Recently, many Taiwanese investors have been asking the same question: After the Taiwan stock market closes, the US stock market suddenly receives major news, but they can only wait until the next day’s trading begins. Then, once the market opens, the price jumps immediately—so the opportunity slips away. The good news is that there is a solution: learn how to interpret US after-hours trading quotes and master the trading techniques.

When it comes to US electronic trading, many people think it’s just night trading, but the concept is actually different. Regular US stock trading is from 9:30 to 16:00 US Eastern Time, but outside these hours, there are also pre-market (4:00-9:30) and after-hours (16:00-20:00) trading sessions. Converted to Taiwan time, after-hours trading roughly falls between 4:00 and 8:00 in the early morning the next day. For people in Taiwan, this is quite friendly—you don’t need to stay up late to participate.

Futures electronic trading is even more flexible, operating close to 24 hours. From crude oil and gold to various futures, global investors can take part at any time. Personally, I often use US after-hours trading quotes right after the Taiwan stock market closes to judge the next day’s market direction and position myself early to seize some opportunities.

As for how to read US after-hours trading quotes, I recommend a few tools. TradingView is the most convenient, with a fully Chinese interface; it can be used on both mobile and desktop, and you can directly add after-hours quote indicators. If you want the most authoritative data, the Nasdaq official website lets you look up the real-time after-hours prices of popular stocks like TSLA and AAPL directly. As for futures, the CME is the first choice for after-hours futures electronic quotes. But honestly, if you view quotes directly on the trading platform itself, it’s even more convenient—you don’t have to keep switching to overseas websites.

I’ve used several platforms myself, and I’ve found that the core of after-hours trading is “checking and confirming the quotes.” But there’s a pitfall to avoid here: not all platforms’ after-hours quotes are directly tradable—some are only reference prices. Therefore, before trading, you must confirm whether the platform’s quotes match the actual execution prices.

There are several tips worth paying attention to for after-hours trading. First, only trade assets you’re familiar with—don’t casually touch unfamiliar stocks. Second, trade based on news. Wait until the Federal Reserve’s policy, company earnings, and geopolitical news are released before taking action; if there’s no news, observe and wait. Most importantly, keep your position size light. Liquidity is poor after hours, and heavy positions can get stuck—I usually keep it within 5-10% of total capital. Also, always use limit orders and set your take-profit and stop-loss in advance; otherwise, after-hours price swings can be quite uncomfortable.

Another detail is to avoid Monday after-hours trading. Due to the accumulation of weekend news, volatility is much higher than usual, so beginners should best skip it. You should also watch out for low-liquidity assets. Small-cap stocks may not have any trading activity for a long time after hours. Even if you place orders, they may not get filled.

The benefits of after-hours trading are obvious: the timing is flexible, you can respond to overnight news in time, and there are more opportunities for short-term swings. But the risks should not be underestimated. The main issue is insufficient liquidity, which leads to wider bid-ask spreads. Institutional investors have more information and more capital, so retail traders are more likely to be passive. In addition, electronic trading relies entirely on computer matching, and system latency can be fatal. The most feared risk is the possibility of a price gap. After-hours prices do not represent the next day’s opening price. If sudden news hits, it may cause a large gap at the open, and your take-profit and stop-loss orders may become ineffective.

If you want to participate in US after-hours trading with a low barrier, some platforms simplify the process. There’s no need to open separate permissions, and there are no asset threshold restrictions. After registering, you can start trading immediately. These platforms typically support direct TWD deposits, with quotes synchronized in real time to international markets. Even during after-hours, trades can be executed immediately, and they also offer complete risk control tools. For small investors, the minimum can be as low as 50 US dollars, with trading starting from 0.01 lots—no large amount of capital is needed to get started.

In summary, US after-hours trading quotes do indeed provide additional opportunities, but the key is to recognize the risks and do a good job of risk control. Fully understand the trading rules, invest rationally, and don’t let short-term volatility get you carried away. Investing involves risk, and trading requires caution. After-hours trading may offer opportunities, but it’s not suitable for all investors. If you want to try it, it’s recommended that you first practice using a demo account. After you’re familiar with the rules and price movements, then move on to real trading.