-market/after-hours trades and which order types are allowed?).
- Pick an appropriate order type: use limit orders in extended sessions; avoid market orders when liquidity is thin.
- Verify time zone: convert local time to the exchange time (U.S. equities = ET) and account for daylight saving.
- Review risks: expect wider spreads and possible price gaps; decide if immediate execution is essential.
- If you trade tokenized securities or need 24/7 access to digital assets, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for integrated crypto and token services (confirm regional availability and product features on Bitget’s platform).
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I place a market order when the market is closed? A: Many brokers will accept a market order but queue it for the next regular-market open. Some brokers disallow market orders outside regular hours to prevent unexpected fills. When in doubt, check your broker’s policy.
Q: Can I buy during pre-market? A: Some brokers permit pre-market trading. If allowed, you’ll typically be limited to certain order types (usually limit orders) and face lower liquidity.
Q: What happens on half-days? A: On scheduled early-close days, the regular session is shortened (for example, close at 1:00 p.m. ET instead of 4:00 p.m.). Orders that would have executed later may need to be re-entered or will be queued per broker rules.
Q: Are ETFs tradable in extended hours? A: Some ETFs trade in extended sessions, but availability varies by broker and venue. Even when allowed, trading volumes are often lower than in the regular session.
Q: If markets are closed, can I still place limit orders? A: Yes — most brokers let you place limit orders while markets are closed; execution waits for a match in supported sessions (extended hours or the next regular open).
Market context: selected headlines and figures (as of 21 January 2026)
As market status and investor behavior can affect whether you want to trade today, here are timely items from the provided market roundup to illustrate how news and scheduled events can influence trading decisions.
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As of 21 January 2026, according to Coinspeaker, Columbia Banking System (ticker: COLB) will announce earnings after market close this Thursday. Last quarter, COLB reported revenues of $579 million (an 18% year-over-year increase) and beat analysts’ revenue expectations by 1.4%. Analysts expect roughly $696.2 million this quarter, a projected 41% year-over-year increase. COLB has missed revenue estimates three times in the last two years. These scheduled earnings events often lead traders to consider whether to trade during extended sessions around the report, but many prefer to wait for the regular session or post-earnings liquidity.
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As of 21 January 2026, Coinspeaker also reported that ST Bancorp (ticker: STBA) will report earnings Thursday before market open, with analysts projecting revenue of about $103.8 million (a 9.3% year-over-year increase) and adjusted EPS of $0.88. Past patterns for peers in the regional bank cohort suggest mixed beats and misses; such pre-open reports can lead to significant pre-market price action and increased spreads.
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As of 21 January 2026, Coinspeaker noted that Trump Media and Technology Group (ticker: DJT) set a record date for a planned digital token airdrop on 2 February 2026. The company indicated tokens would be non-transferable perks rather than equity. DJT stock traded near $14.23 in midday action, remaining well below prior highs; the market reaction to token-related corporate actions can cause intraday volatility and speculative pre-open moves.
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As of 21 January 2026, market coverage showed CrowdStrike (ticker: CRWD) experienced afternoon session weakness after geopolitical headlines; the VIX rose, and some mega-cap technology names saw pressure. The report highlighted that high-profile news and global events can create sharp intraday swings and influence whether traders choose to place orders in extended sessions or wait for the regular open.
These examples highlight why answering “can we buy stocks today” is not only about whether an exchange is open — it is also about whether liquidity, news flow, and scheduled corporate events make trading advisable at this moment.
Sources and further reading
Primary official sources to check live status and schedules:
- NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours — exchange calendar and auction notices
- NasdaqTrader Trading Calendar — U.S. equity and options market holiday schedule
- TradingHours — live market open/close trackers and timezone converters
- Fidelity — consumer-friendly explanations of stock market hours and extended trading details
- Nasdaq Market Activity pages — market status, quotes, and activity
- Investor.gov (SEC) — how stock markets work (basics on trading and settlement)
Consumer-facing summaries and reference articles:
- Business Insider — stock market hours and holiday schedules
- NerdWallet — Is the stock market open today? practical guidance
- Kiplinger — stock market trading hours and what to watch
- Investing.com — market status and real-time market data
Market news (context cited above): Coinspeaker market roundup and reporting (as of 21 January 2026) containing company revenue figures, earnings schedules, and event-driven market notes for COLB, STBA, DJT, CRWD and related peers.
See also
- Extended hours trading
- Order types: market vs limit vs stop
- Stock market holidays and early closes
- Cryptocurrency exchanges and 24/7 trading
- Trade settlement (T+2)
Notes
Market hours, exchange rules, and broker features can change. New venue rules, technological improvements, or regulatory decisions may affect whether you can trade at certain times. Always verify today’s trading hours and your broker’s policies before placing orders.
This article explains operational and scheduling factors and provides neutral, factual information; it is not investment advice.
References
- NYSE — Holidays & Trading Hours (official exchange calendar and auction times)
- NasdaqTrader — Trading Calendar and holiday schedules
- TradingHours — Market open/close live tracker and timezone tools
- Fidelity — Stock market hours and extended trading explanations
- Investor.gov (U.S. SEC) — How stock markets work
- Business Insider — Is the stock market open today? (hours & holidays summary)
- NerdWallet — Is the Stock Market Open Today? Quick guide
- Kiplinger — Stock market trading hours overview
- Investing.com — U.S. stock market and financial markets data
- Coinspeaker — Market roundup and company-specific headlines (reported data and event dates cited above; as of 21 January 2026)
Want an immediate way to trade digital assets 24/7 or manage tokenized holdings around the clock? Explore Bitget’s trading features and Bitget Wallet for integrated custody and continuous market access — check your regional availability and product details on Bitget’s platform.
Article prepared referencing market updates and exchange calendars. For the latest live market status, use official exchange pages and your broker’s platform before trading.
