Why is my market order still not executed?

Market orders aim to fill as soon as possible, but they can wait in the queue if the market is closed or paused. If you place an order outside a market’s trading hours, it will execute when that market opens or when the next eligible session begins. Markets also use opening and closing auctions, and may pause trading during volatility. During these periods, orders line up and execute when trading resumes.

Liquidity matters. If there are not enough sellers for your buy, or not enough buyers for your sell, your order can sit until a matching order appears. This is more common right after the open or near the close, around news, and in smaller or less liquid markets such as OTC or LSE AIM, and at times on the Malta Stock Exchange, compared with larger markets like NYSE or Nasdaq.

Order size and rules can slow things down. Very large orders may need several matches to complete. Some markets do not accept market orders outside regular hours. Others use price collars that reject or hold an order if the last price moved too quickly.

A few quick checks usually solve it. Confirm the market is open, look for any halt or auction notice on the instrument page, and review your order status in the app. If you need help now, open the in-app chat and share the order ID and the instrument name. Our support team works with the trading desk during market hours so we can review your order and guide you on the next step.