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When the Stock Market Is Open and Closed

By Adrian Watts · Stocks and Funds Writer

The stock market is closed on Mondays only if that Monday is a federal holiday

The stock market does not automatically close on Mondays. U.S. stock exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — operate on Mondays just like any other weekday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The only exception is when a Monday falls on a federal holiday that the markets observe.

The holidays that close U.S. stock markets are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If any of these falls on a Monday, the markets will be closed that day. You can check the NYSE or NASDAQ website for their official holiday calendar each year, which lists exact closure dates.

Key Takeaways

  • Stock markets are open for regular trading on most Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Markets close on Mondays only when that Monday is a federal holiday the exchanges observe, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Presidents' Day.
  • The NYSE and NASDAQ publish their annual holiday calendars on their websites so you can plan ahead.
  • Even when markets are closed, you can still place orders through your brokerage account, but they will execute the next trading day.

Which federal holidays close the stock market

Not every federal holiday closes the stock market. The exchanges have a specific list of 10 holidays they observe each year. The most common Monday closures are Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), and Memorial Day (last Monday in May). Labor Day (first Monday in September) also frequently falls on a Monday and closes the markets.

Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) and Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) are the only major holidays that do not always fall on a Monday, but when they do, markets close. Independence Day (July 4) and Christmas Day (December 25) close markets when they fall on a weekday; if they land on a weekend, markets close on the nearest weekday instead. Juneteenth (June 19) was added to the market holiday calendar in 2022.

How to find the market calendar for this year and next

The NYSE publishes its holiday calendar on its website under "Market Information" or "Trading Calendar." NASDAQ maintains a similar calendar. Both are updated annually and show exact dates for closures. You can also find this information through your brokerage account — most brokers display the market calendar in their trading platform or educational resources.

Marking these dates on your personal calendar is useful if you trade regularly or plan to place orders. Many investors set reminders for holiday Mondays so they do not expect to execute trades that day. If you need to trade on or around a holiday, check the calendar at least a week in advance.

What happens if you try to trade on a closed Monday

If you place an order through your brokerage on a Monday when markets are closed, the order will not execute that day. Instead, it will sit in your account as a pending order and execute when the market reopens — usually the next trading day. This applies to all order types: market orders, limit orders, and stop orders.

Some brokers allow you to place orders during pre-market trading (before 9:30 a.m.) or after-hours trading (after 4:00 p.m.), but these sessions have lower volume and wider price spreads. They are not a substitute for regular market hours and carry higher risk. On a holiday Monday, even pre-market and after-hours sessions are closed.

Early closures and half-days

In addition to full closures, the stock market closes early on certain days. The day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve (December 24) also closes at 1:00 p.m. if it falls on a weekday. These early closures are not Mondays in most years, but it is worth noting if you trade around the holidays.

The NYSE and NASDAQ websites clearly mark early-close days on their calendars, usually with a note like "Early Close — 1:00 p.m." Check the calendar before you trade on any day near a major holiday to avoid surprises.

Planning around holiday Mondays

If you are building a portfolio or planning to make trades, knowing the market calendar helps you time your moves. Some investors avoid placing large orders on the Friday before a holiday Monday, since the market will be closed the next day and news can develop over the weekend. Others use the extra time to research stocks they plan to buy when markets reopen.

If you are waiting for a specific stock price or market condition, remember that a holiday Monday means you have an extra day of waiting. Your limit orders and stop orders will not execute during the closure, so plan accordingly. For longer-term investors who buy and hold, holiday closures have little impact on strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open every Monday?

The stock market is open most Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It closes only on Mondays that are federal holidays the exchanges observe, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, or Memorial Day.

Can I place a trade on a holiday Monday?

You can place an order through your brokerage account on a holiday Monday, but it will not execute until the market reopens the next trading day. The order will remain pending in your account until then.

What time does the stock market open on Monday?

On regular Mondays, the stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Pre-market trading begins earlier (usually around 4:00 a.m.), but regular trading volume and prices are available only after 9:30 a.m.

Where can I see which Mondays the market is closed?

The NYSE and NASDAQ both publish annual holiday calendars on their websites. You can also find the market calendar in your brokerage account's trading platform or educational section.

Does the market close early on any Mondays?

The market does not typically close early on Mondays. Early closures happen on the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, which rarely fall on a Monday. Check the official market calendar for any exceptions in the current year.