What is the overnight trading session?

Question

Accepted Answer

Overnight trading allows you to trade a wide range of US ETFs and more popular US stocks outside of standard market hours. At Interactive Brokers (IBKR), US overnight trading hours are from 8 pm ET to 3:50 am ET, Sunday to Friday.

To access and use overnight trading:

Platform Availability

Overnight trading can be accessed through various IBKR platforms, including Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Mobile, and Client Portal.

Enabling Overnight Trading

You do not need to change any account-wide settings to enable overnight trading.
You can enable it on a per-order basis or set it as a default for your orders.
The process may vary slightly depending on the platform you are using.

Accessing Overnight Trading on TWS

Open the Trader Workstation (TWS) platform
Enter the desired symbol and press Enter
To see Overnight market data, select "Stock (Directed)" followed by "OVERNIGHT"
You should now see quotes for the overnight trading hours

Order Execution

Orders placed during overnight sessions may execute if market conditions allow.
When placing the order, choose "OVERNIGHT" or "OVERNIGHT + DAY" as your Time in Force (TIF)
You can check your order status and executions in your account to confirm if trades have gone through.
When inquiring about overnight trades, be sure to provide specific details such as date, time, symbol, and size of the attempted trade.

Important Considerations

Be aware that trading outside regular hours carries potential risks, including lower liquidity and higher volatility.
It is recommended to review these risks before engaging in overnight trading.

Learning Resources

IBKR offers several resources to learn more about overnight trading:
1. Traders Academy:
  - Visit the IBKR Campus for short video lessons on topics such as:
    - Overnight Trading at Interactive Brokers Using TWS
    - Overnight Trading at Interactive Brokers Using Client Portal
    - Overnight Trading at Interactive Brokers Using TWS Mobile
    - Trading Overnight CME Options on TWS
    - Trading Overnight Cboe Options on TWS
2. Extended Hours Trading Page:
  - For more detailed information, refer to the Extended Hours Trading page on the IBKR website.

Please Note

For trading sessions starting on days the NYSE is closed per the NYSE holiday schedule, the Alternative Trading System (ATS) accepts orders from 5:30 PM ET and effects transactions from 6:00 PM ET until 3:50 AM ET the following morning.

Additional Information