Banking and brokerage company Charles Schwab has expanded 24-hour trading to all its international customers including those in the UK.

Customers will be able to trade an expanded list of securities, including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 stocks.

The company claims it is the first major investment platform to offer UK investors 24-hour access to US markets.

The service also offers customers a support network, with users able to call Charles Schwab’s licenced professionals at any time of day to discuss trading strategy or broader financial planning.

The company said that move follows a series of successful pilots at the end of last year.
Charles Schwab said that trading behaviour during the pilot period was similar to what the company sees during standard market hours.

During the trials, the most active trading hours of the overnight session were the first and last, between 01:00-02:00 GMT and 08:00-09:00 GMT.

The top stocks traded include technology companies Tesla and Nvidia, which mirrors current trends in the market.

“Each day, Schwab facilitates about twice the trades of any competitor that shares that figure publicly, and we know that expanding access to overnight trading to our millions of clients is a significant milestone not just for Schwab, but for our industry,” said James Kostulias, managing director and head of trading services at Charles Schwab. “In consideration of Schwab’s leadership position and our ‘through clients’ eyes’ strategy, we have worked hard to combine the power of our world-class trading platforms, specialised 24-hour service and support, and tailored education to deliver an overnight trading experience that reflects the unique dynamics and potential risks this offering can present, while empowering clients to trade in the ways that suit them and their lifestyle best.”

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