The stock market is closed on Columbus Day 2024

The U.S. stock market does not trade on Columbus Day. In 2024, Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 14, and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and all other major U.S. exchanges will be closed. No stocks can be bought or sold through normal trading channels that day.

This closure applies to all equity markets, options exchanges, and bond markets. If you have a standing order to buy or sell stock on that date, it will not execute until the market reopens on Tuesday, October 15.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is closed on Columbus Day, which is October 14 in 2024, and no trading occurs that day.
  • Buy and sell orders placed before the market closes on Friday, October 11 will not execute until Tuesday, October 15.
  • Automated investing plans and dividend reinvestment continue to work during the closure, but trades settle on the next trading day.
  • Banks and most financial institutions are also closed on Columbus Day, so you cannot reach customer service by phone.

What happens to orders placed before the market closes

If you place a market order (an order to buy or sell at the current price) on Friday, October 11, it will execute that day before the market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern time. If you place a limit order (an order to buy or sell only at a specific price), it will remain active and may execute on Tuesday, October 15 if the stock reaches your price.

Day orders—orders that expire at the end of the trading day—will be canceled automatically when the market closes on Friday. If you want an order to remain active through the Columbus Day closure, make sure it is set as a good-till-canceled (GTC) order or a good-till-date order that extends past October 14.

Automatic investing and dividend payments during the closure

Automatic investment plans, such as recurring contributions to a brokerage account or 401(k) contributions, continue to process during market closures. Money will be deducted from your bank account on the scheduled date even though the market is closed. The actual purchase of shares will happen on the next trading day, October 15.

Dividend payments and dividend reinvestment also continue. If a company pays a dividend on Columbus Day, you will receive the payment, and any automatic reinvestment of that dividend will be processed on the next trading day at that day's closing price.

Why the stock market closes on Columbus Day

The NYSE and NASDAQ close on Columbus Day because it is a federal holiday in the United States. The exchanges observe all federal holidays when most banks and government offices are closed. This practice has been in place for decades and applies to all major U.S. stock exchanges.

The closure is uniform across all U.S. markets. You cannot trade stocks on any major exchange, and you cannot place orders through your brokerage's phone lines because customer service representatives will not be working.

How to plan ahead for the market closure

If you need to make trades around Columbus Day, place your orders on Friday, October 11 before the market closes. Review any standing orders or automatic investments to make sure they are set correctly for the closure period. If you use limit orders, check that your price targets are realistic for the market conditions you expect on Tuesday.

If you need to contact your broker or financial advisor, reach out on Friday or wait until Tuesday, October 15. Email messages sent over the weekend or on Columbus Day will be answered when the office reopens, but response times may be slower than usual because of the holiday backlog.

Other market closures in 2024

Columbus Day is one of nine days the stock market closes each year. The other closures in 2024 are New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15), Presidents' Day (February 19), Good Friday (March 29), Memorial Day (May 27), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving (November 28), and Christmas (December 25).

The market also closes early—at 1 p.m. Eastern time instead of 4 p.m.—on the day after Thanksgiving (November 29 in 2024) and on Christmas Eve (December 24 in 2024) if those days fall on a weekday. Planning around these dates helps you avoid missed trades and unexpected delays in order execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks on Columbus Day through an international exchange?

U.S. stock exchanges are closed, so you cannot trade U.S. stocks on Columbus Day. International exchanges in other countries may be open, but most brokerages do not allow U.S. customers to trade on foreign exchanges directly. Check with your broker about what options are available.

What if I need to sell stock on Columbus Day because of an emergency?

You cannot execute a trade on Columbus Day itself. If you need to sell urgently, place a limit order on Friday at a price you are willing to accept, and it will execute on Tuesday if the stock reaches that price. For true emergencies, contact your broker on Friday to discuss options.

Do cryptocurrency exchanges close on Columbus Day?

Cryptocurrency exchanges operate 24/7 and do not close on Columbus Day or any other holiday. You can buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies at any time, including October 14, 2024. However, traditional stock and options markets remain closed.

Will my 401(k) contributions still be invested on Columbus Day?

Your contributions will be deducted from your paycheck or bank account on the normal schedule, but the actual purchase of fund shares will happen on Tuesday, October 15 at that day's closing price. The delay does not affect your long-term returns.

Can I place orders after hours on Friday to execute on Tuesday?

You can place after-hours orders on Friday evening, but they will not execute until Tuesday during regular trading hours. After-hours trading has lower volume and wider bid-ask spreads, so limit orders are safer than market orders during that time.