After the market closes or shuts down, you cannot trade. Even though trading no longer requires physical presence, it is not possible to trade after the market closes. Although you can only trade between 9:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., many passive investors trade after trading hours. After-hours orders called AMOs or After Market Orders, can sometimes cause a volatile market. Price fluctuations in the share price are also caused by AMO.

Trading in stock markets is generally restricted when markets are officially closed, such as overnight, on weekends, or during holidays. However, some platforms offer pre-market and after-hours trading sessions, allowing limited transactions outside regular hours (e.g., 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET for U.S. markets). These extended hours have lower liquidity, wider spreads, and higher volatility, increasing risks. Additionally, certain brokers provide access to global markets or 24/5 forex trading, but traditional stock exchanges remain shut during non-operational times. Automated orders (like limit or stop-loss) may queue for execution at the next opening. Always check your broker’s rules, as availability varies. For full access, wait until the market reopens.