What is Trading 24/5?
Trading 24/5 lets XTB clients trade selected US stocks outside regular market hours, from early Monday to late Friday. Instead of waiting for the US market to open at 14:30 UK time, you can react to news, earnings and global events as they happen.
Trading 24/5 applies to selected US-listed stocks. It is not switched on automatically: you choose to enable it in the XTB app and accept the terms before you can trade outside regular hours.
This guide explains how US trading hours work, what you can trade with Trading 24/5, the risks to consider, and how to switch it on.
What is Trading 24/5?
Trading 24/5 lets XTB clients trade selected US stocks outside regular market hours, from early Monday to late Friday. Instead of waiting for the US market to open at 14:30 UK time, you can react to news, earnings and global events as they happen.
Trading 24/5 applies to selected US-listed stocks. It is not switched on automatically: you choose to enable it in the XTB app and accept the terms before you can trade outside regular hours.
This guide explains how US trading hours work, what you can trade with Trading 24/5, the risks to consider, and how to switch it on.
US market hours vs Trading 24/5
The main US stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, hold their regular trading session from 9:30am to 4pm New York time. For UK investors, that is usually 14:30 to 21:00 UK time.
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Exact hours vary by exchange and are shown in XTB's Condition Tables. For a short period each spring and autumn, the UK and US change their clocks on different dates, so regular US hours shift by an hour in UK time.
When you look at an instrument in the XTB app, you can see which phase it is currently in. Instruments trading outside regular hours are labelled, and the price shown is the current price in that phase.
What can you trade with Trading 24/5?
Trading 24/5 covers selected equity instruments listed on US stock exchanges:
- Stocks: shares in selected US companies
- ETFs: exchange-traded funds listed in the US
- ETNs: exchange-traded notes
- ETCs: exchange-traded commodities
Not every US instrument is included. Trading 24/5 does not currently apply to CFDs, including CFDs on US stocks and indices. You can check the instruments and hours available in the Condition Tables.
Why trade outside regular hours?
Market-moving news doesn't wait for the opening bell. Many US companies report earnings before the market opens or after it closes, and economic data, central bank decisions and global events can land at any time.
With Trading 24/5, you can:
- React sooner to earnings, news and events instead of waiting for the next regular session
- Trade at times that suit you, including UK mornings, when the US regular session hasn't started
- Manage existing positions outside regular hours if the market moves
Trading at more times doesn't mean trading more often. Prices outside regular hours can behave differently, so it's worth understanding the risks first.
Risks of trading outside regular hours
Fewer people trade outside regular hours, and that changes how prices behave. Before switching on Trading 24/5, consider:
- Lower liquidity: fewer buyers and sellers can make it harder to trade at the price you want.
- Higher price volatility: prices can move more sharply, especially around news and earnings.
- Wider spreads: the gap between the buy and sell price can be larger than during regular hours.
- Different prices: prices outside regular hours may differ from regular market prices, and from the price when the market next opens.
- Changing account value: with Trading 24/5 switched on, the value of your open positions and your total account value may change, because some prices may differ from regular market prices.
For each order, you can choose whether its price is monitored during regular trading hours only, or outside them too. This gives you more control over how orders behave outside the regular session.
How to switch on Trading 24/5 at XTB
Trading 24/5 is off by default. To switch it on:
- Open the XTB app and go to Settings, then General.
- Find Trading 24/5 and switch it on.
- Read the short introduction screens, which cover how Trading 24/5 works, how it affects your positions, and how price monitoring works.
- Review the terms and risks, tick the box to confirm you agree, then select Enable Trading 24/5.
You can switch Trading 24/5 off again at any time in the same place. For step-by-step help, see our [help centre guide] (link to Intercom article once live).
Investing involves risk and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. Trading outside regular market hours may involve lower liquidity, higher price volatility and wider spreads. This article is for information only and is not investment advice.
FAQ
With Trading 24/5 switched on, you can trade selected US stocks from early Monday to late Friday, including outside regular US market hours. Trading isn't available at weekends.
No. You need to switch it on in the XTB app under Settings, then General, and accept the terms.
Selected US-listed stocks. It doesn't currently apply to CFDs.
They can be. Prices outside regular hours may differ from regular market prices, and spreads may be wider.
Yes, you can switch it off at any time in your settings.
Exact hours depend on the exchange and are shown in XTB's Condition Tables.
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This content has been created by XTB S.A. This service is provided by XTB S.A., with its registered office in Warsaw, at Prosta 67, 00-838 Warsaw, Poland, entered in the register of entrepreneurs of the National Court Register (Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy) conducted by District Court for the Capital City of Warsaw, XII Commercial Division of the National Court Register under KRS number 0000217580, REGON number 015803782 and Tax Identification Number (NIP) 527-24-43-955, with the fully paid up share capital in the amount of PLN 5.869.181,75. XTB S.A. conducts brokerage activities on the basis of the license granted by Polish Securities and Exchange Commission on 8th November 2005 No. DDM-M-4021-57-1/2005 and is supervised by Polish Supervision Authority.