Unleash Your Trading Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to Enabling Extended Hours on Webull
Have you ever seen a major news event break after the market closes, only to watch in frustration as the stock you wanted to trade rockets or plummets before you can even react the next day? Or perhaps you're an early bird, eager to capitalize on pre-market momentum? If so, then enabling extended trading hours on Webull is your key to unlocking a whole new world of opportunities!
This lengthy guide will walk you through every step of the process, ensuring you're fully equipped to trade during those crucial pre-market and after-hours sessions. We'll delve into the "why" and "how," providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the extended market.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Conquer the Clock? Understanding Extended Hours
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's make sure you understand what "extended hours" actually means on Webull and why it's such a game-changer.
What Exactly Are Extended Trading Hours?
Extended trading hours refer to the periods outside of the traditional 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) regular market session. On Webull, these typically include:
Pre-Market Trading: This session usually runs from 4:00 AM ET to 9:30 AM ET. It's a fantastic window to react to overnight news, earnings reports, or global market movements before the main trading day even begins.
After-Hours Trading: This session typically extends from 4:00 PM ET to 8:00 PM ET. It allows you to react to news that breaks after the market closes, giving you flexibility to adjust your positions or seize immediate opportunities.
New! Overnight Trading (24/5): Webull has recently expanded its offerings, allowing for even longer trading windows. In partnership with Blue Ocean Technologies, Webull now offers Overnight Trading from 8:00 PM ET to 4:00 AM ET (Sunday through Thursday) for eligible US stocks and ETFs. This truly brings you close to 24/5 access!
Why Bother with Extended Hours? The Advantages You Can't Ignore
Early Reaction to News: Imagine a company announces stellar earnings results after market close. With extended hours, you can buy in before the market opens, potentially capturing significant gains. The same applies to negative news, allowing you to exit a position quickly.
Increased Flexibility: For those with busy schedules during regular market hours, extended hours provide the flexibility to trade when it suits you best.
Capitalizing on Global Events: International markets and global news can significantly impact US stocks. Extended hours allow you to react to these developments in real-time, without waiting for the next trading day.
Potentially Better Prices: Sometimes, liquidity issues in extended hours can lead to wider bid-ask spreads. However, it can also present opportunities to enter or exit positions at prices that might not be available during regular hours.
Testing Strategies: Extended hours can be a great environment to test new trading strategies with smaller positions, as volatility can be different from regular hours.
The Caveats: What to Be Mindful Of
While extended hours offer compelling advantages, it's crucial to understand the potential risks:
Lower Liquidity: Fewer participants mean fewer buyers and sellers, which can lead to wider bid-ask spreads and difficulty executing large orders at desired prices.
Increased Volatility: With lower liquidity, prices can move more dramatically and unpredictably.
Limited Order Types: Generally, only limit orders are allowed during extended hours to protect you from unexpected price swings. We'll cover this in detail later.
Competition from Institutions: Many institutional investors also trade during extended hours, bringing sophisticated algorithms and high-speed trading to the mix.
Are you still with me? Great! If you understand the opportunities and the risks, you're already one step ahead. Now, let's get to the "how-to."
Step 2: Accessing the Webull Platform – Your Gateway to Extended Trading
To enable extended hours, you first need to be logged into your Webull account. Webull offers multiple platforms, and the process is largely similar across them.
Sub-heading 2.1: On the Webull Mobile App (Most Popular)
This is the most common way users interact with Webull, and enabling extended hours here is very straightforward.
Open the Webull App: Locate the Webull icon on your smartphone and tap to open it.
Log In: Enter your credentials (username/email and password, or use biometric login if enabled).
Navigate to a Stock's Trading Page: You can do this by searching for a specific stock (e.g., "AAPL" for Apple) or by going to your watchlist and tapping on a ticker.
Sub-heading 2.2: On the Webull Desktop Platform
For those who prefer a larger screen and more robust charting tools, the desktop platform is ideal.
Launch the Webull Desktop Application: Double-click the Webull icon on your desktop or find it in your applications folder.
Log In: Enter your account details.
