Anyone looking to find ways to use their money to make money has probably heard about the stock market. There are lots of different stock market exchanges to choose from. While the New York Stock Exchange is one of the most popular, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange is another option. The NASDAQ is a global electronic marketplace where investors can buy and sell different types of securities. In 1971, the NASDAQ Market was created by the National Association of Securities Dealers. The purpose of the NASDAQ is to enable investors to trade Securities using a fast, transparent, and computerized system. Also referred to as the NASDAQ Composite, this is an index containing more than 3,000 stocks listed on the exchange. Some of the biggest companies in the world, including some from Hong Kong, are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. A few of the most prominent examples include Intel, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Oracle. For this reason, anyone who would like to learn more about this stock market and the exchange should keep a few key points in mind.
NASDAQ Trading Hours: An Overview of Regular and Extended Hours Trading
When it comes to trading on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, it is essential to know the market hours of the exchange. Like most other stock exchanges in the local area, the NASDAQ is open for six and a half hours per day. Regular trading hours take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are also extended hours available as well. The extended hours trading takes place before and after-hours listed above. Pre-market extended hours occur from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., even though most pre-market trading occurs closer to 9:30. Aftermarket hours trading takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity for traders to buy or sell that last stock during an extended hours trading opportunity. In this manner, the NASDAQ provides added stock trading flexibility using additional hours trading sessions.
Even though most people can only place orders during normal trading hours or regular hours, there are also ways for people to get approved to execute stock trading outside of regular hours. First, those interested in swapping stocks outside of regular trading should speak to a professional about lengthening their trading day. Next, everyone needs to learn the NASDAQ’s different stock market order types.
The Types of Stock Market Orders Placed on the NASDAQ Composite
In general, when it comes to the NASDAQ exchange, all traders and investors should consider two major types of orders. They are referred to as a market order and a limit order.
Market Order
The most common type of order is the market order. In most people’s eyes, a market order is the most basic type of trade that could be executed. This is an order to either buy or sell a stock immediately and at the current price. For example, if someone looks at the ticker symbol of one of the companies on the NASDAQ and likes the price, they could place a market order to buy it immediately. In general, when people place an order for a stock, they will purchase that stock at or near the posted asking price. On the other hand, if someone is getting ready to sell a stock, they will receive a price at or near the bid that has recently been posted.
It is important to note that the most recently traded price is not necessarily the price at which the market order will be carried out. While it is fast, the price at which the order is filled or executed could deviate from the most recently seen price if the market is particularly volatile. Therefore, market orders do not necessarily guarantee a price, but they ensure that the order is carried out as quickly as possible.
On the whole, market orders are popular among individual investors trying to buy or sell a stock without experiencing any delays. The good news is that the NASDAQ is traded electronically, ensuring that orders are carried out as quickly as possible, even on Friday. The most significant advantage of trading using a market order is that the trade is guaranteed to be filled promptly. Even though the investor might not know the exact price at which the stock will be purchased or jettisons, market orders that are likely to trade tens of thousands of shares per day will receive prices that are very close to the post a bid or ask.
Limit Order
The other big order category that someone might place on a NASDAQ is a limit order. Also called a pending order, this allows investors to place orders that are carried out at specified prices in the future. This order will not be carried out until the stock price reaches a specified level. If the price is not reached, then a limit order could expire.
There are four different types of them at orders that someone might like. These include:
- Buy Limit: A buy limit order is placed to purchase a security at or below a specified price. This means that the order is placed below the current bid of that specific stock. If a stock falls to that price, the order is carried out.
- Sell Limit: A sell limit order is placed to sell a particular stock at or above a specified price. The order must be placed above the current posted price for this trade to be carried out.Â
- Buy Stop: This is an order placed to purchase a particular stock above the posted price. This stop order will only be placed once a specific price has been reached, also known as the stop level.Â
- Sell Stop: A sell stop order is an order to sell a stock at a price below the stock’s current price. This order will only become active once the specified stop level has been attained.
This is a brief overview of the various orders that someone might place on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. It is essential to think about these orders carefully when deciding when to carry them out.
The NASDAQ Stock Exchange as an Investment Vehicle
Overall, the NASDAQ is a significant stock exchange with thousands of investment opportunities for investors. It is a good idea for investors to become familiar with the stocks traded on this stock exchange, as it is one of the biggest exchanges in the world. Those who can plan their Investments carefully have the opportunity to generate significant returns using the stock market.
Â