The stock market is open most Mondays, but not all of them

The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open for regular trading on Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. However, the market closes on certain Mondays when a federal holiday falls on that day or when the market observes a holiday on the following Monday instead. The most common Monday closures happen around Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

If you plan to trade or need to check your portfolio on a Monday, verify the date against the market's holiday calendar first. A closed market means no trading happens, no prices update, and any orders you place will not execute until the next trading day.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is closed on Mondays that fall on or observe federal holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
  • When the market is closed, no trading occurs and stock prices do not change, even if major news breaks.
  • The NYSE and Nasdaq publish their annual holiday calendar, which you can check before planning any trades.
  • If you submit an order on a closed Monday, it will sit in your brokerage account and execute on the next trading day at market open or according to your order settings.

Which Mondays the stock market closes

The stock market observes nine federal holidays per year. Of those, the ones most likely to fall on or near a Monday are:

  • New Year's Day (January 1) — if it falls on a Monday or if the market observes it on the following Monday when January 1 is a Sunday
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January) — always a Monday
  • Presidents' Day (third Monday in February) — always a Monday
  • Memorial Day (last Monday in May) — always a Monday
  • Juneteenth (June 19) — if it falls on a Monday
  • Independence Day (July 4) — if it falls on a Monday or observed on a nearby Monday
  • Labor Day (first Monday in September) — always a Monday
  • Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November) — the market closes on the Friday after, not Monday, but some years it may affect Monday trading indirectly
  • Christmas (December 25) — if it falls on a Monday or observed on a nearby Monday

The exact dates shift each year because federal holidays are tied to specific days of the week or dates. The NYSE and Nasdaq both publish their annual holiday calendars on their websites, and most brokerages display this information in their trading platforms as well.

What happens to your trades when the market is closed

If you place a trade order on a closed Monday, your brokerage holds the order in its system. Depending on the type of order you placed, it will either execute automatically when the market opens on Tuesday, or it will remain pending until you cancel it or it expires.

A market order placed on a closed Monday will execute at the market open on Tuesday at whatever price the stock is trading at that moment — not the price you saw on Friday. A limit order (an order to buy or sell only at a specific price) will wait until the stock reaches that price, which could be Tuesday or days later. If you set an expiration date of "day only," the order cancels automatically at the end of the next trading day if it has not filled.

Stock prices do not move on a closed Monday. If major news breaks over the weekend or on a holiday Monday, the market will not react until it reopens. This is why you may see a significant price gap between Friday's close and Tuesday's open — the market is catching up to news that accumulated while it was shut.

How to check if the market is open on a specific Monday

The simplest way is to visit the NYSE or Nasdaq website and look for their holiday calendar. Both exchanges publish the full year's schedule in advance. You can also check your brokerage's website or app — most display a banner or notification on trading days and closed days.

If you are unsure whether a particular Monday is a trading day, call your broker's customer service line or send a message through your account. They can confirm in seconds. Many brokerages also send email reminders before major holiday closures.

Why the market closes on certain Mondays

The stock market closes on federal holidays to align with the broader U.S. financial system. Banks, government offices, and most businesses close on these days, so the infrastructure that supports trading — clearing houses, settlement systems, and regulatory bodies — is not fully staffed. Closing the market prevents operational strain and ensures that all transactions can be properly recorded and settled.

The market also closes on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), even though it is not a federal holiday. This is a longstanding tradition in the financial industry.

Planning trades around market closures

If you know a Monday is a holiday, plan your trading activity for the Friday before or the Tuesday after. If you need to place an order over a holiday weekend, most brokerages let you submit it in advance through their website or app, and it will queue up for execution when the market opens.

Be aware that prices can move significantly between Friday's close and Tuesday's open if the market was closed on Monday. If you are holding a position over a holiday, you have no ability to trade it until the market reopens, so consider whether you are comfortable with that risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade on a Monday if the market is closed?

No. When the NYSE and Nasdaq are closed, no trading happens on those exchanges. You cannot buy or sell stocks, and prices do not update. Some brokerages offer after-hours or extended-hours trading on regular trading days, but not on market holidays.

What if I place an order on a closed Monday?

Your order sits in your brokerage account and will execute according to its settings when the market reopens on Tuesday. A market order will fill at the opening price on Tuesday. A limit order will wait for your target price, which may take days or never happen.

Does the stock market close on every federal holiday?

No. The market only closes on nine specific federal holidays per year. Holidays that fall on weekends are observed on the nearest weekday, which may or may not be a Monday. Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day always fall on Mondays and always result in market closures.

How do I know which Mondays are trading days?

Check the NYSE or Nasdaq holiday calendar on their websites — both publish the full year in advance. Your brokerage also displays this information in its platform. If you are unsure about a specific date, contact your broker directly.

What happens to stock prices on a closed Monday?

Stock prices do not change on a closed Monday. The last price you see is from Friday's close. When the market reopens on Tuesday, prices will reflect all the news and events that occurred over the weekend and holiday, which can create significant gaps between Friday's close and Tuesday's open.