Do you ever find yourself wondering what's happening with a stock before the official market open? That mysterious price movement, those early morning surges or dips... That's pre-market trading in action! And if you're a Webull user, you're in luck, because Webull offers robust features to both view and trade during pre-market hours. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to leverage Webull for pre-market insights and execution.
Understanding Premarket Trading on Webull
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's quickly understand what pre-market trading is and why it matters.
Premarket trading refers to the period before the regular stock market trading hours begin. For US stocks on Webull, the pre-market session typically runs from 4:00 AM ET to 9:30 AM ET. This period allows investors to react to news, earnings reports, or global market movements that occur outside of standard trading hours. While it offers opportunities, it's also characterized by lower liquidity and higher volatility compared to the regular session. This means wider bid-ask spreads and potentially larger price swings on smaller volumes.
Key takeaway: Webull allows you to see pre-market data and place trades during these extended hours, but it's crucial to be aware of the inherent risks.
Step 1: Accessing Webull and Choosing Your Platform
Ready to dive in? The first step is to simply open your Webull platform.
Webull is available on multiple platforms, offering flexibility for traders:
Webull Mobile App (iOS/Android): Ideal for on-the-go traders. Most people use the mobile app, and the steps are very intuitive.
Webull Desktop Application: Provides a more comprehensive and customizable workspace, perfect for detailed analysis.
Webull Web Platform: Accessible directly through your browser, offering a good balance between the mobile and desktop experience.
Engage with me! Which platform do you primarily use for your trading? Let me know, as some visual cues might differ slightly, but the core functionality remains the same across all of them!
Once you're logged in, you're ready to start exploring pre-market data.
Step 2: Enabling Premarket Data on Charts
Seeing pre-market price action on your charts is fundamental for informed decision-making. Webull makes this incredibly easy.
Sub-heading: For the Webull Mobile App
Navigate to a Stock's Quote Page: Tap on any stock symbol you're interested in to open its detailed quote page.
Locate the Chart: You'll see the stock's interactive chart prominently displayed.
Tap the Chart Toolbox Icon: Look for a clover-leaf icon (or similar settings icon) usually located at the bottom right of the chart. Tap it.
Go to Settings: Within the chart toolbox, you'll see a "Settings" option. Tap on it.
Toggle "Including Extended Hours": Find the option labeled "Including Extended Hours" or similar. Toggle this switch ON.
Voilà! Your chart will now display price action from the pre-market and after-hours sessions, along with the regular market hours. You'll typically see shading or different colors distinguishing the extended hours from the regular session.
Sub-heading: For the Webull Desktop Application and Web Platform
Select a Stock Symbol: In your watchlist or search bar, select the stock you want to view. This will open its detailed view, including the chart.
Find the "Ext." Button: On the chart, usually at the bottom right, you'll see a button labeled "Ext." or "Extended Hours."
Click to Enable/Disable: Click this button to toggle the display of extended hours data on your chart. When it's highlighted or changes color, pre-market data is enabled.
Pro Tip: Once enabled, this setting usually persists for all charts you view until you manually disable it. This means you won't have to repeat this step every time you look at a new stock.
Step 3: Placing Premarket Trades (and Understanding the Nuances)
Simply viewing pre-market activity is helpful, but you'll likely want to act on those insights. Webull allows you to place trades during pre-market hours.
Sub-heading: Key Consideration: Limit Orders ONLY
This is crucial: Webull only allows limit orders during extended trading hours (pre-market and after-hours). You cannot place market orders. Why? Because of the lower liquidity and higher volatility during these periods. A market order could execute at a much worse price than you anticipate. A limit order ensures your trade only executes at your specified price or better.
Sub-heading: Steps to Place a Premarket Trade
Go to the Trade Ticket: From the stock's quote page (where you enabled extended hours on the chart), tap or click the "Trade" button.
Select "Buy" or "Sell": Choose whether you want to buy or sell the stock.
Choose Order Type: Limit Order: Ensure "Limit" is selected as your order type. This is the default or only option for extended hours.
Enter Your Price and Quantity:
Price: Carefully enter the limit price at which you want your order to execute.
Quantity: Enter the number of shares you wish to buy or sell.
Crucial Step: Select "Include Extended Hours": Look for a dropdown or checkbox, usually near the "Trading Hours" or "Time-in-Force" section, and explicitly select "Include Extended Hours" (or "Ext" as a duration). This tells Webull that you intend for your order to be active during the pre-market session. If you don't select this, your order will typically only be active during regular market hours.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details of your order: stock symbol, buy/sell, limit price, quantity, and especially the "Include Extended Hours" setting.
Submit Your Order: Click "Buy" or "Sell" to submit your pre-market order.
Remember: Your order will remain active during the pre-market hours until it's filled, canceled, or expires (if you set a specific Time-in-Force, like Day+Ext).
Step 4: Monitoring Your Premarket Trades and Understanding Risks
Once your pre-market order is placed, active monitoring is key.
Sub-heading: Order Status and Execution
Pending Orders: You can view your pending orders in the "Orders" section of your Webull account. They will show as "Working" or "Pending."
Filled Orders: If your limit order price is met during pre-market hours, your order will execute and move to "Filled."
