Can you place orders before the market opens? (newb question)

I'm new to the whole stock thing and am just messing around with software doing paper trading and learning as i go. I'm using software from realfasttrader.com. Anyway, what I'd like to know is, can I place an order, and have it filled before 10 am or can you only buy and sell starting at 10? Say I see a stock at $20 at 9:30..If I put my order in at 9:30 to buy it, will it accept the order then and there, or hold it till 10?
 
The stock market opens at 9:30 EST, so if you try to buy a stock at its current "ask" price you will more than likely be filled within several seconds depending on your broker. You can also trade before the market opens on ECNs.

I suggest you do plenty of reading before pursuing trading any further. One book for a newbie like yourself:"What Works in Online Trading" by Mark Etzkorn. There are many other beginner books out there, just go to B&N and read up.

Tony
 
Quote from Vel:

it's the net i expect nothing more.

The market is 9:30 - 4:00. Then you have extended trading. The thing you want to watch out for is large spreads during extended trading.
 
thanks guys. See I don't even know what an ecn is or a spread. All I really know is..watch the news, buy low, sell hi.
 
If this is honestly all you really know, then my suggestion is to pick up a few books, read over a few free websites on trading before worrying about order placements. That kind of basic knowledge unfortunately can kill a trader. I mean this sincerely, not as a flame.
 
yeah, eventually what I'm going to do after reading some books is sign up for one of those online training courses like at mtrader.com.

Anyone suggest anythign esle?
 
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