The rise of overnight trading: Why everyone’s watching post‑market moves

In 2025, stock trading no longer stops at 4 p.m. ET. The day doesn’t follow the clock; it follows the news.

Today, major moves happen after hours. Earnings surprise? Merger talk? Overnight price swings now unfold when most traders are asleep. And if you want to trade CFD online, these late moves can be your opportunity and your risk.

The result? After‑hours trading volume has doubled in five years. It now represents 11% of all U.S. equity trading, with over 1.7 billion shares traded daily off-hours New York Stock Exchange. Retail and institutional players are paying attention and adapting fast.

Let’s explore what’s driving this shift, how traders adjust, and why post-market action is becoming the real signal.

What’s Behind the Trend

More and more traders are staying logged in long after the closing bell. It's not just curiosity — there are real events and shifts driving this new behavior.

1. Earnings Reports & Major Events

A single earnings release after market close can move a stock and the sector.

In a study of 89 billion after-hours quotes, over 90% of earnings-announcement days saw significant price jumps off-hours,. That's not rare, it’s routine.

That makes overnight periods a battleground. If you’re trading CFDs or any stock, you can’t ignore moves happening at 6 or 7 p.m.

2. Global Macro & Geopolitics

Events don’t stick to U.S. business hours. Whether it’s an OPEC decision, an RBI rate announcement, or late-night international conflict, the ripple effects hit stock prices outside regular hours.

That’s why global traders, especially those who trade CFDs online, are monitoring news at all hours. Because when Asia reacts, U.S. markets often follow before the bell even rings.

3. Trading Apps Now Offer Extended Hours

Robinhood, Firstrade, Webull, and others now support Sunday night through Friday evening trading. Robinhood reports that overnight volume has more than doubled since June 2023.

Market professionals are claiming that overnight trading now makes up 2.2% of total volume, and could in the next 20 years.

These extended hours aren’t just a novelty—they’re reshaping stock trading.

How Traders Are Adjusting

Traders aren't just watching overnight markets; they're changing how they trade around them. From rethinking timing to using new tools, the after-hours shift is shaping smarter, faster strategies.

Rebalancing Around Earnings

Professional traders used to wait until morning to react to earnings. Now, they rebalance immediately—using CFDs, futures, or ADRs to stay exposed.