Free Trading Halt Scanner
Track halt and resume events in real time across all U.S. equities. Get instant alerts the moment a stock halts for LULD, news pending, or a circuit breaker — then catch the move when trading resumes.
How the Halt Scanner Works
Detection
FINRA and exchange halt feeds are polled every few seconds during market hours. Each new halt filing triggers an immediate alert.
Alert Delivery
Halt and resume alerts are pushed via WebSocket to the live dashboard in real time — no page refresh needed.
Context
Each halt alert shows the halt code, affected symbol, session, and relative volume (RVOL) context so you can judge the opportunity quickly.
Halt Types the Scanner Tracks
Limit Up / Limit Down
Triggered when a stock moves more than a set percentage in a rolling 5-minute window. Common in small-cap and penny stocks with high relative volume.
Regulatory (News Pending)
Exchange halts trading pending release of material news — earnings, M&A, FDA decisions. Often precedes a large gap up or down on resume.
Regulatory (SEC Trading Suspension)
SEC-initiated halt for fraud concerns or compliance issues. Less common but significant. Stocks may not resume for days.
Trading Resumption
A halt that has been lifted and trading has resumed. The resume event is often where the largest volume and volatility occurs — a key moment for RVOL.
Circuit Breaker
Market-wide circuit breaker triggered when the S&P 500 drops 7%, 13%, or 20% intraday. All trading halts across exchanges.
Scanner Features
- ✓Real-time halt and resume alerts via WebSocket
- ✓Full pre-market and after-hours coverage (4 AM – 8 PM ET)
- ✓Halt code identification (LULD, T1, T2, CB, and more)
- ✓RVOL context on every halt alert
- ✓No delay — alerts arrive within seconds of the halt filing
- ✓Free to use — no credit card required
- ✓Works on desktop and mobile
- ✓Integrates with the full RVOL and mover alert dashboard
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a trading halt scanner?
A trading halt scanner monitors real-time exchange data and alerts you the moment a stock halts or resumes trading. Instead of checking individual symbols manually, the scanner watches all active stocks at once and pushes an alert as soon as a halt or resume event is detected.
Why do day traders care about halts?
Trading halts — especially LULD and news-pending halts — often precede explosive moves on resume. When a halt lifts and trading resumes, the first 1–5 minutes frequently produce the highest volume and the widest price swings of the session. Many day traders use halt alerts as a primary entry trigger.
Is TheDesperateTrader halt scanner free?
Yes. Public halt and resume alerts are visible to all users without a subscription. Real-time WebSocket delivery and the full live dashboard require an account, which is free to create.
How fast are halt alerts?
Halt events are polled from FINRA and exchange feeds and pushed via WebSocket within seconds of the official halt filing. During regular trading hours (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET) alerts typically arrive within 5–15 seconds of the halt being filed.
Can I see pre-market halt data?
Yes. TheDesperateTrader monitors trading activity from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET, covering full pre-market and after-hours sessions. Halt and resume alerts are tracked throughout this entire window.
Start Tracking Halts for Free
The halt scanner is part of the full live alerts dashboard — free to access, no credit card required.