does stock market open on presidents day?

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?

Overview

Presidents' Day is observed on the third Monday in February and is legally recognized by the federal government as Washington's Birthday. U.S. financial markets traditionally follow a holiday calendar that aligns with most federal holidays. That means, in most years, major equity exchanges close on Presidents' Day, halting regular trading sessions for equities and many related markets.

As of January 10, 2025, according to Nasdaq and NYSE official holiday schedules, Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday) is a full exchange holiday for both NYSE and Nasdaq. As of January 12, 2025, several consumer finance outlets confirmed the same closure for equities and major bond markets.

Official exchange policies

Both major U.S. exchanges publish an annual holiday calendar and trading schedule that lists official closures and any early-close sessions. For authoritative guidance, consult each exchange's holiday calendar or press releases from the exchange operator. Exchanges also list observed dates when federal holidays fall on weekends.

NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) on Presidents' Day

• The NYSE marks Washington's Birthday (commonly called Presidents' Day) as an exchange holiday. The exchange does not open for regular trading on that day.
• There are no typical early-close or extended-session exceptions for this holiday; trading is suspended for the normal trading day.
• Clearing, settlement, and other operational services tied to the NYSE are generally not processed on the holiday.

As of January 10, 2025, the NYSE holiday calendar lists Presidents' Day as a closure date for the 2025 trading year.

Nasdaq on Presidents' Day

• Nasdaq also observes Presidents' Day as a holiday and closes its regular trading sessions.
• Pre-market and post-market official sessions tied to Nasdaq-listed securities do not operate on the holiday.
• Broker-dealers and clearing firms follow Nasdaq's schedule when determining trade dates and settlement deadlines.

As of January 10, 2025, Nasdaq's official schedule confirms the exchange closure on Presidents' Day for 2025.

Other U.S. markets and institutions

• Bond markets: Major U.S. bond markets typically observe federal holidays. Bank and government bond settlement can be affected because many counterparties and clearinghouses pause operations. Check SIFMA or broker notices for fixed-income specifics.
• Banks and federal offices: Commercial banks and many government services close or operate limited hours on Presidents' Day, which can affect ACH, wire transfers, and other payment rails.
• Mutual funds: Net asset value (NAV) calculations and order processing often follow trading calendars. If markets are closed, same-day NAV processing or settlement expectations may shift.

As of January 15, 2025, consumer finance outlets reported that both equity and many bond market operations pause on Presidents' Day, impacting settlement windows for retail and institutional investors.

Clearing, settlement and trade date consequences

• Settlement cycles: Trades settle on business/trading days per the market's settlement convention (for most U.S. equities, T+1 or T+2 depending on the security and rule changes). Holidays are not business days — a holiday will extend the calendar gap between trade date and settlement date.
• Example: If you placed an order that would normally settle in two business days (T+2) but a holiday intervenes, the settlement date shifts forward by the holiday.
• Clearing: Clearinghouses and custodians typically do not process batch settlements on exchange holidays. This may delay the movement of cash and securities until the next open trading day.

Extended-hours, OTC and alternative trading systems

• Official pre-market and after-hours sessions tied to the primary exchanges are not available on exchange holidays. Some off-exchange or OTC venues may still accept orders, but liquidity is often very low, spreads widen, and execution risk increases.
• Dark pools, ECNs and alternative trading systems follow their own rules and counterparties; many suspend normal operations or experience sharply reduced activity on major U.S. holidays.

Retail broker behavior and order handling

• Order acceptance: Most brokers will accept orders submitted during an exchange holiday but will queue them for the next official trading day. That means your order will not execute until markets reopen.
• Deadlines: Time-sensitive instructions (like options exercises, margin calls, or corporate action deadlines) may still be subject to firm-specific deadlines. Brokers often publish holiday operating hours and cutoffs in advance — check your broker's holiday notices.
• Margin and maintenance: Margin interest and maintenance obligations do not pause for a holiday; margin calls may be issued based on positions and can have deadlines measured in calendar days. Contact your broker for holiday-specific margin policies.

