The stock market is closed on Columbus Day 2024

The U.S. stock market does not trade on Columbus Day. In 2024, Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 14, and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and bond markets will all be closed. This is a federal holiday, and the major exchanges observe it as a market holiday each year.

If you have pending trades or orders set to execute on that day, they will not go through until the market reopens on Tuesday, October 15. Any orders you place after market close on Friday, October 11 will sit in the queue until Tuesday morning. Your brokerage account will remain accessible — you can view your holdings and account balance — but you cannot buy or sell.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close on Columbus Day, which is October 14 in 2024, along with bond markets and options exchanges.
  • Pending buy and sell orders will not execute until the market reopens on Tuesday, October 15 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
  • You can still check your account balance and view your holdings on Monday, October 14, but you cannot place new trades.
  • If you need to trade before the holiday, place all orders by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 11.
  • International stock exchanges do not observe Columbus Day and will operate normally, but U.S. exchanges remain closed.

Which markets close on Columbus Day

The major U.S. stock exchanges — the NYSE and NASDAQ — close on Columbus Day. The bond market (SIFMA) also closes. Options exchanges, futures markets tied to U.S. equities, and most cryptocurrency exchanges that follow traditional market hours will also be closed or operate on reduced schedules.

International exchanges do not observe Columbus Day. If you trade on foreign exchanges or hold positions in international markets, those will continue to operate normally on October 14, 2024. However, U.S. markets will not open until 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 15. This means any order routed through a U.S. exchange will not execute, even if you place it through an international brokerage.

What happens to your orders and positions

Any order you placed before the market closed on Friday, October 11 that did not fill will remain active. Market orders (buy or sell at any price) typically cancel at market close if unfilled, but limit orders (buy or sell at a specific price) will carry over to Tuesday morning. Check your brokerage account to see which orders are still pending and whether they are set to cancel or carry forward.

Your existing holdings do not change. Stocks you own will still be in your account on Monday, October 14, and their value will update when the market reopens on Tuesday. Dividends scheduled to pay on Columbus Day will still pay, but you will not see the cash until the market reopens and the settlement clears. If you own dividend-paying stocks, the ex-dividend date (the date you must own the stock to receive the dividend) will not shift because of the holiday.

How to plan around the market closure

If you need to make trades before the holiday, place them by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 11. This gives you the full trading day to execute any buy or sell orders. After 4 p.m. on Friday, most brokerages will not accept new market orders until Tuesday morning. If you wait until Monday to place an order, it will not execute until the market opens on Tuesday.

If you use after-hours trading, some brokerages allow limited trading from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 14. However, after-hours trading has wider bid-ask spreads and lower volume, so prices may be less favorable than during regular hours. Check your brokerage's specific hours before placing any after-hours orders, and be aware that execution is not may provide.

Other federal holidays when markets close in 2024

Columbus Day is one of nine federal holidays when U.S. stock markets close. The complete list for 2024 includes New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15), Presidents' Day (February 19), Good Friday (March 29), Memorial Day (May 27), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (September 2), Thanksgiving Day (November 28), and Christmas Day (December 25).

The market also closes early — at 1 p.m. Eastern Time — on the day after Thanksgiving (November 29, 2024) and on Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday. Mark these dates on your calendar if you trade regularly, because missed trading days can affect your ability to enter or exit positions on your preferred timeline. Planning ahead for these closures helps you avoid placing orders that will not execute when you expect them to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade on Columbus Day if I use a foreign brokerage?

If your brokerage is based outside the U.S., you may be able to place an order on Columbus Day, but the NYSE and NASDAQ themselves will not be open. Your order will queue until Tuesday morning when the U.S. exchanges reopen. Some international brokerages do not observe U.S. holidays, but the underlying U.S. exchanges are still closed, so execution will be delayed regardless of where your brokerage is located.

Will my crypto exchange be open on Columbus Day?

Most cryptocurrency exchanges operate 24/7 and do not close for U.S. holidays, including Columbus Day. However, some crypto platforms that are U.S.-based or follow traditional market hours may have reduced staff or delayed customer service. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will trade normally on October 14, 2024.

What if I have a standing order set for Columbus Day?

Standing orders (recurring buys or sells) typically do not execute on market holidays. Check your brokerage settings to see whether your standing order is set to skip holidays or to execute on the next trading day. Most brokerages default to skipping, but you can usually change this in your account settings before the holiday arrives.

Does the market close early on the Friday before Columbus Day?

No. The market closes at the normal time — 4 p.m. Eastern Time — on Friday, October 11, 2024. Only the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday) trigger early closures. Plan your Friday trades accordingly, because you will have the full trading day to execute any orders you need.