Select a Stock: Similar to the mobile app, navigate to a stock's detailed quote page or add an order to a watchlisted stock.
Sub-heading 2.3: On the Webull Web Platform
If you're on a computer but don't want to download the desktop app, the web platform is a convenient alternative.
Go to the Webull Website: Open your web browser and go to
www.webull.com Log In: Click on the "Login" button and enter your credentials.
Find Your Stock: Use the search bar or navigate through your portfolio/watchlist to the desired stock.
Step 3: Placing an Order with Extended Hours Enabled – The Core Action
This is where the magic happens! Enabling extended hours isn't a global setting you turn on once; rather, it's an option you select for each individual order you place. This gives you precise control over when your orders are active.
Sub-heading 3.1: Initiating an Order
Regardless of the platform, the first step is to initiate a buy or sell order for the stock you wish to trade.
Tap/Click the "Trade" or "Buy/Sell" Button: On the stock's detail page, you'll see prominent "Trade," "Buy," or "Sell" buttons. Click the one corresponding to your intended action (e.g., if you want to buy, click "Buy").
You'll be taken to the order entry screen.
Sub-heading 3.2: Selecting the Right Order Type – Crucial for Extended Hours!
This is the most critical step for extended hours trading.
Choose "Limit Order": Look for the "Order Type" field. By default, it might be set to "Market Order." You must change this to Limit Order.
Why a Limit Order? Market orders execute immediately at the best available price. During extended hours, with lower liquidity, a market order could execute at a much worse price than you anticipate, leading to significant losses. A limit order allows you to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay (for a buy order) or the minimum price you're willing to accept (for a sell order), protecting you from adverse price movements.
Enter Your Desired Price: Once "Limit Order" is selected, a "Price" field will appear. Carefully enter the specific price at which you want your order to execute.
Sub-heading 3.3: Activating "Include Extended Hours"
Now, for the main event!
Locate "Trading Hours" or "Time in Force": On the order entry screen, look for an option usually labeled "Trading Hours," "Time in Force," or "Extended Hours." This might be a dropdown menu or a simple toggle switch.
Select "Include Extended Hours" or Toggle On: From the dropdown, choose "Include Extended Hours" or ensure the corresponding toggle is switched to the ON position.
Sometimes, this option might be labeled as "Good Till Cancelled (GTC)" with an extended hours checkbox, or similar. The key is to find the setting that explicitly enables trading outside regular market hours.
Sub-heading 3.4: Reviewing and Confirming Your Order
Before you hit that final button, take a moment to double-check everything.
Review Order Details: Confirm the stock ticker, the quantity of shares, your limit price, and most importantly, that "Include Extended Hours" is selected.
Understand the Risks Acknowledgment: Webull will likely present a pop-up or a disclaimer reminding you of the risks associated with extended hours trading (liquidity, volatility, etc.). Read and acknowledge this disclaimer. This is a standard procedure to ensure you're aware of the heightened risks.
Place Order: Once you're confident in your order and have acknowledged the risks, tap/click the "Place Order" or "Confirm Order" button.
Congratulations! Your order is now active and capable of being executed during Webull's extended trading sessions.
Step 4: Monitoring Your Extended Hours Orders
Placing the order is only half the battle. Monitoring its status is equally important, especially during volatile extended hours.
Sub-heading 4.1: Checking Order Status
Go to Your "Orders" Tab: On the Webull app or desktop platform, navigate to the "Orders" section (often found in your main navigation or under your account details).
Look for Your Pending Order: You'll see a list of your open, filled, and canceled orders. Your extended hours order, if not yet filled, will appear as "Pending" or "Working."
Sub-heading 4.2: Modifying or Canceling Extended Hours Orders
Things can change rapidly in extended hours. If you need to adjust your price or cancel your order:
Select the Pending Order: In your "Orders" tab, tap/click on the specific extended hours order you wish to modify or cancel.
Choose "Modify" or "Cancel": You'll be given options to modify the order (e.g., change the limit price or quantity) or cancel it entirely.
Confirm Action: Follow the prompts to confirm your modification or cancellation.
Remember, in fast-moving markets, there's no guarantee your modification or cancellation will be processed before your original order is filled.
