Are you sitting at home on Sunday afternoon, feeling inspired to invest some cash, only to wonder: can you buy stocks on the weekend? The short answer is yes—but there’s more to it than just hitting the “buy” button. As someone who’s been trading for years, I’ve learned the ins and outs of weekend investing, and I’m here to share everything you need to know.
The Truth About Weekend Stock Trading
Traditional stock markets like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq operate during specific hours—Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time, excluding holidays. But that doesn’t mean you’re completely locked out of investing on weekends!
With platforms like Robinhood, you can actually place orders during the weekend. These orders won’t execute immediately, but they’ll be queued up and ready to go when the market reopens. This is particularly useful if you’ve done your research over the weekend and want to get your orders in before the Monday rush.
Weekend Trading Options: What’s Actually Available?
Let’s break down what you can and can’t do when the markets are officially closed:
What You CAN Do on Weekends:
- Place stock orders that will execute when markets reopen
- Trade cryptocurrency 24/7 (with some maintenance exceptions)
- Research and plan your investment strategy
- Set up limit orders for Monday morning
What You CAN’T Do on Weekends:
- Execute stock trades immediately
- See real-time stock price movements
- Participate in regular market auctions
Extended Hours and 24-Hour Market Options
The traditional 9:30 AM-4:00 PM ET trading window has been expanded significantly through services like Robinhood’s extended-hours trading and 24-Hour Market. With these services, you can actually execute trades from 8 PM ET Sunday until 8 PM ET Friday, with certain restrictions.
This means that even though Saturday remains a true “off” day for stock trading, you can start trading again as early as Sunday evening!
Cryptocurrency: The True 24/7 Market
If you’re itching to make actual trades during the weekend, cryptocurrency is your answer. On platforms like Robinhood Crypto, you can buy and sell digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum 24/7, with only occasional interruptions for scheduled maintenance.
This is one big advantage crypto has over traditional stocks—the market never sleeps (kinda like me when I’m watching my investments too closely ).
Futures Trading: Almost Around the Clock
Another option for weekend warriors is futures trading. Most futures products trade 23 hours a day, 5 days a week. While not quite 24/7, it’s pretty close and gives you significantly more flexibility than traditional stock trading.
Just be aware that futures trading involves additional risks and complexities that might not be suitable for beginners
Why Would You Want to Trade on Weekends?
You might be wondering why weekend trading even matters Here are some compelling reasons
1. Reacting to Earnings Announcements
Many companies release their quarterly earnings reports after market close. If a company announces unexpectedly good or bad results on Friday evening, you might want to place an order before the market opens on Monday, when everyone else will be reacting to the news.
2. Responding to International Market Activity
Asian and European markets operate during hours when U.S. markets are closed. Their activity can significantly influence U.S. market prices when they reopen. By placing orders during the weekend, you can position yourself based on these international trends.
3. More Flexible Schedule
Let’s be honest—many of us have full-time jobs during weekdays and only have time to focus on our investments during weekends. Being able to at least place orders during this time is a huge convenience.
The Risks of Extended-Hours and Weekend Trading
While weekend investing offers flexibility, it also comes with additional risks you should be aware of:
Higher Volatility
Price swings can be more dramatic during extended hours than during regular market sessions. This is because there are fewer participants, which means individual trades can have a bigger impact on prices.
Reaction to News
News announcements that happen outside regular hours can cause exaggerated price movements, especially when combined with lower trading volume. This can create price spikes that don’t accurately reflect a security’s true value.
Limited Liquidity
Fewer participants means it might be harder to execute trades at the prices you want, particularly for less frequently traded securities.
Step-by-Step: How to Place Weekend Stock Orders
If you’re ready to try placing stock orders during the weekend, here’s how to do it:
- Log in to your brokerage account (like Robinhood)
- Select the stock you want to buy or sell
- Enter the quantity and type of order (market, limit, etc.)
- Review and confirm your order
- Submit your order — it will be queued for execution when the market reopens
Your order will typically execute shortly after the market opens on the next trading day (usually Monday morning, unless there’s a holiday).
Real-Life Example: Why Weekend Orders Can Be Powerful
Let me share a quick personal story. Last year, I was researching stocks on a Saturday and discovered that a company I was following had announced a major new product launch after Friday’s market close. The news hadn’t gotten much attention yet, but I felt confident it would drive up the stock price when markets reopened Monday.
I placed a buy order on Saturday afternoon through Robinhood. When markets opened Monday, the stock jumped 5% in the first hour of trading as news of the product launch spread. My order executed at the opening price, before the biggest part of the jump occurred.
Had I waited until Monday morning to place the order, I might have missed out on a significant portion of the gains as I competed with everyone else reacting to the news.
Weekend Trading on Different Platforms
Different brokerages offer various levels of weekend access. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Platform | Weekend Order Placement | Crypto Trading | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robinhood | Yes | Yes (24/7) | 8 PM Sun-8 PM Fri |
| TD Ameritrade | Yes | Yes (24/7) | Limited |
| E*TRADE | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Webull | Yes | Yes (24/7) | Extended |
| Fidelity | Yes | Limited | Limited |
Robinhood specifically allows you to trade crypto 24/7 (except during maintenance) and offers extended stock trading hours from Sunday evening through Friday evening.
FAQ About Weekend Stock Trading
Can I buy stocks on Saturday?
You can place orders on Saturday, but they won’t execute until markets reopen (typically Monday morning).
Do stock prices change on weekends?
Official stock prices don’t change when markets are closed, but factors affecting stocks (like news events) can still occur, leading to price gaps when markets reopen.
Can I cancel a weekend stock order before markets open?
Yes, you can typically cancel or modify your pending orders any time before they execute.
Which investments can actually be traded on weekends?
Cryptocurrencies can be traded 24/7. Stocks and ETFs can have orders placed on weekends but won’t execute until markets reopen.
What time do markets open after the weekend?
Regular U.S. market hours begin at 9:30 AM Eastern Time on Monday. However, pre-market trading usually starts at 4:00 AM ET, and with Robinhood’s 24-hour market, you can start trading as early as 8:00 PM ET on Sunday.
Make the Most of Your Weekend Trading Strategy
If you’re serious about making weekend investing part of your strategy, here are some tips:
- Set price alerts to notify you of significant movements when markets reopen
- Use limit orders instead of market orders to control your entry price
- Research thoroughly during weekends when you have more time
- Consider the gap risk (prices can “gap” up or down between Friday’s close and Monday’s open)
- Start small until you’re comfortable with the process
Final Thoughts: Is Weekend Trading Worth It?
Weekend stock ordering can be a valuable tool in your investment arsenal, especially if you use the weekend to research and strategize. While you can’t execute stock trades immediately, the ability to queue orders and trade crypto gives you more flexibility than investors had in the past.
Just remember that with this flexibility comes additional risks—higher volatility, exaggerated news reactions, and potentially less liquidity. As with all investing strategies, it’s important to understand these risks before diving in.
Me personally? I love placing my orders on Sunday evenings. It gives me time to research during the weekend and get my strategy in place before the market chaos begins on Monday morning.
So, can you buy stocks on the weekend? Technically, yes—you can place the orders, even if they don’t execute until later. And in today’s evolving market landscape, that’s a powerful tool for the savvy investor.
What about you? Have you tried placing stock orders on weekends? Share your experiences in the comments below!
