Hi everyone.
As reported in the news recently, in 2025, US markets will be open 24/7.
I’d like to know if this will be possible with Freetrade?
Obviously, not having access to a market for 16 hours while the rest of the world is moving in and out of stocks we own could present a huge risk for us if we cannot buy or sell for the majority of the new market hours.
Does anyone know if Freetrade plans to align with these new hours?
Thanks!
More info here:
I don’t see why not… the current trade times are based on market open hours, if they’re open 247 the trade orders would just remain open 247 surely?
Will be interesting times for sure
The proposal is for ‘23 hour’ trading during the work week with “A one-hour operational pause will occur during each trading day to accommodate routine software upgrades and functionality testing.”
Freetrade dont yet offer extended hours that some of their other competitors do, I imagine they will drag their heels on this.
I read somewhere that most trades happen shortly after the market opens and shortly before it closes. So I wonder if there’s an argument for markets being open for 1 hour a day rather than 24!
Large institutions and funds tend to put their orders through at the end of the day. At the start and end of the trading day the swings in stock prices tend to be greater.
For retail investors there is an argument to be made to wait till this volatility settles down. and place your orders after the first hour of trading so you know what prices you are getting.
Regardless of open / close volatility - if it turns out we’re all going to be exposed to the risk of not being able to open and close positions for hours every day, then I’m switching for sure.
Imagine watching a stock you’re holding selling off for 8 hours, while the rest of the world can react, but all you can do is sit and watch…
How dare FT not react immediately to some gossip that may or may not materialise!
How dare they, in the imagination of some, not be opened for business on some future date…despicable!
Oh how we love to catastrophise future events, no matter how unlikely 
Im very confident FT will give market access to major markets while they are open for normal trading…no matter the hour. Quite sure they always have.
For avoidance of doubt, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the establishment of a 24-hour stock exchange in the US. The approval was granted on November 28, so it’s probably a tad more tangible than merely “some gossip that may or may not materialise”
There was a tongue in cheek vibe to make a point.
However I also accept yours.
It’s an interesting development… i see no reason to think FT won’t facilitate any changes. Undoubtedly all big brokers will.
Can anyone on the Freetrade team confirm?
I have no appreciation for tech complexity or operational cost of this change, but it could represent a tremendous first-mover advantage/opportunity.
I dont see it being a technical issue whatsoever.
FT work with a broker…and trades go through when the broker is operating.
When the markets opens longer, the broker will be operating and therefore so will FT.
We’re keeping a close eye on this to see what we can offer. There are already some trading venues that offer a 24/5 market for a selection of stocks. NYSE’s announcement signals their intention to follow in a similar way.
Despite these approvals, it’s still a little ways off. The CNBC talks about the second half of 2025.
Unfortunately it won’t quite be as simple as keeping markets open while our existing broker-dealer is operating @Bob1 (although if they support trading on one of these venues, that would certainly be helpful!).
Trading 212 have been offering 24/5 for some time.
Freetrade are far from first movers in anything unfortunately.