Learn what an After Market Order (AMO) is, how it works, and how investors use it to place trades outside regular market hours.
After Market Order (AMO) is a facility that allows investors to place buy or sell orders outside of regular trading hours. This is especially useful for retail investors who may not be able to actively monitor the market during trading hours or want to respond to global events that occur post-market.
An AMO is an order placed after market hours, which gets queued for the next trading session. It ensures that your order is ready for execution when the market opens, helping investors act in advance.
Here’s how AMO works step-by-step:
Place an AMO using your trading platform after the market closes.
Order enters broker’s queue and is held until the market opens.
Submitted during pre-open session, usually between 9:00–9:15 AM (NSE/BSE).
Executed after the market opens, subject to price match and liquidity.
Here are some key features to note:
Available during specific windows, usually between 4:00 PM – 8:59 AM.
Useful for advance planning and reduced rush.
Available across NSE, BSE, commodities, and F&O segments (varies by broker).
Orders can be modified or canceled before the execution window.
After Market Orders (AMOs) let you place trades outside regular market hours. They come in different types:
Market AMO: Executes at the available market price once the market opens.
Limit AMO: Executes only at the specified or favorable price.
Stop-Loss AMO: Triggers a market or limit order once a set price is breached, helping limit losses. Not all brokers support this in AMO mode, so availability may vary.
Suppose ABC Ltd trades within ₹480–₹500. At 9:00 PM, you place a limit buy AMO at ₹490. If the stock trades at ₹490 the next day and sufficient liquidity is available, the order may get executed during market hours.
After-market orders may serve the following functions:
Provides flexibility to place orders outside trading hours.
Allows investors to respond to developments occurring after market close.
Reduces the need to rush during market hours.
Useful for working professionals who can't track live markets.
Keep these risks in mind before using AMOs:
Price gaps may occur between AMO placement and market open.
Liquidity issues—low volumes may delay execution.
Orders can be affected by overnight news or volatility.
Not all brokers support all AMO types or segments.
Here’s a quick step-by-step to place an AMO:
Step 1: Log in to your trading app or platform.
Step 2: Navigate to the stock and select Buy or Sell.
Step 3: Enter the order type (Market or Limit) along with the price.
Step 4: Choose AMO (After Market Order) as the timing option.
Step 5: Confirm the details and submit the order.
Following points may be considered when placing AMOs:
Use limit orders to avoid unfavorable executions.
Avoid illiquid or highly volatile stocks.
Review order details carefully before submission.
Place orders well before the broker's AMO cut-off time.
Here’s how AMOs stack up against regular market orders:
| Feature | AMO | Regular Order |
|---|---|---|
Placement Time |
Outside market hours |
During market hours |
Execution Time |
Next trading session |
Real-time during market |
Control over Price |
Yes, especially with limit AMO |
Yes, with limit; less control with market |
Flexibility |
High, allows early decisions |
Moderate, requires active monitoring |
Risk Exposure |
Higher overnight price volatility |
Lower intraday risk |
AMOs offer flexibility and convenience for retail investors who can’t monitor the markets all day. While AMOs come with some risks and limitations, they can be useful for pre-planning trades, particularly when limit pricing is applied to manage execution risk.
This content is for informational purposes only and the same should not be construed as investment advice. Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited shall not be liable or responsible for any investment decision that you may take based on this content.
After Market Orders allow investors to place trades outside market hours. Whether the order works in one’s favour depends on how prices move when the market opens.
After Market Orders (AMOs) may be restricted for certain stocks, segments, or on holidays and weekends, depending on exchange and broker rules.
Shares may be purchased after market close using AMOs; these orders are executed at the opening of the next trading session.
After Market Orders are generally available on NSE and BSE, and in some brokers’ platforms, they may also be allowed for commodity or Futures & Options segments.
AMO charges depend on the policies of the individual broker, and some may apply standard order-related fees while others may not levy additional charges specifically for placing after-market orders.
After-market order time refers to the period after regular trading hours during which investors can place orders that will be processed when the market opens the next day, and the exact timing varies based on the broker’s allowed window.