Fidelity Investments: Operating Hours And You

Fidelity Investments offers a wide range of services with varying operational hours. Their Investor Centers are open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and by appointment. Fidelity's customer service team is available 24/7 via phone, and their live chat support operates from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Additionally, they offer extended-hours trading, allowing investors to place orders when the market is closed. This includes after-hours trading, which occurs after the market closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and pre-market trading, which happens before the market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Fidelity's Investor Centres are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m

If you're looking to visit a Fidelity Investor Centre in person, their branches are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. This is a great option if you need specialised support for your accounts or technical issues. You can also schedule a planning appointment to collaborate on a financial plan, discuss your goals and investment strategies, or get guidance on a specific situation.

Fidelity also offers a Virtual Assistant on their website, which is available 24/7 to help with your requests. You can also chat live with their team during extended hours from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

If you're looking to place an order during the After Hours session, this can be done through your Fidelity brokerage account from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, excluding market holidays.

The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, the two main US marketplaces, are open for trading from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. They are closed on the weekends and most major US holidays.

Extended-hours trading allows buying and selling outside of regular hours

Extended-hours trading allows investors to place orders when the market is closed. This means that investors can react to news events before many other investors. For example, investors can respond to public companies' quarterly earnings announcements, which often occur after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, without having to wait until the next day when the market opens.

The opening bell is at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and the closing bell is at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Extended-hours trading includes after-hours trading, which occurs immediately after the market closes, and pre-market trading, which occurs before the market opens. Both sessions are known collectively as extended-hours trading.

There are two Extended Hours Trading sessions: a Pre-Market Session and an After Hours session. In the Pre-Market session, buy and sell limit orders can be placed from 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 or 9:28 a.m. Eastern Time. The After Hours session begins at 4:00 p.m. and continues until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All unfilled orders placed during either session expire and are cancelled at the end of the session.

During Extended Hours, investors can only place orders through Fidelity.com, the Fidelity Mobile app, or Active Trader Pro (ATP). There is no minimum order size, but 10,000 shares is the maximum order allowed. It is important to note that the rules for extended-hours trading differ from the rules during normal trading hours, and each brokerage firm may have different rules. For example, with a Fidelity brokerage account, you can only place certain types of orders during extended-hours trading, including buy, buy to cover, sell, or short-sale orders. All orders must be limit orders.

The US stock market is open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m

However, trading doesn't have to occur only during market hours. After-hours trading and pre-market trading, known collectively as extended-hours trading, allow investors to place orders when the market is closed. After-hours trading occurs immediately after the market closes at 4:00 p.m. ET, while pre-market trading occurs before the market opens at 9:30 a.m. ET. Extended-hours trading provides investors with the opportunity to react to news events and earnings reports before the market officially opens or after it closes.

For example, the highly significant monthly US employment report is released at 8:30 a.m. ET on the first Friday of every month. With extended-hours trading, an active investor can manage their position immediately after the announcement, instead of having to wait until the market opens at 9:30 a.m. ET.

It's important to note that extended-hours trading comes with substantial risks and is not suitable for everyone. The rules for extended-hours trading differ from normal trading hours, and each brokerage firm may have its own set of rules. For instance, with a Fidelity brokerage account, certain types of orders, such as buy, buy to cover, sell, or short-sale orders, are permitted during extended-hours trading. Additionally, all orders must be limit orders, and there are specific time restrictions for pre-market and after-hours sessions.

While extended-hours trading offers flexibility and the ability to react to market news promptly, it's essential to carefully consider the risks involved, such as lower liquidity and increased price volatility.

Fidelity's Virtual Assistant is available 24/7

Fidelity also offers 24/7 customer service via phone, email, and social media channels, including Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube. Live chat with the team is available during specific operating hours, and in-person support is available at Investor Centers from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and by appointment.

The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open for trading Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, excluding major U.S. holidays. Extended trading hours are also available before and after these market hours, allowing investors to place orders outside of regular market hours.

Fidelity's After Hours Session for placing stock orders is available from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding market holidays. During this time, investors can place certain types of orders, such as buy, buy to cover, sell, or short-sale orders, and all orders must be limit orders.

With its Virtual Assistant and various customer support options, Fidelity ensures that you can access the information and assistance you need at any time, providing convenience and peace of mind.

Live chat with the team is available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET on weekends

Fidelity Investments offers a comprehensive customer service that includes a Virtual Assistant designed to help with your requests 24/7. This Virtual Assistant is an automated natural language search engine that helps you find information on the Fidelity.com site.

In addition, you can chat live with the Fidelity team, who are available to provide specialised support for your accounts or technical issues. The live chat service operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on weekends. This means that you can access immediate help from a real person during extended hours on weekdays and throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays.

The live chat function is just one of several ways to connect with the Fidelity team. You can also find phone numbers and relevant departments for your specific needs on their website, and get help via various social media channels, including Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube.

Fidelity also offers a screen-sharing service, where you can share your computer screen with a Fidelity representative. This service is particularly useful if you need assistance with a complex issue that requires a more personalised approach.

Frequently asked questions