The stock market is open on most Mondays, but not all of them

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ both operate on Mondays during regular business hours — 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time — unless a federal holiday falls on that day. When a Monday is a federal holiday, both exchanges close entirely and no trading happens. The market also closes on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday.

The exchanges publish their holiday calendar each year, so you can see in advance which Mondays will be closed. If you plan to trade or check your positions on a Monday morning, checking that calendar first takes 30 seconds and prevents a wasted trip or a missed order.

Early-morning and after-hours trading do happen on Mondays when the main market is open, but at different times and with different rules than the standard session. Pre-market trading typically runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and after-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., though not all brokers offer both windows and not all stocks trade in them.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ are open for regular trading on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except on federal holidays.
  • Federal holidays that close the market include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
  • The day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday) also close the market, even though they are not federal holidays.
  • Pre-market trading begins at 4:00 a.m. and after-hours trading extends to 8:00 p.m., but availability depends on your broker and the specific stock.

Federal holidays that close the stock market

The NYSE and NASDAQ observe 10 federal holidays each year, plus two additional closures. The federal holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If any of these falls on a Monday, the market closes that day.

In addition to those 10, the exchanges also close on the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) and on Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday. Christmas Eve closures happen only when December 24 is a Monday through Friday; if Christmas Eve lands on a Saturday or Sunday, the market operates normally on the nearest weekday.

The market does not close on Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, or other observances that are not federal holidays. Veterans Day (November 11) is a federal holiday, but the stock market remains open on that day — this is one of the few federal holidays the exchanges do not observe.

How to find the market calendar for the year

The NYSE publishes its holiday calendar on its website under "Market Information" or "Trading Calendar." You can view the full year at once and see which Mondays are affected. The NASDAQ publishes its calendar separately, but the two exchanges close on the same days.

Most brokers also display the market calendar in their trading platforms or on their websites. If you use a broker like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, or Interactive Brokers, you can usually find the calendar by searching "market hours" or "holiday schedule" within their site. Checking your broker's version is often faster than going to the exchange website directly.

If you receive a notification that your order did not go through on a Monday morning, the first thing to check is whether that Monday is a holiday. If it is, your order will sit in the queue until the market reopens the next trading day, or you may need to resubmit it depending on your broker's rules.

Pre-market and after-hours trading on Mondays

When the main market is closed on a Monday holiday, pre-market and after-hours sessions are also closed. But on regular Mondays when the NYSE and NASDAQ are open, both extended-hours sessions operate. Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and after-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Not every stock trades during these windows, and not every broker offers access to them. Large-cap stocks and popular ETFs usually have activity in both sessions, but smaller or less-traded stocks may have little to no volume. Your broker determines whether you can place orders during these times — some require a minimum account balance or specific account type to access extended hours.

Spreads (the difference between the bid and ask price) are typically wider during pre-market and after-hours trading, meaning you may pay more to buy or receive less when you sell. Volume is also lower, so large orders can move prices more than they would during the regular session. These factors make extended-hours trading riskier for most traders.

What happens to your existing positions on a closed Monday

If the market is closed on a Monday, your existing stock and fund positions do not change. The prices you see on your account are the closing prices from the previous Friday. No trading happens, no dividends are paid, and no corporate actions occur on a closed Monday — everything pauses until the market reopens.

If you have a standing order (such as a limit order or stop order) that was supposed to execute on a closed Monday, it will not execute that day. Depending on your broker, the order may automatically roll over to the next trading day, or it may be cancelled. Check your broker's policy on this before the holiday, especially if you have orders in place for a Monday that falls on a holiday.

Dividend payments scheduled for a closed Monday are typically paid on the next trading day instead. If you own a stock that pays a dividend on a Monday holiday, the payment will arrive on Tuesday. The ex-dividend date (the date by which you must own the stock to receive the dividend) is set in advance and does not move, so this affects only the payment timing, not your right to the dividend.

Time zone differences and market hours

The stock market operates on Eastern Time, regardless of where you live. If you are on the West Coast, the market opens at 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time and closes at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. If you are in the Mountain or Central time zones, adjust accordingly. Pre-market trading starts at 1:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is why many West Coast traders use after-hours sessions instead.

Some international exchanges operate on Mondays even when the U.S. market is closed for a federal holiday. If you trade stocks on the London Stock Exchange, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, or other foreign markets, those may be open on a Monday when the NYSE and NASDAQ are closed. The reverse is also true — the U.S. market may be open on a day when foreign exchanges are closed for their own holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?

No. Presidents' Day (the third Monday in February) is a federal holiday, and the NYSE and NASDAQ close on that day. This is one of the most common Mondays when traders expect the market to be open but find it closed.

What if I place an order on a closed Monday?

Most brokers allow you to place orders even when the market is closed, but they will not execute until the market reopens. The order sits in the queue and executes at the next available opportunity during regular trading hours, unless you cancel it first. Some brokers may cancel orders automatically if they are not filled by a certain time.

Does the market close early on any Mondays?

No. The market closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time every Monday it is open. The only days the market closes early are the day before Thanksgiving (at 1:00 p.m.) and Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday (at 1:00 p.m.). Neither of these is a Monday in most years.

Can I trade on a Monday if I am outside the United States?

Yes. You can place orders on the U.S. stock market from anywhere in the world, as long as your broker allows it and you have an account. The market hours remain 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time regardless of your location. You will need to convert that time to your local time zone to know when to trade.

What happens to my mutual fund if the market is closed on a Monday?

Mutual fund prices are calculated once per day after the market closes. If the market is closed on a Monday, the fund's price is not updated that day. If you place an order to buy or sell a mutual fund on a closed Monday, it will execute at the next day's closing price instead.