The stock market is closed on Presidents Day
The U.S. stock market does not trade on Presidents Day. All major exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Nasdaq, and the S&P 500 — shut down for the holiday. This means you cannot buy or sell stocks, and no market data updates during trading hours that day.
Presidents Day falls on the third Monday in February each year. In 2024, that was February 19. In 2025, it will be February 17. The closure applies to the entire market, not just certain stocks or sectors.
If you place an order to buy or sell stock on Presidents Day through your brokerage app or website, the order will not execute that day. Instead, it will sit in a queue and process the next trading day — which is Tuesday — at the market open or according to the order type you selected.
Key Takeaways
- The NYSE, Nasdaq, and all U.S. stock exchanges close completely on Presidents Day, the third Monday in February.
- Buy and sell orders placed on Presidents Day will not execute until the next trading day.
- Bond markets, forex markets, and cryptocurrency exchanges may have different schedules and may trade on Presidents Day.
- You can still check your account balance and view your holdings on Presidents Day, but you cannot trade.
What happens to orders you place on Presidents Day
When you submit a buy or sell order on a market holiday, your brokerage receives it but cannot route it to the exchange. The order enters a queue and waits for the market to reopen. On the next trading day — Tuesday morning — your order processes according to its type.
If you placed a market order (sell at any price, buy at any price), it will execute at the opening price or shortly after, depending on volume and demand. If you placed a limit order (buy only at a certain price or lower, sell only at a certain price or higher), it will remain active and execute only if the stock hits your target price during regular trading hours.
This delay can matter if the stock moves sharply over the holiday weekend or if news breaks. You have no control over the price you receive once the market opens. For this reason, many traders avoid placing orders close to market holidays.
Other markets that may be open on Presidents Day
The U.S. stock market closes, but other financial markets operate on different schedules. Bond markets, including Treasury bonds, also close on Presidents Day. However, forex markets (currency trading) and cryptocurrency exchanges typically remain open around the clock, since they are not tied to U.S. stock exchange hours.
If you trade international stocks on foreign exchanges, those markets may be open. For example, the London Stock Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange operate on their own holiday calendars and may be trading while the U.S. market is closed. Check your brokerage to see whether international trading is available on Presidents Day.
How to plan ahead for Presidents Day
If you know you want to trade around Presidents Day, place your orders before the market closes on Friday. This gives you certainty about the price and timing. You can also set up standing orders or alerts that trigger automatically when certain conditions are met, though these still cannot execute until the market reopens.
Check your brokerage's holiday calendar at the start of each year. Most brokerages publish a full list of market closures, including Presidents Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and others. Some brokerages send email reminders before major holidays.
If you are waiting for news or earnings reports that might drop over the Presidents Day weekend, remember that the market will not react until Tuesday. This can create a gap between the news and the price movement, which is one reason traders sometimes place orders in advance or wait to see how the market opens.
Presidents Day market closure history
Presidents Day became a federal holiday in 1879, originally called Decoration Day. It was renamed Presidents Day in the 1970s to honor both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The stock market has observed this holiday for decades as part of its standard closure calendar.
The market's holiday schedule is set by the exchanges themselves, not by federal law. The NYSE and Nasdaq choose to close on Presidents Day along with other major U.S. holidays. This schedule has remained consistent, though the exchanges can change it if circumstances warrant.
What you can still do on Presidents Day
Even though you cannot trade, your brokerage account remains accessible. You can log in, view your holdings, check your account balance, and review your transaction history. You can also read research, watch market news, and plan your trades for Tuesday.
Many brokerages offer educational content and market analysis on holidays. Some publish weekend market reports that summarize Friday's close and preview what might happen when the market reopens. This is a good time to review your portfolio and decide whether any changes make sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade stocks on Presidents Day if I use a different country's exchange?
Yes, if your brokerage offers access to international exchanges. The London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and other foreign markets operate on their own holiday calendars. Presidents Day is a U.S. holiday, so foreign exchanges may be open. Check with your brokerage to see whether international trading is available and what hours explore.
What if I need to sell stock urgently on Presidents Day?
You cannot sell during market hours on Presidents Day because the exchange is closed. You can place an order that will execute when the market reopens on Tuesday, but you have no control over the price. If you need liquidity when ready, some brokerages offer after-hours trading or access to alternative markets, though these typically have wider spreads and lower volume.
Do mutual funds and ETFs trade on Presidents Day?
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) do not trade on Presidents Day. Mutual fund prices are set once per day after the market closes, and on holidays there is no trading at all. ETFs trade like stocks, so they also stop trading when the NYSE closes. Both will resume normal trading on Tuesday.
Will my dividends or interest payments be delayed if they are due on Presidents Day?
No. Dividend and interest payment dates are scheduled around market holidays. If a payment date falls on Presidents Day, the company or fund will pay on the last trading day before the holiday, which is Friday. Your account will reflect the payment by end of business Friday.
Can I place a limit order on Friday that executes on Presidents Day?
No. Limit orders only execute during regular market hours when the exchange is open. If you place a limit order on Friday, it will remain active and wait for the market to reopen on Tuesday. It will not execute on Presidents Day, even if the stock price moves to your target level.