Most traders are obsessed with what to trade.
But if you’re serious about getting consistent, it’s just as important to know when to trade because not all minutes are created equal in the stock market.
I learned this the hard way…
Back when I was just getting started, I wasn’t a full-time trader. I had a business to run and kids to raise. I couldn’t afford to sit at the computer all day just hoping something would happen.
So I had to figure out, fast, when the best setups actually happened…
Not just in theory and not based on “textbook” stuff, but in real-life, boots-on-the-ground, I-need-to-make-this-work trading.
So I studied the markets like a madman. I watched when the cleanest trends formed, when the fakeouts happened, and when volume consistently stepped in.
And over time, I found a rhythm and a handful of repeatable time windows where good trades happen again and again.
And speaking of finding good trades, actually great trades, if you’ve ever watched a stock explode 100%, 500%, even 1,000% in a single session, chances are, the Money Bar spotted the move before it happened.
Our proprietary tool is built to track what I consider the single most important metric in momentum trading, the one that often determines just how far a stock can really run.
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Just like the Money Bar, I still use the same trading windows I found 20-some years ago every single day.
If you’re someone who wants more consistency, less stress, and a real shot at making an income from trading, here’s what you need to understand…
Today, I’m going to break down a typical trading day and walk you through exactly when I focus my energy, and when I leave the keyboard alone and let the market do its thing.
Let’s dive in, because once you understand the timing of trading, everything else gets a whole lot easier.
Pre-Market (4:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ET)
This is research and prep time, not go-time.
Sure, some stocks will look hot pre-market. They’ll gap up, float’s tiny, news is juicy. You might be tempted to dive in…
But trust me, pre-market traps more traders than it rewards.
It’s illiquid, the spreads are wide, and unless you’ve got years of screen time under your belt, it’s a coin toss.
All that being said, if you’re a seasoned trader and think you’re ready for the Wild West of trading, check out my blog post on pre-market trading to get started.
And if you’re new and not ready to trade pre-market, great! Use this time to prepare.
Start building your watchlist. Scan for big movers. Look for the catalysts, float size, short interest, all the ingredients of a potential ripper after the bell.
For most traders, pre-market is for planning, not pressing buttons.
And don’t go it alone. My daily Pre-Market Prep is when I show you all the setups on my radar, which ones to trade, how to trade them, and which ones to avoid.
This session is available exclusively to members of my Daily Income Trader system. Learn more about DIT and all the other things it has to offer during one of our FREE daily webinars.
The 9:45 Window (Morning Momentum)
This is one of my favorite times to trade.
Now, don’t get hung up on the exact minute. It’s not like something magical happens at 9:45. It’s a window.
Some setups shape up by 9:36. Others might take until 10:15. What matters is that the noise has settled and the trend is starting to form.
This works because at 9:30, the open is chaotic. Prices whip around, you get fakeouts, stop runs, and emotional trades.
But by around 9:45, the dust clears, and the real direction starts to show itself.
I look for dip-and-rip setups in strong pre-market gainers with news. Let them dip off the open, reclaim the trend, and break that morning high. That’s your move.
The best part is you’ve got a defined risk level, which is the pre-market or morning low. If it breaks below that, you’re out.
The 2:00 p.m. Window (Afternoon Continuation)
If the morning was hot, I’m watching closely into the afternoon session, and 2 p.m. is the key window.
I’m looking for a stock that held its Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP) all day, ideally hit a high-of-day earlier, and then started perking up in the final two hours.
This is the VWAP Hold High-of-Day setup, and it’s one of the cleanest plays in the afternoon.
If the stock holds VWAP and volume starts to build, that’s your green light to trade the stock.
But if it fades back below VWAP, that’s your cue to walk away,
After-Hours (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST)
I urge most of you to avoid after-hours trading.
The environment is very similar to the pre-market session. It’s unpredictable, volume dries up, spreads widen, and the craziest fakeouts happen once the closing bell rings.
Unless you’ve got a very specific catalyst and a reason to trade, stay out. Instead, use the evening to review the day, study charts, and prepare for the next one.
But again, if you’ve been trading for a while and think you can handle it, read my blog post before you start.
My Final Thoughts…
Trading isn’t about catching every move but about catching the right moves in the right windows, and with defined risk.
That’s why I focus on:
- Morning prep (pre-market)
- Morning momentum (9:45 window)
- Afternoon continuation (2 p.m. window)
Master those three areas, and you’ll avoid a ton of rookie mistakes…
Have a great day, everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade