Yes, the stock market is closed on Veterans Day

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ both close on Veterans Day, observed on November 11th each year. When November 11th falls on a weekend, the markets observe the holiday on the nearest weekday — typically the Friday before if it falls on a Saturday, or the Monday after if it falls on a Sunday.

This means you cannot trade stocks, bonds, or most other securities on Veterans Day. Any orders you place will not execute until the market reopens the following trading day. If you have pending orders set to trigger on that day, they will carry over to the next market open.

Bond markets, futures markets, and cryptocurrency exchanges may have different schedules, so if you trade in those markets, check with your broker directly about their specific closure times.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close entirely on Veterans Day (November 11th), and you cannot buy or sell stocks that day.
  • When Veterans Day falls on a weekend, the markets observe it on the nearest weekday instead.
  • Any sell or buy orders you place will not execute on the holiday and will wait until the next trading day.
  • Bond markets and futures markets may have different holiday schedules, so confirm with your broker if you trade those instruments.

How market closures affect your trades

If you place a market order (an order to buy or sell at the current price) on Veterans Day, your broker will hold it and execute it when the market opens the next day. The price you get may be very different from what you expected, because stock prices can shift overnight based on news and international markets.

Limit orders — orders that only execute at a specific price or better — will also wait until the next trading day. If the stock gaps past your limit price when the market opens, your order may never fill at all.

If you are planning to make a large trade or need to move money quickly, plan ahead and execute your trades the day before the holiday. This gives you control over the price and timing rather than leaving it to chance.

Which other U.S. market holidays affect trading

The stock market closes on nine federal holidays each year. Besides Veterans Day, these include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving.

The day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after) is not a full closure, but the market closes early at 1 p.m. Eastern time. On Christmas Eve, if it falls on a weekday, the market also closes early at 1 p.m.

If you trade regularly, keep a calendar of these dates. Most brokers display them on their websites and in their trading platforms, and many send reminders as holidays approach.

What happens to your existing positions on a market holiday

Your stocks and other holdings remain yours on Veterans Day — nothing changes about your ownership or account value just because the market is closed. However, you cannot see real-time price updates during the closure, so your portfolio value shown in your brokerage app will be frozen at the previous day's close.

International news, earnings announcements, or other events can happen while U.S. markets are closed. When the market reopens, prices may jump or fall based on overnight developments. This is one reason why holding stocks carries risk — you cannot always react instantly to news.

Planning around Veterans Day if you trade actively

If you are day trading or managing positions closely, treat Veterans Day like a weekend. Complete any trades you need to make by the end of the trading day on November 10th. Do not leave open positions you are uncomfortable holding through a market closure, because you will have no way to adjust them until the next day.

If you use automated trading strategies or algorithms, make sure they are set to pause during market closures. Some platforms do this automatically, but others require you to disable them manually to avoid errors.

For long-term investors who hold stocks for months or years, a single market closure has almost no impact. The holiday is mainly a consideration for active traders and people managing cash flow or rebalancing portfolios on a specific timeline.

How to confirm your broker's holiday schedule

While the NYSE and NASDAQ follow the same federal holiday schedule, individual brokers may have slightly different rules about when they accept orders or when they process transactions. Some brokers accept orders during pre-market or after-hours trading, which may have different holiday schedules than the main market.

Log into your brokerage account or call your broker's customer service to confirm their specific closure times for Veterans Day. Most brokers publish a holiday calendar on their website that shows exactly when they will be closed and when trading resumes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks before or after market hours on Veterans Day?

Most brokers do not offer pre-market or after-hours trading on federal holidays, including Veterans Day. Check with your specific broker, as policies vary. Some allow limited trading during extended hours on certain holidays, but this is not standard.

What if I need to sell stocks urgently on Veterans Day?

You cannot execute a trade on Veterans Day itself. If the situation is truly urgent, contact your broker's customer service line — they may be able to discuss options, though they cannot execute trades while the market is closed. Plan ahead for time-sensitive trades by executing them the day before.

Do dividend payments or stock splits happen on market holidays?

Dividend payments and stock splits are scheduled to take effect on specific dates regardless of whether the market is open. If a dividend is set to pay on Veterans Day, you will receive it, but you will not see the price adjustment reflected in real-time until the market reopens.

Is the bond market also closed on Veterans Day?

The Treasury bond market closes on Veterans Day, but some corporate and municipal bonds may trade in secondary markets with limited activity. Confirm with your broker if you hold bonds and need to trade them around the holiday.

What if Veterans Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

When Veterans Day falls on a weekend, the stock market observes the holiday on the nearest weekday. If November 11th is a Saturday, the market closes on Friday, November 10th. If it is a Sunday, the market closes on Monday, November 12th.