End of day trading is a convenient strategy for many traders. By placing your trades at the end of each trading day, you don’t need to spend time watching the markets all day and can avoid being distracted by news. It may also reduce the need for paid real-time data or intraday scanning tools. This page will explain what end of day trading means, the benefits and risks, and how to get started with end of day trading. We will also detail an example.
Trading Brokers in Canada
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- Demo account
- Regulator: CySEC, MISA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
71.28% of retail traders lose money when trading CFDs -
- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
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- Demo account
- Regulator: CIRO
- Platforms: TradingCentral
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- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $300
- Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSCA, FSC, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Min. deposit: $0
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- FXCC 4.6/5 FXCC is an established broker that’s been offering low-cost online trading since 2010. Registered in Comoros Union and regulated by the CySEC, it stands out for its ECN trading conditions, no minimum deposit and smooth account opening that takes less than 5 minutes.
- Eightcap 4.6/5 Eightcap is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker established in Australia in 2009. The broker has proven popular with active day traders, providing 800+ instruments with tight spreads and notable improvements in recent years, integrating the leading TradingView platform, alongside AI-powered financial calendars and algo trading tools with zero coding experience required.
- Fusion Markets 4.6/5 Fusion Markets is an online broker established in 2017 and regulated by the ASIC, VFSC and FSA. It is best known for its low-cost forex and CFD trading, although its multiple account types and copy trading solutions cater to a range of traders. New clients can sign up and start trading in 3 easy steps.
- Qtrade 3.6/5 Qtrade is an award-winning Canadian financial services firm that offers a selection of investing accounts, including with zero commission stocks, mutual fund trades and ETFs. This is a long-running brand that is well regarded in Canada, where many investors choose it to build their savings account or pension pot. QTrade is also highly trusted and authorized by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO).
- AvaTrade 4.9/5 Established in 2006, AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Operating under regulation in 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade processes an impressive 2+ million trades each month. Through like MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTrader, the broker provides a growing selection of 1,250+ instruments. Whether it’s CFDs, AvaOptions, or the more recent AvaFutures, short-term traders at all levels will find opportunities. With terrific education and 24/5 multilingual customer support, AvaTrade delivers the complete trading experience.
- FP Markets 4.2/5 Established in 2005 in Australia, FP Markets is an ASIC- and CySEC-regulated broker boasting an extensive suite of tradable assets. Its Standard and Raw accounts cater to day traders at every level, while it packs a punch in the tooling department, from the MetaTrader suite and intuitive TradingView to actionable trading ideas from Trading Central and AutoChartist.
Community Sentiment
See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
| Broker | Our Users' Rating | Trustpilot Score | Trustpilot Reviews | iOS App Rating | Android App Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FXCC | 221 | ||||
| Eightcap | 3907 | ||||
| Fusion Markets | 10175 | ||||
| Qtrade | 73 | ||||
| AvaTrade | 13597 | ||||
| FP Markets | 10359 |
FXCC
FXCC continues to prove itself an excellent option for day traders with a particularly strong selection of 70+ currency pairs, ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips during testing, and a free VPS for qualifying traders.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
FXCC quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Metals, Energies, Crypto
- Regulator
- CySEC, MISA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD
Pros
- Customer support still relies on human agents with response times of under three minutes on live chat during our tests and knowledgeable reps - a welcome break from the frustrating AI chatbots increasingly offered by brokers.
- FXCC has stepped up its offering over the years, adding MT5 to its suite of platforms, hundreds of stocks and more cryptos to its product line-up, plus a copy trading feature and greater margin trading opportunities.
- The free VPS for qualifying traders and the ability to build or buy EAs on MetaTrader make FXCC a strong option for algo traders.
Cons
- Although the economic calendar has benefited from a facelift, FXCC still offers very little in terms of market research beyond basic daily technical analysis and aggregated market news, with no tools like Autochartist or social sentiment data.
- Although FXCC has bolstered its range of markets with US, European and Asian stocks, the choice of metals and energies is light, and there are no soft commodities.
- Although regulated by the CySEC, FXCC’s offshore entity operates with weak regulatory oversight from MISA and may not provide safeguards like investor compensation in the event of broker insolvency.
