Robinhood to allow 24-hour weekend trading of US stocks as industry shifts to wider access

Robinhood announced on Tuesday that it will permit US stock trading around the clock on weekends, signaling a broader industry shift towards 24/7 access. This move reflects the company's aim to become the go-to platform for active traders by providing tools typically used by hedge funds, quantitative analysts, and large trading firms.

Abhishek Fatehpuria, Robinhood's vice president of product management, revealed that approximately 25% of daily trading volume during peak hours comes from outside regular hours, underscoring the growing demand for flexibility. While concerns exist about potential liquidity issues during non-traditional hours, other global exchanges like the Nasdaq and London Stock Exchange are also expanding trading windows.

Initially, Robinhood will offer a limited selection of stocks and exchange-traded funds for weekend trading in partnership with Bruce ATS, pending regulatory approval. The brokerage will also enable traders to bet on specific earnings metrics through a collaboration with derivatives exchange Cboe, introducing prediction markets for corporate performance.

Furthermore, eligible US customers will soon be able to trade perpetual futures, which do not expire, and build AI agents to automate trades. Robinhood's social platform, reminiscent of WallStreetBets, will be accessible to all US users following a recent beta launch.