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 November 11 is a Saturday, or the Monday after if it is a Sunday. No stocks trade, no options trade, and no bonds trade on the exchange on that day.

This means you cannot place orders to buy or sell stocks during market hours on Veterans Day. If you try to submit an order through your brokerage, it will either be rejected or held until the market reopens the next trading day. Any orders you place after market close on the day before Veterans Day will execute when the market opens again, not during the holiday itself.

The closure applies to all U.S. stock exchanges and most major financial markets. Futures markets, forex markets, and some cryptocurrency exchanges may operate on a different schedule, so if you trade those assets, check with your broker about their specific holiday hours.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close completely on Veterans Day (November 11), and no stock trading occurs that day.
  • When Veterans Day falls on a weekend, the exchanges observe it on the nearest weekday instead.
  • Orders placed after market close the day before Veterans Day will not execute until the market reopens the following day.
  • Other asset classes like futures and forex may have different holiday schedules, so confirm with your broker if you trade those markets.
  • The bond market and Treasury market also close on Veterans Day.

When the market reopens after Veterans Day

The stock market reopens for regular trading the next business day after Veterans Day closes. If Veterans Day falls on a weekday, the market reopens the following day. If Veterans Day is observed on a Friday (because November 11 was a Saturday), the market reopens on Monday. If Veterans Day is observed on a Monday (because November 11 was a Sunday), the market reopens on Tuesday.

Opening time is 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the same as any other trading day. You can place orders starting at that time. If you have standing orders or automatic trades set up, they will resume on the reopening day according to your settings.

Other federal holidays when the stock market closes

Veterans Day is one of eleven federal holidays when U.S. stock exchanges close. The complete list includes 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 NYSE and NASDAQ observe all of these closures. Some brokerages may have reduced hours or limited services on certain holidays, even if the exchange itself is closed, so check your broker's holiday schedule if you plan to trade around a holiday.

How to plan trades around Veterans Day

If you know you want to trade on or around Veterans Day, place your orders before the market closes on the day before the holiday. Most brokerages allow you to set up orders in advance that will execute when the market reopens. You can also set limit orders (orders that execute only at a specific price) or stop orders (orders that trigger when a stock hits a certain price) before the holiday, and they will remain active when trading resumes.

Be aware that stock prices can move significantly between market close on the day before a holiday and market open on the day after, especially if news breaks during the closure. Your orders may execute at a different price than you expected, or they may not execute at all if the stock never reaches your target price.

If you receive dividend payments or other corporate actions scheduled for Veterans Day, they typically process on that date even though the market is closed. The cash or shares will appear in your account, but you cannot trade until the market reopens.

International markets and Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a U.S. federal holiday, so it affects only U.S. exchanges. International stock exchanges in Europe, Asia, and other regions operate on their own holiday schedules and remain open when the NYSE and NASDAQ close. If you trade on foreign exchanges, you can continue trading on Veterans Day U.S. time, though you may face higher spreads or lower liquidity if fewer traders are active.

If you hold American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) — shares of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges — those ADRs will not trade on Veterans Day because they are listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ. The underlying foreign shares may trade on their home exchange, but the U.S. version will be frozen until the market reopens.

What happens to after-hours trading on Veterans Day

After-hours trading (trading that occurs after the regular 4 p.m. Eastern close) does not occur on Veterans Day. The extended trading session is closed along with the regular market. This applies to both the evening session (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern) and the pre-market session the next morning (4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern).

On the day after Veterans Day, pre-market trading resumes at 4 a.m. Eastern, and regular trading begins at 9:30 a.m. Eastern as usual. After-hours trading resumes at 4 p.m. Eastern after the regular session closes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. All brokerages — whether you use a mobile app, website, or phone line — are blocked from executing stock trades on Veterans Day because the exchanges themselves are closed. Your app may allow you to place orders, but they will not execute until the market reopens the next day.

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

You cannot sell during market hours on Veterans Day. If you need cash urgently, contact your broker to see if they offer margin loans or other short-term borrowing options. Some brokerages also allow you to sell other holdings that are not affected by the holiday, though this depends on your account type and broker policies.

Do dividends still pay out on Veterans Day?

Yes. If a company has scheduled a dividend payment for Veterans Day, the cash or shares will be deposited into your account on that date even though the market is closed. You straightforward cannot trade until the market reopens the next day.

Will my stop-loss order protect me if the market gaps down after Veterans Day?

No. A stop-loss order will not execute until the market reopens and the stock price reaches your stop level. If the stock opens significantly lower on the day after Veterans Day, your stop-loss order will execute at that lower price, not at the price you set. This is called a gap down, and it is a risk of holding stocks over any market closure.

Is the bond market also closed on Veterans Day?

Yes. The bond market, Treasury market, and most fixed-income markets close on Veterans Day along with the stock exchanges. You cannot trade bonds, Treasury bills, or other debt securities on that day.