Step 5: Understanding Webull's Expanded Overnight Trading (24/5)
As mentioned earlier, Webull has significantly extended its trading hours for certain US stocks and ETFs, offering a near 24/5 trading experience.
Sub-heading 5.1: What is Overnight Trading?
Overnight trading, powered by Webull's collaboration with Blue Ocean Technologies, extends the trading window even further, from 8:00 PM ET to 4:00 AM ET, Sunday through Thursday. This bridges the gap between traditional after-hours and pre-market sessions.
Sub-heading 5.2: How to Access Overnight Trading
The process for enabling overnight trading is generally the same as for standard extended hours: when placing a limit order, ensure you select the "Include Extended Hours" option. Webull's system will automatically route your order to the appropriate session (pre-market, after-hours, or overnight) based on the current time and the "Time in Force" you've selected.
Sub-heading 5.3: Important Considerations for Overnight Trading
Limited Symbol Availability: While Webull is expanding the list, not all stocks and ETFs are available for overnight trading. Check the specific stock's trading hours on Webull for confirmation.
Even Lower Liquidity: As this is a newer and less active session, liquidity can be even lower than traditional pre-market or after-hours, potentially leading to wider spreads and greater price volatility.
Data Availability: Webull offers Level 1 overnight market data free of charge, with options to subscribe to more in-depth data packages. Accessing real-time data is crucial for informed decisions in this session.
Final Thoughts on Extended Hours Trading
Enabling extended hours on Webull is a straightforward process once you understand the steps and the underlying principles. It empowers you to react quickly to market-moving news and take advantage of opportunities outside regular trading hours. However, always remember the increased risks associated with lower liquidity and higher volatility. Start small, monitor your positions closely, and use limit orders religiously. Happy extended trading!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check the trading hours for a specific stock on Webull?
You can check the trading hours for any stock by navigating to its individual quote page on the Webull app or desktop platform. Look for a section detailing market hours, often under "Quote" or "Overview."
How to know if my Webull account is eligible for extended hours trading?
All standard Webull brokerage accounts are generally eligible for extended hours trading. There isn't a separate application or approval process required beyond opening your brokerage account.
How to set up recurring extended hours trades on Webull?
Webull does not currently offer a feature to set up automatically recurring extended hours trades. Each extended hours order must be placed individually with the "Include Extended Hours" option selected.
How to view Level 2 market data for extended hours on Webull?
Webull offers various market data packages. While Level 1 data is often free, Level 2 data (which provides more in-depth insight into buy and sell orders) usually requires a subscription. Check the "Market Data" section in your Webull account settings to subscribe to Level 2 data for extended hours.
How to use stop-loss orders during extended hours on Webull?
Generally, only limit orders are supported for extended hours trading on Webull. Stop-loss orders typically convert to market orders once triggered, which is too risky for extended hours due to low liquidity. Always use limit orders with a specified price for extended hours.
How to understand the risks of extended hours trading on Webull?
The primary risks include lower liquidity (fewer buyers/sellers), higher volatility (larger price swings), and wider bid-ask spreads (greater difference between buy and sell prices). Always use limit orders and consider starting with smaller positions.
How to find pre-market and after-hours top gainers/losers on Webull?
On the Webull app or desktop platform, navigate to the "Markets" or "Discovery" section. You'll typically find filters or categories for "Pre-Market Gainers," "After-Hours Gainers," and their respective "Losers."
How to adjust my trading strategy for extended hours on Webull?
Focus on stocks with higher liquidity even during extended hours, use tight limit orders, consider trading smaller position sizes, and be highly responsive to breaking news. Avoid using market orders.
How to get real-time news that impacts extended hours trading on Webull?
Webull integrates a news feed directly within its platform. You can also follow reliable financial news sources and social media channels to get real-time updates that might influence extended hours movements.
How to switch back to regular trading hours if I've enabled extended hours on an order?
If an order with "Include Extended Hours" is still pending, you can modify it. However, if you want your order to only be active during regular hours, you'll need to cancel the existing order and place a new one, ensuring the "Include Extended Hours" option is not selected.