Key Takeaways
- The U.S. stock market is closed for 10 federal holidays during the year.
- If holidays land on weekends, the markets close on the Friday before or the Monday after the holiday.
- The U.S. bond market follows a similar schedule as the stock market, but its closures are not identical.
- Both markets also have partial holidays for which they close early.
Stock Market Holidays in 2023
The U.S. stock market, made up of stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq, closes on 10 weekday holidays in 2023. These closures align with federal holidays, including the new federal holiday, Juneteenth, which celebrates the end of slavery in America on June 19 annually.
The markets aren’t open on weekends, which means when a holiday occurs on a weekend, the closure comes on the Friday before or the Monday after. If the holiday falls on a Saturday, the stock market will close the day before. If the holiday lands on a Sunday, the stock market closes the following day.
Investor activity usually gets more volatile after longer breaks in the market, so market rules rarely allow closures for longer than three days in a row unless there’s an emergency. After terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001, regulators closed markets for nearly a week.
Emergency closures also come when the country has a day of mourning for the death of a president or former president. In 2018, markets closed on Wednesday, Dec. 5, for the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush.
NASDAQ & NYSE Holidays in 2023
| Holiday | Date Observed |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Monday, Jan. 2 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan. 16 |
| President’s Day | Monday, Feb. 10 |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 7 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 29 |
| Juneteenth | Monday, June 19 |
| Independence Day | Tuesday, July 4 |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sept. 4 |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, Nov. 23 |
| Christmas Day | Monday, Dec. 25 |
Additional Bond Market Holidays
The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) recommends holiday closures for the bond market. It also suggests holiday structures for the United Kingdom and Japan. The holiday schedule is revised regularly. For instance, in 2023 SIFMA included Juneteenth on its list of holidays for the first time. It also opted not to close on Veterans Day.
The bond market’s holiday schedule largely follows that of the stock market, but they’re not identical. The bond market doesn’t close on Good Friday, though it does shut down early that day.
Additional Bond Market Holidays
- Columbus Day
(Monday, Oct. 9, 2023) - Veterans Day
(although the bond market will not close on Veterans Day in 2023)
Stock markets are closed on holidays, during major emergencies and to observe solemn occasions. They are also closed as a result of dramatic intraday price declines. These closures, which can be as short as 15 minutes, are known as circuit breakers. They are designed to curb panic-induced selling.
Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPAExpert Contributor
Stock Market Early Closures
Besides the 10 federal holidays listed above, the stock market occasionally closes early. The stock market regularly operates on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. On early closure days, which are usually related to a nearby federal holiday, operations cease at 1 p.m. EST.
Early Stock Market Closing Days in 2023
- Monday, July 3
Day before Independence Day - Friday, Nov. 24
Day after Thanksgiving, aka Black Friday - Friday, Dec. 22
Christmas Eve, which falls on a Sunday in 2023
Additional Bond Market Early Closures
The bond market has several partial holidays, days on which it closes early. Regularly open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, the bond market ceases operations at 2 p.m. EST on early closure days. Instead of closing entirely on Good Friday in 2023 (April 7), the bond market will close at noon to allow for the release of U.S. government employment data.
Bond Market Early Closing Days in 2023
- Friday, April 7
Good Friday (closes at 12 p.m. EDT) - Friday, May 26
Day before Memorial Day closure (closes at 2 p.m. EDT) - Monday, July 3
Day before Independence Day (closes at 2 p.m. EDT) - Friday, Nov. 24
Day after Thanksgiving (closes at 2 p.m. EST) - Friday, Dec. 22
Christmas Eve (closes at 2 p.m. EST) - Friday, Dec. 29
New Year’s Eve (closes at 2 p.m. EST)
Planning Ahead
By planning ahead and keeping track of closure dates, you can avoid missing out on potential investment opportunities and ensure your portfolio is well-positioned for market fluctuations. Mark your calendar with the dates of market closures and take advantage of resources like courtesy reminders, like those sent by the Nasdaq to remind its customers of full days off and early closures.
With a bit of foresight and preparation, investors can navigate market closures with confidence and stay on track toward their investment goals.
