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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 when that Monday is a federal holiday

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

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. When any of these falls on a Monday, the market closes for the entire day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the market typically observes it on the nearest weekday — usually the Friday before or the Monday after.

Key Takeaways

  • Stock markets are open for regular trading on most Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • The market closes on Mondays only when that Monday is a federal holiday the market observes, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Presidents' Day.
  • When a holiday falls on a weekend, the market observes it on the nearest weekday instead, which may move a closure from Monday to Friday or vice versa.
  • You can check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites for their official holiday calendar each year to confirm closure dates.

The federal holidays that close the stock market

Ten federal holidays close U.S. stock exchanges. New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), and Presidents' Day (third Monday in February) are the winter closures. Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) closes the market in spring, followed by Memorial Day (last Monday in May).

Summer and fall bring Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), and Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November). Christmas Day (December 25) closes the market at year's end. If any of these dates fall on a weekend, the market observes the holiday on the nearest weekday — typically Friday if the holiday is on Saturday, or Monday if it is on Sunday.

How to find the market's holiday schedule for the year

The NYSE publishes its official holiday calendar on its website each year. You can search "NYSE holiday calendar" and the current year to find a complete list of closure dates. The NASDAQ maintains a similar calendar on its site. Both exchanges update these calendars annually, so checking directly is the most reliable way to confirm whether a specific Monday will be open or closed.

Many brokerage firms also display the market calendar in their trading platforms or on their websites. If you use a broker like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or E*TRADE, you can often find the holiday schedule in their educational resources or account settings.

What happens if you try to trade on a market holiday

If you attempt to place a trade on a day the stock market is closed, your order will not execute. Most brokers will either reject the order outright or hold it in a queue to execute when the market reopens. Some platforms allow you to place orders during after-hours trading (typically 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time), but these orders trade at different prices and with wider spreads than regular market hours.

On a holiday Monday, after-hours trading is also typically unavailable. If you need to trade, you will have to wait until the market reopens the next trading day. This is why it matters to know the holiday schedule in advance — you can plan your trades accordingly and avoid the frustration of an order that does not go through.

The difference between market holidays and half-day closures

The stock market occasionally closes early — at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the normal 4:00 p.m. — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (if Christmas Eve falls on a weekday). These are not full closures, but they do shorten the trading window. The market does not close early on any Monday specifically, but if Christmas Eve or the day after Thanksgiving happens to fall on a Monday, trading will end at 1:00 p.m. that day.

Full closures and early closures are both listed on the official NYSE and NASDAQ calendars, so checking those calendars will show you both types of disruptions to normal trading hours.

International markets and Monday closures

If you trade stocks on exchanges outside the United States, Monday closures may apply differently. The London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and other major markets observe their own national holidays. For example, the Tokyo Stock Exchange is closed on Coming of Age Day (second Monday in January) and other Japanese holidays. If you hold international stocks or trade on foreign exchanges, you will need to check those markets' individual holiday calendars.

Most U.S. investors who buy U.S.-listed stocks or ETFs do not need to worry about international market hours, since they trade on U.S. exchanges during U.S. market hours. But if you own shares in a company listed on a foreign exchange, that stock may not trade on U.S. holidays even if the U.S. market is open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?

No. Presidents' Day (the third Monday in February) is a federal holiday that closes U.S. stock exchanges. The NYSE and NASDAQ are closed for the entire day, and no regular trading takes place.

What if a holiday falls on a Saturday — does the market close on Friday instead?

Yes, typically. When a holiday falls on Saturday, the market usually observes it on Friday. When a holiday falls on Sunday, the market usually observes it on Monday. Check the official NYSE or NASDAQ calendar for the specific year, as the exact observance date can vary.

Can I trade after hours on a market holiday?

No. After-hours trading is not available on days the market is fully closed. After-hours trading only occurs on regular trading days after the 4:00 p.m. close. On a holiday Monday, you cannot trade at all until the market reopens the next trading day.

Does the stock market close early on any Mondays?

The market does not close early specifically on Mondays, but it may close at 1:00 p.m. on the day after Thanksgiving or on Christmas Eve if either falls on a Monday. Check the holiday calendar to see if an early close applies to a specific Monday.

How far in advance does the NYSE publish its holiday calendar?

The NYSE typically publishes its holiday calendar for the full year in advance, usually by late fall of the prior year. You can find the current and upcoming year's calendars on the NYSE website at any time.