When does the stock market close for the year?
When does the stock market close for the year?
The question "when does the stock market close for the year" asks about year‑end and holiday closing schedules for the major U.S. equity exchanges. This article explains what to expect for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving and other year‑end observances on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. You will learn the regular trading hours, which days are full closures or early closes, how bond and options hours can differ, and how to confirm the exact schedule for the current year.
Overview of U.S. market year‑end closures
U.S. exchanges follow a published holiday schedule that largely tracks federal holidays. They use two main observance types: full holiday closures and early (partial) trading days. Knowing when does the stock market close for the year helps traders and investors plan orders, manage settlement timing, and avoid surprises during low‑liquidity sessions. Exchanges publish annual calendars each year so dates can shift when holidays fall on weekends.
Regular daily trading hours (context)
Standard core trading hours for U.S. equities are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. That is the primary session when most volume and liquidity occur. In addition:
- Pre‑market trading typically runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET at many venues.
- Extended or after‑hours trading usually runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on many electronic venues.
When exchanges announce an early close, it usually shortens the core session. For example, an early close to 1:00 p.m. ET ends the main session well before normal hours. Options and equities may have small differences in exact early close time. Knowing when does the stock market close for the year therefore means confirming whether the core 9:30–16:00 schedule is shortened.
Typical year‑end and holiday schedule
Major U.S. market holidays commonly observed are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday (markets may be closed or open depending on the exchange), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Some holidays lead to an early close on the preceding or following trading day.
Below are the year‑end‑relevant holidays and typical practices.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
When does the stock market close for the year around New Year’s? The usual practice is:
- New Year’s Day: Exchanges are closed for a full trading day when January 1 falls on a weekday. If the holiday falls on a weekend, observance rules apply (see the observance section).
- New Year’s Eve (December 31): Most years the markets run normal hours (9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET). Occasionally exchanges announce an early close on New Year’s Eve; this is year‑specific and must be confirmed on the exchange calendar.
Exchanges decide each year whether to designate December 31 as an early close. Historically, early closes on New Year’s Eve are not guaranteed; many years see a full session. Therefore, to answer "when does the stock market close for the year" at New Year’s, check the current year’s official calendar.
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
When does the stock market close for the year at Christmas? Typical practice is:
- Christmas Day (December 25): The exchanges are closed for a full trading day when December 25 falls on a weekday.
- Christmas Eve (December 24): Many years feature an early close on Christmas Eve, commonly at 1:00 p.m. ET for equities. If December 24 falls on a weekend, the observed day may be December 23 or December 25, and schedules adjust accordingly.
Because December 24 and 25 can fall on different weekdays from year to year, and because exchanges occasionally change early‑close plans, the safe approach is to consult the annual calendar when planning year‑end activity.
Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving
US markets are closed on Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November). The Friday after Thanksgiving often operates as an early close day, with the equities session ending at 1:00 p.m. ET. This Friday typically has lower volume and thinner liquidity. When asking "when does the stock market close for the year" it is common for investors to include this Thanksgiving Friday early close as part of the year‑end and holiday calendar comparisons.
Independence Day and surrounding days
Independence Day (July 4) is a full holiday when it falls on a weekday. If July 4 lands on a weekend, the exchange observes it on the closest weekday per established rules. Some years have an early close on the trading day immediately before Independence Day, but that is not universal and must be verified on the exchange calendar.
Early/partial closes — typical times and rules
An "early close" means the core trading session ends before the usual 4:00 p.m. ET. Common features:
- Typical early‑close time for equities: 1:00 p.m. ET.
- Options early close: Options markets often have a slightly different early close time (for some sessions eligible options cease trading at 1:15 p.m. ET or follow the equities schedule as specified).
- Recurring early‑close days: Historically, common early closes include the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (in many years), and occasionally the day before Independence Day. New Year’s Eve early closes occur in some years but not all.
When an early close is scheduled, pre‑market and after‑hours sessions may also be shortened or suspended. Exchanges publish detailed rules and notices for each event so market participants can confirm order routing and clearing timelines.
Bond market differences
U.S. government and corporate bond markets typically follow a similar list of holidays, but there are important differences:
- Bond markets (the interdealer, electronic, and government securities desks) sometimes close earlier than equities on holiday eves. For certain holidays, the bond market may observe a 2:00 p.m. ET early close rather than 1:00 p.m. ET.
- SIFMA and primary dealers publish guidance each year about bond market holiday hours, and those hours can differ from the equities schedule.
Because cash‑fixed income settlement and repo activity are sensitive to holiday hours, institutional participants pay close attention to bond market advisories around year‑end.
How holiday observance is determined
Exchanges determine holiday observance through their published rules and annual calendars. Key points:
- Exchanges publish an annual trading calendar that lists holidays and early‑close days.
- When a holiday falls on a weekend, exchanges follow an "observed day" convention; for example, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the exchange may observe it on the preceding Friday. If it falls on Sunday, the exchange may observe it on the following Monday.