Partial Fills: Due to lower liquidity, it's possible to get partial fills on larger orders. Be aware of this.
Unfilled Orders: If your order isn't filled by the end of the pre-market session, it will either be canceled (if you selected "Day+Ext" and it didn't fill before market open) or roll over to the regular session (if you selected "GTC+Ext" - Good-Til-Canceled plus extended hours).
Sub-heading: Important Risks of Premarket Trading
Lower Liquidity: Fewer participants mean it can be harder to buy or sell shares, and even small orders can significantly impact the price.
Higher Volatility: Prices can swing wildly on limited news or volume. What looks like a great entry point could quickly turn into a significant loss.
Wider Bid-Ask Spreads: The difference between the highest price buyers are willing to pay (bid) and the lowest price sellers are willing to accept (ask) is often much wider in pre-market. This means you might buy at a higher price or sell at a lower price than you'd get during regular hours.
Limited Order Protection: Standard market order protection rules that apply during regular hours often don't apply during extended hours.
News Impact: Company news or economic data released pre-market can cause rapid and unpredictable price movements.
Always exercise caution and consider the risks before engaging in pre-market trading. It's generally more suited for experienced traders who understand the dynamics of low-liquidity environments.
Step 5: Advanced Tips for Premarket Trading on Webull
To enhance your pre-market trading experience on Webull, consider these advanced tips:
Sub-heading: Utilizing Level 2 Market Data
Level 2 Market Data provides a deeper look into the order book, showing you the best bid and ask prices from various market participants and their respective sizes. This can be invaluable for understanding supply and demand dynamics during pre-market hours.
Accessing Level 2: On a stock's quote page, you'll typically find a "Level 2" tab or section.
Understanding the Data:
Bids (Left Side): Shows buy orders, with the highest bids at the top.
Asks (Right Side): Shows sell orders, with the lowest asks at the top.
Size: The number of shares at each price level.
MPID (Market Participant Identifier): Shows which market maker or ECN is placing the order.
Webull offers free Level 1 data (best bid/ask) but often provides a complimentary trial of Level 2 (Nasdaq TotalView) for new users. After the trial, it typically involves a small monthly subscription fee. While Level 2 isn't strictly necessary for showing pre-market, it's highly recommended for trading in these illiquid hours.
Sub-heading: Setting Up Alerts
Given the volatility, setting price alerts can be extremely useful.
Navigate to Alerts: On a stock's quote page, look for an "Alerts" or "Bell" icon.
Create a New Alert: Set up alerts for specific price levels, percentage changes, or volume triggers.
Specify Extended Hours: When setting the alert, ensure you choose to apply it to "Extended Hours" if you want to be notified of pre-market movements.
This way, you don't have to constantly stare at your screen during the early morning hours.
Sub-heading: Using the Webull Community and News Feed
Webull's platform integrates a community section and a robust news feed.
News Feed: Keep an eye on breaking news related to your watchlist stocks. Company announcements, analyst upgrades/downgrades, and economic data often drive pre-market movements.
Community: While sometimes noisy, the community can offer quick insights into what other traders are discussing about a particular stock during extended hours. Always verify information from the community with your own research.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to help solidify your understanding:
How to check pre-market trading hours on Webull?
Webull's pre-market hours for US stocks typically run from 4:00 AM ET to 9:30 AM ET. You can confirm this in the FAQ section of the Webull app or website.
How to enable extended hours on Webull charts?
On the mobile app, go to the stock chart, tap the chart toolbox icon (clover leaf), then "Settings," and toggle "Including Extended Hours" on. On desktop/web, look for the "Ext." button on the chart and click it.
How to place a pre-market order on Webull?
When placing an order, select "Limit" as the order type, enter your desired price and quantity, and crucially, choose "Include Extended Hours" under the "Trading Hours" or "Time-in-Force" options before submitting.
How to know if my pre-market order will fill?
There's no guarantee your pre-market limit order will fill. It depends on the liquidity and whether the stock's price reaches your specified limit within the pre-market session. Monitor your "Orders" tab for status updates.
How to cancel a pre-market order on Webull?
Navigate to your "Orders" tab, find the pending pre-market order, and tap or click "Cancel Order."
How to view Level 2 data on Webull for pre-market?
While not strictly for "showing" pre-market, Level 2 data provides depth. On a stock's quote page, look for the "Level 2" tab. Webull may offer a free trial, otherwise, it's a paid subscription.
How to set price alerts for pre-market movements on Webull?
Go to a stock's quote page, find the "Alerts" or "Bell" icon, create a new alert, and make sure to specify that the alert should apply to "Extended Hours."
How to trade options during pre-market on Webull?
Generally, options are not available for trading during pre-market or after-hours sessions on Webull. Options typically trade only during regular market hours, often closing at 4:00 PM ET or 4:15 PM ET.
How to see pre-market top gainers and losers on Webull?
Webull often has dedicated sections for "Top Gainers" and "Top Losers" within its market data. You can usually filter these by "Pre-market" to see early movers.
How to understand the risks of pre-market trading on Webull?
Premarket trading involves lower liquidity, higher volatility, and wider bid-ask spreads. Only limit orders are accepted. It's recommended for experienced traders who understand these dynamics and risks.