Yes, the stock market closes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The stock market is closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed on the third Monday in January. This means the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the NASDAQ, and the bond market all shut down for the day. You cannot trade stocks, and market data does not update during trading hours.

The closure affects all U.S. stock exchanges and most financial markets. If you have a pending trade order set to execute on MLK Day, it will not go through until the market reopens the next trading day. Any news or events that happen on the holiday will be reflected in prices when trading resumes on Tuesday morning.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market closes completely on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the third Monday in January each year.
  • All U.S. stock exchanges, including the NYSE and NASDAQ, are closed, and no trading occurs during this time.
  • Pending trade orders will not execute on MLK Day and will carry over to the next trading day.
  • You can still check your account balance and view holdings on the market's website, but you cannot buy or sell shares.
  • International stock markets may remain open on MLK Day since it is a U.S. holiday only.

When the market closes and reopens

The stock market closes at the end of trading on Friday before MLK Day weekend and reopens on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The exact date shifts each year because MLK Day is always the third Monday in January. In 2024, that was January 15. In 2025, it falls on January 20.

If you need to know the exact date for planning purposes, check your brokerage's holiday calendar or the NYSE's official holiday schedule. Most brokerages publish their holiday hours several months in advance so you can plan around closures.

What happens to pending orders on MLK Day

Any buy or sell order you place before the market closes on Friday will remain pending until Tuesday morning. If you set a limit order (an order to buy or sell at a specific price), it stays active and may execute on Tuesday if the stock hits that price. If you set a market order (an order to buy or sell at the current price), it will execute at the market price when trading resumes, which may be different from Friday's closing price.

If you want to cancel an order before the holiday, you must do so before the market closes on Friday. Once the market closes, you cannot modify or cancel orders until Tuesday morning when trading resumes.

How to check your account during the closure

You can log into your brokerage account on MLK Day and view your holdings, account balance, and transaction history. However, the prices shown will be from Friday's close, not real-time prices. You will not see any updates to stock prices or market data until the market reopens on Tuesday.

If you use a mobile app or website, the interface may show a banner or message indicating the market is closed. Some brokerages display a countdown to market open or remind you that orders placed during the closure will execute when trading resumes.

International markets and after-hours trading

Stock markets in other countries remain open on MLK Day because it is a U.S. holiday only. If you trade on international exchanges or hold stocks listed on foreign markets, those may continue trading. However, most U.S. brokerages do not offer after-hours trading on U.S. stocks during market holidays, so you will not be able to trade American stocks even if you want to.

Some brokerages offer limited after-hours trading on regular trading days (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time), but this service is not available during official market holidays. Check your brokerage's policies to confirm what trading windows are available to you.

Other U.S. market holidays to know

The stock market closes on nine federal holidays each year. Besides MLK Day, the market is closed on New Year's Day, Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday, Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

On some holidays, the market opens for a half day and closes at 1 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the regular 4 p.m. close. This happens on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday). Your brokerage will notify you of any half-day closures in advance.

Planning your trades around market closures

If you are planning to buy or sell stocks around MLK Day, place your orders before Friday's market close. If you wait until Monday, you will not be able to trade until Tuesday morning. Keep in mind that stock prices can move significantly over a three-day weekend if major news breaks, so the price you see on Friday may not be the price you get on Tuesday.

If you trade frequently, mark all market holidays on your calendar at the start of the year. This prevents you from being caught off guard when you try to place an order and discover the market is closed. Most financial websites and apps have a built-in holiday calendar you can reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I place a trade order on MLK Day even though the market is closed?

Yes, you can place an order through your brokerage's website or app on MLK Day, but it will not execute until the market reopens on Tuesday morning. The order will sit in a pending state until then. If you change your mind, you can cancel it before Tuesday's open.

Will my stock prices update on MLK Day?

No. Stock prices are frozen at Friday's closing prices until the market reopens on Tuesday. Any news or events that happen over the weekend or on Monday will not be reflected in prices until trading resumes. This is why gaps between Friday's close and Tuesday's open can sometimes be large.

What if I need to sell stocks urgently on MLK Day?

You cannot sell stocks on MLK Day through regular trading. If you hold stocks on an international exchange or have access to after-hours trading through a special arrangement, you may have limited options, but most U.S. brokerages do not offer this during market holidays. Plan ahead if you know you may need to trade around a holiday.

Do bonds and mutual funds trade on MLK Day?

The bond market is also closed on MLK Day, so you cannot trade bonds. Mutual funds do not trade during market hours anyway — they settle once per day after the market closes. If you place a mutual fund order on MLK Day, it will process at Tuesday's closing price.

How do I know all the dates the market will be closed this year?

The NYSE publishes its official holiday calendar on its website each year. Your brokerage also lists all market holidays in their help section or trading calendar. You can also set calendar reminders for the nine federal holidays when the market closes.