The stock market is closed on Good Friday

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq close on Good Friday every year. This means you cannot buy or sell stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or most other securities on that day. Good Friday falls on a different date each year because it is tied to the lunar calendar — in 2024 it was March 29, in 2025 it will be April 18.

The closure affects all U.S. stock markets and most brokerages. If you have a brokerage account with firms like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E-Trade, or others, you will not be able to place trades on Good Friday during market hours. Some brokerages may allow you to place orders after hours or the evening before, but those orders will not execute until the market reopens on Monday.

Bond markets and futures markets also close on Good Friday. The only trading that may continue is in foreign markets — if you hold international stocks or funds, those exchanges may still be open depending on the country.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and Nasdaq close completely on Good Friday, so you cannot buy or sell stocks that day.
  • Good Friday is a different date each year, ranging from late March to late April.
  • Orders placed before the market closes on Thursday will not execute until Monday morning.
  • If you need to trade on a holiday, some brokerages offer after-hours trading the day before, though prices may differ from regular market hours.
  • International stock exchanges may remain open on Good Friday depending on the country, so foreign market investments may still trade.

When the market reopens after Good Friday

The stock market reopens on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. This is the regular opening time for the NYSE and Nasdaq. Trading volume is often higher on the Monday after a holiday because investors who wanted to trade on Friday now place their orders all at once.

Prices may have moved over the weekend based on news or events that occurred while markets were closed. If you placed an order to buy or sell at a specific price on Thursday, that order will sit in the system until Monday morning. If the stock price has moved past your order price by Monday, your order may not execute at all, or it may execute at a different price than you expected.

Other U.S. market holidays you should know about

Good Friday is one of eleven days per year when U.S. stock markets close. The complete list includes New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Markets also close early (at 1 p.m. Eastern Time) on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday.

The market does not close on Easter Sunday itself — that is not a trading day anyway since markets are closed on weekends. Good Friday is the only Easter-related closure. Some investors confuse this because Easter Monday is a holiday in other countries, but U.S. markets are open on Easter Monday.

If a holiday falls on a weekend, the market does not move the closure to a weekday. For example, if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the market is open on Friday and Monday. The only exception is when the market closes early on the day before a holiday that falls on a weekend.

How to plan ahead if you need to trade around Good Friday

If you know you will need to buy or sell stocks before or after Good Friday, place your orders on Thursday before the market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. This gives you the most control over the price you pay or receive. Avoid waiting until the last minute on Thursday afternoon, when trading volume is high and prices can move quickly.

If you use a brokerage that offers after-hours trading, you may be able to place orders Thursday evening after 4 p.m. or Friday morning before the market opens. However, after-hours trading has lower volume, wider price spreads (the difference between the bid and ask price), and higher risk of your order not executing at all. Use after-hours trading only if you have a specific reason and understand the risks.

For investors who hold stocks long-term and do not trade frequently, Good Friday closures have little impact. Your shares remain in your account, and you can sell them on Monday if you choose. The closure only matters if you are trying to enter or exit a position on that specific day.

What happens to your existing positions on Good Friday

If you own stocks or funds, nothing happens to them on Good Friday. Your shares do not disappear, and you do not lose money just because the market is closed. The value of your holdings is straightforward not updated during the day because there are no trades happening. When the market reopens on Monday, your account will show the new value based on Monday's opening prices.

Dividend payments and stock splits still occur on their scheduled dates even if that date falls on a holiday. If a company pays a dividend on Good Friday, you will receive it even though you cannot trade that day. The same is true for corporate actions like mergers or stock splits.

International investors and Good Friday trading

If you own stocks listed on foreign exchanges, those markets may be open on Good Friday. The London Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, and most European exchanges are closed on Good Friday because it is a Christian holiday in those countries. However, markets in Asia, the Middle East, and other regions may be open and trading normally.

If you hold American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) — which are U.S.-listed shares that represent foreign stocks — you cannot trade them on Good Friday because they trade on U.S. exchanges. You would need to wait until Monday to buy or sell ADRs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I place a trade on Good Friday if I use a mobile app?

No. All major brokerages, whether you use their website, mobile app, or phone line, will not accept stock trades on Good Friday during market hours. The closure is at the exchange level, not the brokerage level. Some apps may allow you to place orders after hours on Thursday evening, but those orders will not execute until Monday.

What if I forgot to sell a stock before Good Friday and need the money?

You will have to wait until Monday to sell. There is no way to trade stocks on Good Friday through any U.S. brokerage. If you need cash urgently, you could sell other holdings that you own, but you cannot access that particular stock until the market reopens.

Do mutual funds trade on Good Friday?

Mutual funds that hold U.S. stocks do not trade on Good Friday. If you try to buy or sell a mutual fund on that day, your order will be processed at the closing price on Thursday and executed on Monday. Money market funds and bond funds follow the same rule.

Will my limit order from Thursday execute on Monday if the price is right?

Yes, if you placed a limit order on Thursday to buy at $50 or sell at $50, and the stock opens Monday at or better than that price, your order will execute. However, if the stock gaps past your price (opens higher or lower), your order may not fill at all, or it may fill at a worse price than you expected.

Is the bond market also closed on Good Friday?

Yes. The bond market, Treasury market, and futures markets all close on Good Friday. If you trade bonds or bond funds, you cannot place trades that day. The closure affects all fixed-income securities traded in the U.S.