- Official notices and press releases (exchange or regulator) clarify any one‑off decisions.
To answer "when does the stock market close for the year" for a specific calendar year, consult the exchange‑published calendar for that year to see observed dates and any special announcements.
Practical effects for market participants
Knowing when does the stock market close for the year matters because holiday sessions usually bring distinct market behavior and operational implications:
- Lower liquidity: Holiday and early‑close sessions typically have thinner order books and lower volumes.
- Wider spreads and price gaps: Reduced liquidity can cause wider bid‑ask spreads and bigger price moves on small orders.
- Volatility: News released during thin sessions can create outsized intraday moves.
- Settlement timing: Holiday closures affect trade date (T) and settlement date (T+1/T+2) calculations. Investors should confirm settlement calendars when planning trades near year‑end.
- Tax‑loss harvesting and rebalancing: Year‑end activity by institutions and individuals can coincide with holiday schedules, affecting execution windows.
These operational realities make it important to confirm "when does the stock market close for the year" well before holiday periods.
Historical and year‑specific examples
Exchanges can and do vary the schedule year to year. Below are illustrative examples showing how the calendar can look in practice. These are examples and not a substitute for the current year’s official calendar.
- Example: In some years, December 31 is a full session (9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET), while December 24 was an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET.
- Example: Many recent years feature a 1:00 p.m. ET early close on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
As a reminder: to answer "when does the stock market close for the year" precisely for the year you care about, check the official exchange calendars published annually. Exchanges occasionally release special press notices that modify a planned early close or closure.
As of January 14, 2026, according to Barchart reporting, markets were responding to sector news such as semiconductor sales and company earnings. For context, Nvidia’s market capitalization was reported near 4.45 trillion dollars and its share price was trading near $185 per share. That same reporting noted semiconductor sales growth in November of 7.1% month‑over‑month (below Morgan Stanley’s 10.4% forecast) while still tracking well above the 10‑year average. This kind of sector‑level news often influences liquidity and trading patterns near quarter and year boundaries, which underscores why investors confirm holiday hours before executing year‑end trades.
Exchange‑specific calendars and official sources
For authoritative, up‑to‑date year‑end schedules, consult the exchanges and primary market sources. Primary sources include each exchange’s official holidays and trading hours page and any exchange press releases announcing early closes or special observances. Typical authoritative sources you can check are:
- NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours (official exchange calendar)
- NasdaqTrader — U.S. Markets trading calendar
- NYSE Group / ICE press releases for announcements
- Broker or clearing firm notices that confirm holiday processing and settlement impacts
- SIFMA advisories for bond market hours
Because the precise dates and early close decisions can change each year, these official pages are the definitive reference for "when does the stock market close for the year" for any given year.
International coordination and non‑U.S. markets at year end
Other global exchanges (Europe, Asia, etc.) maintain their own year‑end and holiday schedules. Calendar differences can affect cross‑listed securities, ADR trading, foreign exchange markets, and global settlement timing. If you trade instruments that span regions, consider the overlap of holiday schedules to understand available liquidity and settlement windows around the turn of the calendar year.
How to check the current year's schedule
Steps to confirm "when does the stock market close for the year" in the current year:
- Visit the exchange’s official holidays and trading hours page and download the annual calendar.
- Watch for exchange press releases or trader notices for any changes.
- Check broker or clearing firm bulletins for trading and settlement implications.
- For bond hours, consult SIFMA and primary dealer advisories.
- For options and derivatives, use the options exchange (e.g., OCC, options exchange) calendar to confirm early‑close times and exercise deadlines.
Confirming each year eliminates guesswork and reduces operational risk during the holidays.
See also
- U.S. market hours and regular session times
- NYSE trading rules on holiday observance
- SIFMA bond market advisories and holiday guidance
- Settlement cycles (T+1/T+2) and holiday adjustments
- Options and derivatives holiday hours and early‑close rules
References
- NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours (official exchange calendar)
- NasdaqTrader — U.S. Markets trading calendar
- NYSE Group / ICE press releases (exchange announcements)
- SIFMA bond market advisories
- Representative market news coverage and summaries (news outlets reporting on year‑end hours)
更多实用建议：
- Check the exchange calendar in mid‑December each year to plan trades.
- If you trade across products (equities, options, bonds), confirm hours for each product because early‑close times can differ.
Explore Bitget for multi‑asset trading features and to learn how a single platform can help you monitor hours and market notices across asset classes. For wallet needs, consider Bitget Wallet to securely manage digital assets related to other trading activities.
进一步探索：随时访问交易所官方日历或在您的交易平台上设置假期提醒，以便在年末和节假日前后安全地安排交易。
(Article prepared to help readers determine "when does the stock market close for the year" and where to verify exact dates. This is informational only and does not constitute investment advice.)