Eightcap
Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms, education via Labs, and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 120+ crypto CFDs, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Eightcap quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs in Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD
Pros
- Eightcap has brought in GOLD247 for 24/7 trading opportunities on a gold/USD CFD with leverage up to 1:20, minimum trade size of 0.01 lots, and no commission, appealing to weekend traders interested in the precious metal.
- With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
- Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools and resources, including MT4 and MT5, and more recently the 100-million strong social trading network TradingView.
Cons
- Eightcap needs to continue bolstering its suite of 800+ instruments to match category leaders like Blackbull Markets with its 26,000+ assets, featuring a particularly weak selection of commodities.
- The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
Fusion Markets
Fusion Markets is a standout option for forex traders looking for excellent pricing with spreads near zero, industry-low commissions and recently TradingView integration. It’s a particularly good broker for Australian traders where the company is headquartered and regulated by the ASIC.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Fusion Markets quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator
- ASIC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- The range of charting platforms and social trading features is excellent, with MT4, MT5, cTrader and more recently TradingView, catering to a wide range of trader preferences.
- Fusion Markets is set up to support algo traders with a sponsored VPS solution and a 25% discount if you opt for the NYC Servers VPS for MT4 or cTrader.
- The market analysis features, Market Buzz and Analyst Views, are great tools for discovering opportunities and conveniently integrated into the client dashboard.
Cons
- Traders outside of Australia must sign up with weakly regulated global entities with limited safeguards, though in August 2026 they made negative balance protection available to all eligible accounts.
- There is no proprietary trading platform or app built with beginners in mind, a notable drawback compared to AvaTrade.
- The demo account expires after 30 days, limiting its potential as a useful trading tool alongside a real-money account.
Qtrade
Qtrade is a good match for Canadian traders who are looking for a reputable and regulated broker to make longer-term investments as well as leveraged trades.
William Berg, Reviewer
Qtrade quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Options, GICs
- Regulator
- CIRO
- Platforms
- TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- Variable
- Account Currencies
- USD, CAD
Pros
- Qtrade has teamed up with PersonaFin to launch “My News” - an AI-powered, personalized newsfeed built around your interests. Get timely insights from premium sources, discover trending topics fast, and explore smarter with AI-driven search.
- Alongside commission-free ETFs, Qtrade has slashed its options fees, now coming in at $0.75 per options contract (down from $1.00).
- After years of testing, Qtrade has cemented its place as one of the best trading platforms in Canada, with easy-to-use software and a growing range of US and Canadian stocks as well as funds, ETFs and other assets.
Cons
- The transfer out fee is a nuisance and traders should be wary of the CAD to USD exchange charge.
- Qtrade doesn't offer trading opportunities on forex or crypto markets, potentially limiting its appeal if you're looking to build a diverse portfolio.
- Although Qtrade has added support for Interac e-Transfer, it still offers relatively limited funding options with no credit/debit card deposits.
AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
AvaTrade quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct)
- Platforms
- WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit
- $300
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, ZAR
Pros
- The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.
- Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
- AvaTrade launched AvaFutures to offer low-margin access to global markets, then expanded in 2025 as one of the first brokers to add CME’s Micro Grain Futures, and then later in the year went further by integrating with TradingView.
Cons
- While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.
- The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
- AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.
FP Markets
FP Markets strikes an ideal balance between affordability and quality for active traders. They’ve managed to keep trading costs low while expanding their investment offering, charting tools, and research features, all while providing excellent support you can rely on for urgent trading queries.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
FP Markets quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Crypto
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSCA, FSC, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms
- Iress, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- With MetaTrader, cTrader, Iress and more recently TradingView, FP Markets is one of the most accommodating brokers in terms of platform choice.
- AI-powered sentiment analysis, trading signals and real-time NewsIQ research, integrated with MT4 and MT5, has been added via FP Markets Intelligence.
- FP Markets delivers fast and dependable support, available 24/5 with average response times of less than 1 minute during testing.
Cons
- FP Markets’ Iress platform is only available to clients in Australia. It also primarily emphasizes stock trading over forex trading, and data fees can accumulate rapidly unless you're an active trader or maintain a high-balance account.
