If you're in a trade that ends the day favourably and is in the neighbourhood of your 1st profit target, should you think about exiting the trade to ensure that you're not gapped out of it during the after-hours trading?
Yes, if you want to bag that first profit (if you're a bit nervous) then better to take it than having a restless night.
Different traders have different tolerances for perceived risk and as you say, it is a swings and roundabouts game.
However, if you're feeling uncomfortable, you need to get comfortable, and if that means taking a first profit a bit early, that's not a bad compromise.
With a stock trade, you have to 'opt-in' to the after/pre hours market, so you may not see the result of those activities until the next regular hours open.
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