The stock market is closed on Veterans Day

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ both close on Veterans Day, which falls on November 11 each year. When November 11 lands on a weekend, the exchanges observe the holiday on the nearest weekday — usually the Friday before if it falls on a Saturday, or the Monday after if it falls on a Sunday. No stock trading happens on these days, and bond markets close as well.

This matters because you cannot buy or sell stocks on Veterans Day, even if you place an order online before the market closes. Any order you submit will sit in your brokerage account until the market reopens the next trading day. If you are planning to trade around this holiday, you need to know the exact date the exchange will be closed in your calendar year.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close on November 11 (Veterans Day) each year, or on the nearest weekday if November 11 falls on a weekend.
  • You cannot trade stocks, bonds, or most other securities on Veterans Day, and any orders you place will execute the next trading day.
  • The stock market also closes on ten other federal holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day.
  • Futures markets and some cryptocurrency exchanges may have different hours on Veterans Day, so check with your broker if you trade those instruments.

When Veterans Day falls on a weekend

If Veterans Day lands on a Saturday, the NYSE and NASDAQ observe the holiday on Friday, November 10. If it lands on a Sunday, they observe it on Monday, November 12. This rule keeps the exchanges aligned with the federal holiday schedule that most U.S. businesses follow.

Check your brokerage's holiday calendar at the start of each year to confirm the exact date, because the observed date can shift. Your broker's website will list all market closures for that year, and most send email reminders before major holidays.

Other federal holidays when the stock market closes

The stock market closes on eleven federal holidays total. Besides Veterans Day, these include New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).

The day after Thanksgiving is not an official market closure, but many traders are away and volume is light. Some brokerages close early on the day before Christmas if Christmas falls on a weekday. Again, your broker's calendar will show the exact hours for each day.

What happens to orders placed on Veterans Day

If you place a stock order through your brokerage on Veterans Day, it will not execute that day. Instead, it will remain pending in your account until the market reopens. A market order (buy or sell at the current price) will execute at the opening price on the next trading day, which may be higher or lower than the price you saw on Veterans Day.

A limit order (buy at a price you set or lower, sell at a price you set or higher) will remain active and may execute on the next trading day if the stock hits your target price. If you want to cancel an order before the market reopens, you can usually do so through your brokerage account, but confirm this with your broker first.

How futures and cryptocurrency trading differ

Stock index futures (contracts that track the S&P 500, Dow Jones, or NASDAQ) trade on a different schedule than the stock market itself. The CME Globex platform, which handles most U.S. equity futures, closes for only a few hours on Veterans Day rather than the full day. Cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken operate 24/7 and do not close for any U.S. holiday.

If you trade futures or crypto, check your platform's holiday hours before Veterans Day. Some brokerages that offer both stock and futures trading will show different closure times for each product.

Planning around Veterans Day market closures

If you are holding a stock and expect news or earnings to drop on or just after Veterans Day, remember that you cannot sell until the market reopens. This can work in your favor or against it depending on the news. Some traders place orders the day before the holiday to lock in a price, while others wait to see how the market reacts when it reopens.

If you are waiting for a dividend payment or a corporate action (like a stock split), check whether the ex-dividend date or effective date falls on or near Veterans Day. Companies usually adjust these dates to avoid holidays, but it is worth confirming with your broker or the company's investor relations page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks on Veterans Day if I use a brokerage app?

No. All major brokerages — including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E-Trade, and Robinhood — are closed on Veterans Day because the NYSE and NASDAQ themselves are closed. Your app will not let you place a market order, though you may be able to place a limit order that will sit pending until the next trading day.

What if I need to sell a stock on Veterans Day for an emergency?

You cannot sell on Veterans Day itself, but you can sell the next trading day when the market reopens. If you need cash urgently, contact your broker to see if they offer margin or a cash advance against your portfolio, though these options come with fees and interest.

Do bond markets close on Veterans Day too?

Yes. The bond market, including Treasury bonds and corporate bonds, closes on Veterans Day along with the stock market. Municipal bonds also stop trading. Most bond trading resumes the next business day.

Is the stock market open the day after Veterans Day?

Yes, unless Veterans Day falls on a Friday (in which case the next trading day is Monday). The market reopens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next business day and operates on its normal schedule.

Do I need to do anything before Veterans Day if I hold stocks?

No action is required. Your stocks remain in your account during the market closure. If you want to sell before the holiday, place your order the day before. If you want to buy, you can place a limit order that will execute when the market reopens if your price is met.