- Although Traders Hub provides rich research, notably the Daily Report, Technical Report, Market Insights, and Fundamental Analysis, it needs to widen its daily content variety and keep its forex news updated to match category leaders like IG.
- While pricing in the Raw account is excellent, spreads in the Standard account trail the cheapest brokers with a 1.1-pip average spread on the EUR/USD compared to the 0.8-pip average at IC Markets.
What Is End Of Day Trading?
An end of the day trading strategy simply means to make trading decisions very near to, or after the markets close. Whereas day traders watch charts all day, opening and closing trades when they choose, end of day traders typically trade at the close or the open.
Some stocks and ETFs can also be traded after hours, depending on the broker and venue, but liquidity may be lower, spreads may be wider and orders may be harder to execute at the expected price. The SEC highlights these as key extended-hours trading risks.
End of day trading can reduce the temptation to react to intraday news and price noise, though traders remain exposed to overnight announcements, earnings releases and market gaps. End of day trading setups allow you to cut out the noise, can often lead to cheaper rates, and enable you trade with limit or stop orders. Although it is sometimes discussed alongside day trading, end-of-day trading often overlaps with swing trading, especially when positions are held overnight. This strategy is useful for people who want to continue working their day job, though they will need to understand how their broker applies relevant day trading rules.
What Time Does End Of Day Trading Start?
Before we get into the details, let’s first look into when end of day trading starts. The correct definition for ‘end of day’ trading depend on which markets you are trading, whether in the UK or elsewhere. For shares and ETFs, it is usually tied to the relevant exchange close. For forex, it is more often tied to a broker’s daily candle close or the end of a major trading session.
For forex, “end of day” is less straightforward than for equities because spot FX trades across a decentralised 24-hour market during the trading week. However, liquidity and volatility often concentrate around the major regional sessions, especially London, roughly 8am to 4pm UK time, New York, roughly 8am to 5pm Eastern Time, and the London–New York overlap, roughly 1pm to 4pm UK time. Traders may therefore plan entries and exits around session closes or around their broker’s daily candle close.
In general, traditional day trading is when you see more market participants which leads to higher liquidity. However, end of day trading often sees a high volume of activity as many traders unwind their positions and close trading for the day.
So, to figure out what time day trading ends, check your local markets of interest.
Strategy Example
Placing your orders at the end of a trading day means you can still use the same intraday strategies. Many traders use swing trading on stocks or forex, using the end of day method. It’s simply the timing of when you place your trades that is different.
The best end of day trading methods use software to implement strategies. The system will create pending orders for the next day while time is effectively paused (i.e. when no trades are occurring).
One common end-of-day forex method is breakout trading. Traders use this approach to try to enter when price moves out of a low-volatility range. The aim is to catch the early part of a larger move, but false breakouts are common and results depend heavily on market conditions, execution and risk management.
Breakout traders aim to enter when a quiet market begins to expand into a stronger move. This can sometimes capture the early part of a trend, but false breakouts are common and losses can accumulate if the strategy is not tested and managed carefully.
To trade a breakout, you need to wait for a low volatility range to form. You then enter a trade on the first move outside the range that has formed. Here is an example.
The key to breakout trading is that you have larger winning trades than you have losing trades. To help achieve this, you can place a stop-loss. A stop-loss can help define risk, but it does not guarantee execution at the chosen price. Traders should also account for slippage, gaps and changing liquidity.
Some traders place stops beyond the range or use volatility-based measures such as recent average movement. There is no universally optimal percentage stop-loss; the appropriate level depends on the currency pair, timeframe, volatility and the trader’s risk tolerance. For example, many traders measure between a 0.5% and 2% move of the currency and place the stop-loss there – many consider 1.5% a good level to keep the win rate high.
You also want to put a profit target on the next major level. To identify this level, you can look at a weekly chart for the nearest support and resistance level.
Benefits Of End Of Day Trading
There are several benefits to the end of day trading:
- Convenience – The process of end of day trading can be more convenient compared to intraday investing. If you have a full-time job, you don’t need to watch the markets all day. Because your analysis starts when the rest of the markets are closing, it means that it does not interfere with your regular job. You can place your orders to go live at the end of the trading day. Your positions will be left open overnight. But your trade adjustments, such as moving your risks to break even, or adjusting the profit levels are easier to manage.
