Plus500 has expanded its trading offering with the introduction of 24/5 access to selected markets, giving CFD traders the ability to trade almost continuously throughout the working week.
The extended service allows trading from Sunday at 8pm ET through to Friday at 8pm ET, equivalent to Monday 00:00 UTC through Saturday 00:00 UTC. This goes beyond conventional extended-hours trading by adding an overnight session and removing the gaps between pre-market, regular and after-hours sessions.
Plus500 adds overnight trading
US equities traditionally trade during the main market session between 9:30am and 4pm ET, with pre-market and after-hours sessions providing some additional access.
Plus500’s 24/5 service effectively connects these sessions, allowing supported instruments to remain tradeable overnight between 8pm and 4am ET.
For traders outside the US, this could be particularly useful. European and Asian traders can access US markets during their normal waking hours without having to wait for Wall Street’s opening bell.
It also means traders can respond more quickly to company announcements, economic data and geopolitical developments that take place outside regular US trading hours.
What can you trade 24/5 with Plus500?
Plus500 says it is gradually expanding the range of CFDs available for 24/5 trading. Its current offering covers selected US share CFDs, alongside major indices, forex pairs and commodities.
Not every instrument is available around the clock, however, and Plus500 advises traders to check the individual trading hours shown on its platform.
There is also no separate 24/5 trading mode. Supported instruments remain available through the normal Plus500 platform, with pricing, margin and risk-management conditions adjusted to reflect the extended trading period.
Why brokers are moving towards 24-hour markets
The move reflects a wider shift in retail trading towards longer market hours. Markets are increasingly global, while news and economic announcements rarely fit neatly within the traditional US trading day.
For brokers, extending access also enables clients in different time zones to trade US markets at times that suit them rather than being tied to New York trading hours.
However, more trading hours do not necessarily mean better trading conditions. Plus500 warns that liquidity can be lower outside the main session, potentially resulting in greater volatility and wider bid-offer spreads. Stops and margin calls can also be triggered during extended hours, potentially exposing traders to gaps where a guaranteed stop is not in place.
The launch gives Plus500 traders significantly more flexibility and is another step towards US markets becoming accessible around the clock rather than being centred around the traditional Wall Street trading session.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
