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 most Mondays from 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 specific Mondays when the market is closed change from year to year depending on how holidays align with the calendar.

If you are planning to trade or need to know whether the market will be open on a specific Monday, you can check the NYSE or Nasdaq holiday calendar on their official websites. Both exchanges publish their full annual closure schedule in advance. Your brokerage firm will also display this information in your account or on their trading platform.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is closed on Mondays that fall on or immediately after federal holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
  • The market also closes on Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, though these do not always fall on Monday.
  • Christmas and New Year's Day closures sometimes affect Monday trading depending on the calendar year.
  • The NYSE and Nasdaq publish their complete holiday schedule each year on their websites so you can plan ahead.

Which Mondays the market is typically closed

The market closes on the following federal holidays, and if any of these fall on a Monday or if the market observes the holiday on Monday instead, trading will not occur:

  • New Year's Day (January 1)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
  • Presidents' Day (third Monday in February)
  • Good Friday (the Friday before Easter; the market closes this day but not necessarily a Monday)
  • Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
  • Juneteenth (June 19)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Labor Day (first Monday in September)
  • Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)

Some of these holidays always fall on a Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and Labor Day). Others, like Independence Day and Christmas, may fall on any day of the week, so whether they affect Monday trading depends on the year.

How to check if a specific Monday is a trading day

The most reliable way to confirm whether the market will be open on a particular Monday is to visit the official holiday calendar. The NYSE publishes its schedule at nyse.com under "Market Information" or "Holiday Calendar." Nasdaq maintains its schedule at nasdaq.com. Both calendars show the exact dates the market will be closed for the entire year.

Your brokerage platform (such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E-Trade, or others) will also display market hours and closure dates. Many brokerages show a notice on their trading screen when the market is closed or will close early. If you have questions about a specific date, you can contact your brokerage's customer service line.

Early closures on certain days

On some days the market does not close entirely but closes early. The day after Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas are two examples. On these days, the market typically closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the regular 4:00 p.m. closing time. This is different from a full closure, so trading does occur, but for a shorter window.

Early closures are less common than full closures and affect fewer trading days per year. You should still check the holiday calendar to see which days have early closures if you plan to trade near the end of the trading day.

What happens if you try to trade on a closed Monday

If you attempt to place a trade on a Monday when the market is closed, your brokerage will not execute the order during market hours. Some brokerages allow you to place orders before or after market hours through extended-hours trading, though this carries higher risk and wider price spreads. Most retail traders do not use extended-hours trading.

If you submit an order on a closed Monday, it will typically be held and executed when the market opens on the next trading day, unless you cancel it first. Always check whether the market is open before you expect to trade, especially around holiday periods.

International markets and Monday closures

If you trade stocks on exchanges outside the United States, be aware that those markets may have different holiday schedules. The London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and other international exchanges observe their own national holidays and may be closed on Mondays when the U.S. market is open, or open when the U.S. market is closed.

If you hold international stocks or trade on foreign exchanges, check the specific exchange's holiday calendar. Many brokerage platforms that offer international trading will display the hours for each exchange you can access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?

No. Presidents' Day falls on the third Monday in February, and the stock market is closed on this day every year. This is one of the most predictable Monday closures because the date does not change.

Can I trade on the day after Thanksgiving?

The day after Thanksgiving is not a full closure. The market opens at 9:30 a.m. but closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the regular 4:00 p.m. You can trade during these shortened hours, but you should plan accordingly if you need the full trading day.

What if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

If a holiday falls on a weekend, the market does not shift the closure to Monday. For example, if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the market will be open on Monday. However, if the holiday falls on a Friday, the market may close on Friday instead of Monday. Check the specific year's calendar to be certain.

Do I need to do anything before a market closure?

You do not need to take any action before a market closure. Any open positions you hold will remain open when the market reopens. However, if you have pending orders, you should review them to make sure you still want them to execute when trading resumes.