Pre-Market
Pre-market refers to the trading session that takes place before the official stock market opens, typically between 4:00 AM and 9:30 AM Eastern Time in the United States. During this time, traders can place orders and execute trades, although trading volume is usually lower than during regular market hours. Pre-market trading allows investors to react to overnight news, earnings reports, and global market developments, providing an opportunity to adjust positions before the market opens.
Example
An investor monitors pre-market trading activity to adjust their stock positions based on an earnings report released before the market opens at 9:30 AM.
Key points
• Refers to the trading session before the official market opening.
• Allows traders to react to overnight news and global developments.
• Typically has lower trading volumes and higher volatility than regular trading hours.