- Cheaper rates – If you are trading stocks or futures, for example, you may need to pay fees for intraday data. You may also pay other fees such as transaction costs and a software charge. End of day trading is all about trading with closing prices. Many online brokers do not charge for this service. Because the end of day prices are widely available from everywhere, you do not have to pay additional sums to gain real-time market data. Scanning tools are also relatively cheaper when it comes to end of day trading.
- Limit or stop orders – End of day trading means you’ll likely need to use limit or stop orders. Some online brokerages charge a higher fee when you trade with market orders. This is because the execution costs are high. Resting limit orders can add liquidity and may attract different pricing on some venues, but this depends on the broker, market and order type. A marketable limit order may execute immediately and remove liquidity.
- Discipline – End of day trading can make you more disciplined. You are using just a few hours a day to analyse the markets to create a trading plan. Because your attention is more focussed, the temptation of overtrading and the emotional influences of daily news announcements should be reduced.
Downsides Of End Of Day Trading
Despite some benefits, there are several downsides to end of day trading:
- Missing overnight developments – The biggest risk is that you are trading when the markets are less active. This puts you at risk of overnight market developments. For example, when earnings are released, prices tend to gap significantly. Because you are trading just once a day, at the closing hours of the markets, it can leave your positions vulnerable to overnight market movements.
- Less active risk management – With day trading you can manage your risk efficiently. This is because you are constantly monitoring the markets. This isn’t the case with end of day trading. There’s a chance you’ll make huge profits, but an equal or greater risk your stops may be triggered before you have a chance to adjust your risk settings, and in fast or gapping markets they may execute at a worse price than expected..
- Liquidity – You are also at risk of reduced liquidity with end of day trading. As a result, there is a chance that your limit orders will not be triggered at the price you wanted.
- Earnings season – Earnings timings are something to be wary of when end of day trading. Because most companies tend to release their earnings before the market opens or after the market closes, you can expect to see pre-market and after-market pricing turn volatile.
How To Get Started End Of Day Trading
As with all trading strategies, you first need to find a top broker and fund your account to access daily prices, charts and risk tools. It’s also always worth comparing spreads, platform features, mobile signals and customer support during end of trading hours.
Final Word
End of day trading is a convenient method for anyone who wants to continue working their regular day job. End of day trading allows you to cut the noise and use limit or stop orders to control your trades. It may also reduce the need for real-time data, but traders should still account for spreads, slippage and overnight risk. Make sure you also use a top broker to get started end of day trading.
FAQ
What Is The Difference Between Intraday And End Of Day Trading?
Intraday trading is when forex traders place orders, or open and close positions, while the local market is open. End of day trading is a strategy whereby traders make forex decisions very near to, or after the markets close.
What Is The Best End Of Day Trading Software?
Any top broker will provide you with the best software to support an end of day trading strategy. Look for a broker that provides access to charts, trading signals and risk tools, such as stop losses and limit orders. These will support your technical analysis and may help you become a successful forex trader.
Can You Day Trade At Night?
Overnight trading is the trading that takes place outside of normal trading hours. Bonds have extended trading hours and overnight trading can take place on stocks between 4 am and 9:30 am (when the exchanges open) and 6 pm (when the exchanges close) and 8 pm.
Does High Frequency Investing During End Of Day Trading Affect The Markets?
High-frequency trading and end-of-day price dislocation can affect the markets. Firstly, more competition is accompanied by high-frequency trading and larger volumes, which improve market liquidity. Secondly, more competition may mean that high-frequency traders adapt their strategies and engage in more speculative trades, which can impact market liquidity.
Can You Trade At The End Of The Trading Day With Robinhood?
Robinhood offers extended-hours trading. This means you’ll be able to trade during pre-market and after-hours sessions. That equals an extra two and a half hours of market access, each day.
Can You Trade ETFs With End Of Day Trading?
Trading for stocks and ETFs typically closes at 4 pm ET, but unlike with mutual funds, you can continue trading stocks and ETFs in the after-hours market.