You log into eToro, excited to buy a stock youโve been watchingโonly to see the trade button is greyed out. You check your internet connection. You refresh. Still nothing. Whatโs going on?
Chances are, itโs outside stock market hours. Knowing when markets open and close on eToro can save you time, frustration, and missed opportunities. Letโs walk through it step by step.
Regular Stock Market Hours on eToro
eToro follows standard exchange hours for U.S. and global markets. For U.S. stocks:
- Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
How to trade U.S. stocks on eToro:
- Check your time zone (convert from ET if needed)
- Visit the assetโs page during trading hours
- If the trade button is green, youโre good to go
- Use market or limit orders based on your strategy
During these hours, trades are placed in real-time and prices update continuously.
Extended Hours Trading
eToro offers extended trading for selected U.S. stocks through Contracts for Difference (CFDs). Youโll see these listed with a โ.EXTโ suffix, like TSLA.EXT.
Extended hours on eToro are:
- Pre-market: 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM ET
- Post-market: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET
How to trade during extended hours:
- Search for the โ.EXTโ version of the stock
- Place a CFD trade (not available for all stocks)
- Use smaller position sizes and set limit orders to manage risk
Extended hours can be helpful, but they also bring more price swings and lower volume. Itโs best to tread lightly if youโre just starting out.
Time Zones Matter (More Than You Think)
Market hours are listed in Eastern Time, but most eToro users trade from different time zones.
Hereโs what U.S. market open looks like in other regions:
- London: 2:30 PM local time
- Sydney: 12:30 AM (next day)
- Dubai: 5:30 PM
- Singapore: 9:30 PM
Tips for managing time zones:
- Use a time zone converter to avoid errors
- Set alerts in eToro for market open and close
- Schedule your trades based on your local time, not New Yorkโs
Pro Tip: Some traders set two phone alarmsโone 10 minutes before open, and one at closeโto check positions and avoid holding through volatile gaps.
What Real Traders Say
We browsed Reddit, eToroโs social feed, and community threads to hear from actual users.
โI live in Europe, and U.S. hours are tough for me. I plan trades during lunch and use limit orders,โ one trader wrote.
โI used to forget about daylight savings and got locked out of trades for an hour. Now I always double-check time zones,โ said another.
โI do most of my prep at night and set pending orders for market open. Itโs way less stressful than reacting live,โ shared one user on the eToro Community.
These small tweaks help everyday traders stay calm and consistent.
Weekend Trading: Crypto Is the Exception
Stock markets are closed on weekends, but crypto is always running. You can trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets 24/7.
This gives you more flexibilityโbut donโt confuse it with stock trading. Stocks still follow their weekday schedules.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to trade U.S. stocks on weekends or holidays
Assuming all stocks are available for extended hours
Forgetting to account for time zone differences
Using market orders during extended hours (can lead to big slippage)
Not checking for daylight saving time changes
These trip up many new tradersโbut once you know what to watch for, theyโre easy to fix.
Final Thoughts
Knowing eToroโs stock market hours helps you avoid confusion, reduce stress, and trade with purpose. Set alerts, plan ahead, and donโt worry if you miss a sessionโanother opportunity always comes. Youโre learning the rhythm now, and every trader starts with that same question: โWhen can I actually trade?โ Now you know.
FAQs
1. What time does the U.S. stock market open on eToro? 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
2. Does eToro allow trading outside regular hours? Yes, for some U.S. stocks via CFDs marked with โ.EXTโ, from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM ET and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET.
3. Can I place orders when the market is closed? Yes, but theyโll be queued and executed when the market opens.
4. Are extended hours more risky? Yes, lower volume means bigger price swings. Use limit orders and smaller trades to manage risk.
5. Why is the trade button sometimes greyed out? Itโs likely outside the trading window or the market is closed for a holiday.
6. Can I trade international stocks too? Yes, eToro offers stocks from markets like London, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong, each with their own hours.
7. Do I need to worry about time zones? Definitely. Always convert from Eastern Time to your local time, and watch for daylight saving shifts.
8. How do I find stocks available for extended hours? Search for the stock name plus โ.EXTโ in the eToro platform.
9. Can I trade crypto at any time? Yes, cryptocurrencies are available 24/7, even on weekends and holidays.
10. Is there a difference in fees during extended hours? No extra fees from eToro, but spreads may widen due to volatility and low liquidity.