The stock market is closed on Good Friday in the United States

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and all U.S. stock markets shut down on Good Friday. No stocks trade, no bonds trade, and no options contracts settle. This happens every year, regardless of when Easter falls on the calendar.

Good Friday is one of nine days each year when U.S. markets close entirely. The others are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. Markets also close early — at 1 p.m. Eastern time — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (when Christmas falls on a weekday).

If you hold stocks or have pending orders, nothing executes on Good Friday. Any trade you try to place will queue until the market reopens the following Monday. Your brokerage account will show the previous trading day's closing prices until markets open again.

Key Takeaways

  • All U.S. stock exchanges close completely on Good Friday; no trading happens at any time that day.
  • Good Friday closures affect the NYSE, NASDAQ, and all other U.S. equity and options markets equally.
  • Any stock orders you place on Good Friday will not execute until the market reopens on Monday morning.
  • The market reopens Monday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, and prices may gap up or down based on weekend news.

Why the market closes on Good Friday

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) designates Good Friday as a market holiday because it is a major Christian observance. The U.S. financial system has observed this closure since the 19th century, long before the SEC existed. It reflects the historical weight of the holiday in American culture and business practice.

Good Friday's date changes every year because it is calculated from the lunar calendar. In 2024, it fell on March 29. In 2025, it falls on April 18. The NYSE publishes its holiday calendar years in advance so traders, brokers, and investors can plan around these closures.

What happens to your orders and positions on Good Friday

If you place a stock order on Good Friday through your brokerage app or website, it will sit in a queue. Most brokerages will not execute it until the market opens Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. Some brokerages allow you to cancel the order before Monday opens; others do not.

If you own stocks, your positions do not change on Good Friday. You still own the shares. Dividends do not pay out, earnings do not release (most companies avoid earnings announcements on market holidays), and stock splits do not occur. Your account balance reflects Friday's closing prices until Monday's open.

If you have options contracts that expire on Good Friday, they expire as scheduled. However, because the market is closed, you cannot trade them that day. If you need to close or roll an options position before expiration, you must do so on Thursday.

How the market behaves when it reopens on Monday

Markets reopen Monday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. The opening price may differ sharply from Friday's close if significant news broke over the weekend — earnings reports from international markets, geopolitical events, or economic data from other countries. This is called a "gap," and it can move your holdings up or down before you have a chance to trade.

Volume is often heavy on Monday morning as traders who were blocked from trading over the weekend execute orders. This can mean wider bid-ask spreads (the difference between what buyers offer and sellers ask) and faster price movement than usual.

International markets and Good Friday

Good Friday closures vary by country. The London Stock Exchange, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and most European markets close on Good Friday. The Tokyo Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange remain open because Good Friday is not a major holiday in those regions. If you trade international stocks or hold positions in non-U.S. markets, check each exchange's holiday calendar separately.

Some U.S. investors use international market activity over the Good Friday weekend to gauge how Monday's U.S. open might move. If European markets fell sharply on Thursday (their last trading day before the U.S. closes), U.S. markets may open lower on Monday.

Planning around Good Friday closures

If you trade actively or hold positions sensitive to timing, mark Good Friday on your calendar. Plan any large trades or position adjustments for Thursday. If you use limit orders (orders that execute only at a specific price), remember that they will not execute on Friday and may execute at a different price on Monday if the market gaps.

If you are waiting for earnings reports or economic data, check whether the company or agency releases it on Good Friday. Most major companies and the U.S. government avoid releasing significant news on market holidays, but some do. Your brokerage's economic calendar or the company's investor relations page will show the scheduled release date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks on Good Friday if I use an international broker?

No. U.S. stock exchanges are closed on Good Friday regardless of where your broker is located. If your broker is based overseas but you are trading U.S. stocks, the NYSE and NASDAQ are still closed. You can trade non-U.S. stocks on exchanges that remain open, such as the London Stock Exchange.

What if I forget to cancel a trade order before Good Friday?

Most brokerages hold the order and execute it Monday morning when the market opens. If you want to cancel it, log into your account and cancel the order before the market closes Thursday. Some brokerages allow cancellations up until a certain time Friday morning, but do not count on it — cancel Thursday to be safe.

Do I earn interest on cash in my brokerage account on Good Friday?

That depends on your broker and the type of account. Some brokerages pay interest on uninvested cash daily, including holidays. Others calculate interest only on trading days. Check your account agreement or contact your broker to confirm how they handle holiday interest.

Will my dividend payment be delayed if the ex-dividend date falls on Good Friday?

No. The ex-dividend date is set by the company and does not move. If it falls on Good Friday, you still own the stock on that date (even though the market is closed) and you will receive the dividend. The payment date may be delayed slightly if it falls on a weekend, but that is separate from the Good Friday closure.