Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25, for 2020. It’s an official federal holiday, and many members of the American workforce will have the day off. However, because government offices, banks, and other companies close for the holiday, figuring out what is open can be a challenge. Is the stock market open on Memorial Day? Here’s what you need to know before the holiday arrives.
Is the Stock Market Closed on Memorial Day?
While the NYSE and Nasdaq are usually open on Mondays, neither are open on Memorial Day. Additionally, since neither of the stock markets is open on weekends, they will also close on the Saturday (May 23) and Sunday (May 24) before Memorial Day.
If you need to handle stock-related transactions before Memorial Day, then Friday, May 22 is when you need to take care of them. On a good note, the NYSE and Nasdaq have their usual trading hours on the Friday before Memorial Day, so you don’t have to worry about an early closure interfering you’re your transactions.
On typical operating days – Monday through Friday – the NYSE starts the pre-opening session at 6:30 am ET. At 9:30 am ET, the official opening auction begins. The core trading session runs from 9:30 am ET through 4:00 pm ET. Between 4:00 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET, the late trading session is underway.
The Nasdaq has similar hours. The only difference is that pre-market trading starts at 4:00 am ET instead of 6:30 am ET.
If you don’t get everything handled on Friday, May 22, you’ll have to wait until Tuesday, May 26 to finish up your trades.
2019 U.S. Stock Market Holiday Schedule
The NYSE and Nasdaq follow the same holiday schedule. If one is closed for a holiday, so is the other. The only time when one of these markets will close while the other remains operational usually involves a technical issue that doesn’t impact both the NYSE and the Nasdaq.
Here are the U.S. stock market holiday closures, along with the short-day schedule, for 2020:
- January 1, New Year’s Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- January 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- February 17, President’s Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- April 10, Good Friday: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- May 25, Memorial Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- July 3, Day Before Independence Day: NYSE & Nasdaq close early at 1:00 pm EDT
- July 4, Independence Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- September 7, Labor Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- November 26, Thanksgiving: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
- November 27, Day After Thanksgiving: NYSE & Nasdaq close early at 1:00 pm EDT
- December 24, Christmas Eve: NYSE & Nasdaq close early at 1:00 pm EDT
- December 25, Christmas Day: NYSE & Nasdaq are closed
While the NYSE and Nasdaq close on most federal holidays, there are two where the stock markets are open. Neither market shuts down for Columbus Day or Veterans Day.
Additionally, while Good Friday is not a federal holiday, the stock markets are still closed. Some of the short days are also not on the government holiday calendar.
U.S. Bond Market Holiday Schedule
While SIFMA does close on many of the same holidays as the NYSE and Nasdaq, there are also a few others. Plus, early closures for the bond market aren’t at the same time.
Here is a look at the 2020 U.S. bond market holiday schedule:
- January 1, New Year’s Day: SIFMA is closed
- January 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: SIFMA is closed
- February 17, Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day): SIFMA is closed
- April 9, Day Before Good Friday: SIFMA closes early at 2:00 pm ET
- April 10, Good Friday: SIFMA is closed
- May 22, Friday Before Memorial Day Weekend:
- May 25, Memorial Day: SIFMA is closed
- July 3, Day Before Independence Day: SIFMA closes early at 2:00 pm ET
- July 4, Independence Day: SIFMA is closed
- September 7, Labor Day: SIFMA is closed
- October 14, Columbus Day: SIFMA is closed
- November 11, Veterans Day: SIFMA is closed
- November 26, Thanksgiving: SIFMA is closed
- November 27, Day After Thanksgiving: SIFMA closes early at 2:00 pm ET
- December 24, Christmas Eve: SIFMA closes early at 2:00 pm ET
- December 25, Christmas Day: SIFMA is closed
- December 31, New Year’s Eve: SIFMA closes early at 2:00 pm ET
Overall, SIFMA closes more often than the NYSE, Nasdaq, and the federal government. Barring the days above, as well as weekends, SIFMA is open. The only exception is when an unexpected technical issue occurs.
Do International Stock Markets Follow the Same Holiday Schedules?
No, international stock markets do not follow the NYSE, Nasdaq, of SIFMA schedules. Instead, each one has its own schedule. However, some closure days do overlap.
For instance, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) also closes on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Christmas. However, there are several U.S. holidays where the LSE is open.
International stock markets can also close on days when the U.S. markets are open. Using the LSE as an example again, the LSE closes on Easter Monday, but the U.S. markets are open.
Do you ever wish the stock market was open on Memorial Day? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.
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Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.
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