Is The Stock Market Open on Good Friday?

Markets closed on Good Friday and Easter.

Regular traders know that the stock market isn’t open on weekends, and since Easter always falls on a Sunday. But what about the last business day preceding the holiday? Why are the markets closed on Good Friday — and not just in the U.S. but in Asia too?

First of all, it’s understandable to be confused if you are an avid online trader — especially if your activity includes foreign exchange. F/X markets operate nonstop from 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on Sunday until 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday.

And even stock trading websites and apps can make it look like you can trade any time — technically you can, but if you do it during off hours, you will be notified that the actual transaction won’t execute until the next business day.

Why Are the Markets Closed on Good Friday?

Most investing entities in the U.S., U.K. and Japan follow the recommendations of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association regarding holidays — and that stipulates closure on Good Friday.

However, SIFMA does not stipulate that the markets should close on the day after Easter, so the markets resume regular hours.

Awareness of holiday schedules for the markets can help you place smarter trades, especially if you’re considering whether to put in an order during off hours. Think twice before placing an after-hours market order — which means that you ask the site or app to perform the trade at the going rate available at the time of the transaction — versus a limit order or a stop order, which both let you dictate the how much you are willing to pay or accept as a sale price.

To better plan your finances, consider downloading our printable schedule of stock market holidays so you’re prepared — it just might help mitigate confusion the next time you see a business news headline on a weekend.

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Readers, what experience, if any, do you have with after-hours stock trading?

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