Cryptocurrency and 24/7 markets

• A core difference: most cryptocurrency markets operate 24/7 and do not observe U.S. federal holidays. That means even when U.S. equity exchanges are closed on Presidents' Day, cryptocurrency trading typically continues.
• Practical impact: When U.S. equity markets are closed, some traders look to crypto markets for continuous price discovery. However, crypto liquidity and price behavior can differ substantially from regulated U.S. equities.
• Note on platforms: If you trade digital assets or use Web3 wallets, consider services like Bitget and Bitget Wallet for continuous market access and integrated custody features. (This content highlights Bitget as an available platform choice.)

International implications

• Global trading windows: While U.S. exchanges close, markets in Europe and Asia typically remain open on Presidents' Day. That leads to asynchronous liquidity—U.S.-listed ADRs and cross-listed equities will not trade on U.S. exchanges, which can complicate arbitrage and order routing.
• Forex and commodities: FX and global commodity markets often remain active, but U.S. holiday liquidity can be lighter as U.S.-based participants step back.

Observance rules and "observed" dates

• Weekend rule: If a federal holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, exchanges publish an "observed" date (usually the closest Friday or Monday) when the holiday will be recognized for market closure purposes.
• Example: Presidents' Day is always observed on the third Monday in February, so observed-date confusion is rare for this particular holiday. For other holidays like New Year’s Day or Independence Day, exchanges may list an observed date when the calendar day falls on a weekend.

Historical exceptions and unscheduled closures

• Rare closures: Exchanges have occasionally suspended trading for extraordinary reasons (severe weather, system outages, or formally declared national days of mourning). These events are announced by the exchange operator or the parent company and are not part of the regular holiday calendar.
• Stay informed: Exchanges issue formal press releases when unscheduled closures occur; brokers and clearinghouses also issue operational guidance to clients.

How to verify for a given year

To confirm whether the stock market opens on Presidents' Day in any specific year:

1. Check the official exchange calendars published by the NYSE and Nasdaq for that calendar year.
2. Review broker notices and custody/clearing firm bulletins that affect order handling and settlement.
3. Consult industry calendars (SIFMA for bond markets) when fixed-income activity matters for you.
4. Confirm deadlines for options exercise, margin, and mutual fund orders with your specific financial institution.

As of January 10, 2025, the official exchange calendars published by U.S. exchanges list Presidents' Day as a market holiday for equities and many related services.

Practical tips for investors and traders

• Plan ahead: If you expect to trade around Presidents' Day, place orders early or be prepared for queued executions on the next open trading day.
• Watch settlement: Expect settlement dates to shift forward when a holiday intervenes; this can affect funds availability and transfer timings.
• Monitor corporate actions: Dividends, record dates and corporate action deadlines can be affected by trading holidays — validate these dates in advance.
• Check broker cutoffs: Brokers often set submission cutoffs for time-sensitive requests; do not assume a normal processing day on a federal holiday.
• Use continuous markets when appropriate: If you require trading continuity, consider accessing 24/7 digital-asset markets via Bitget and manage custody through Bitget Wallet. Remember that crypto markets and equities have different market structures and risk profiles.

FAQ — Short answers to common questions

• Q: does stock market open on presidents day?

  • A: No. Major U.S. equity exchanges are closed on Presidents' Day.

• Q: Do bond markets close on Presidents' Day?

  • A: Major bond market operations typically pause; consult SIFMA or your broker for specifics.

• Q: Can I place orders with my broker on Presidents' Day?

  • A: Most brokers accept orders but will queue them for the next official trading day; check your broker’s holiday policy.

• Q: Are cryptocurrencies affected by Presidents' Day?

  • A: No—crypto markets usually operate 24/7, so trading remains available even when U.S. equity exchanges are closed.

See also

• U.S. federal holidays and market observance
• NYSE trading hours and holiday calendar
• Nasdaq trading schedule and holiday page
• Bond market holiday schedules (SIFMA)
• How settlement cycles work (T+1, T+2)

References and reporting notes

• As of January 10, 2025, according to official Nasdaq and NYSE holiday schedules, Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday) is listed as a market holiday for the 2025 calendar year.
• As of January 12, 2025, consumer finance outlets (including major finance publications) reported that NYSE and Nasdaq are closed on Presidents' Day and that bond market activity is often paused on the same day.
• For bond-market holiday observance, consult SIFMA and official broker-dealer notices.

All statements above are factual and based on exchange-published holiday calendars and publicly reported holiday schedules. This article does not provide investment advice. For transaction-specific guidance, consult your broker or institutional counterparty.