Yes, the stock market is closed on Veterans Day

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the 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.

This means no stocks trade on the holiday itself. If you have a sell or buy order set to execute on Veterans Day, it will not go through until the market reopens the next trading day. Any orders you place while the market is closed will sit in your brokerage account until trading resumes.

The closure applies to all U.S. stock exchanges and most bond markets. Futures markets and cryptocurrency exchanges operate on their own schedules and may remain open, but traditional stock trading halts completely.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close entirely on November 11 (or the observed date if it falls on a weekend), and no stock trades execute on that day.
  • Sell and buy orders placed before the market closes will wait until the next trading day to execute, which may affect the price you receive.
  • The market closure affects all U.S. stock exchanges equally — there is no workaround to trade stocks on Veterans Day itself.
  • Futures and cryptocurrency markets may remain open on Veterans Day, but these are separate from the stock market and carry different risks.

What happens to orders you place before the market closes

If you place a market order (an order to buy or sell at the current price) before the market closes on the day before Veterans Day, your broker will hold that order and execute it when the market reopens. The price you receive may be different from what you saw before the holiday, because stock prices can shift based on news or events that occur while the market is closed.

Limit orders — orders to buy at a specific price or below, or sell at a specific price or above — also wait until the market reopens. If the stock never reaches your limit price after the market opens, your order may not execute at all. This is why traders sometimes cancel and resubmit orders after a market closure.

If you place an order while the market is closed (for example, late evening on November 10 or early morning on November 11), most brokerages will queue it to execute at the market open the next day. Some brokerages offer after-hours trading, but this is separate from the regular market and has lower volume and wider bid-ask spreads, meaning you may get a worse price.

How to plan ahead if you need to trade around Veterans Day

If you know you want to buy or sell a stock near Veterans Day, place your order before the market closes on the last trading day before the holiday. This gives you the most control over the price and timing. Waiting until after the holiday reopens means you are trading on whatever price the market sets at the open, which could be significantly different from the previous close.

Check your brokerage's calendar to confirm the exact closure date. Most brokerages publish their holiday schedule online, and many send email reminders before major holidays. If November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, confirm which weekday your broker observes the holiday — this can vary slightly between firms, though the NYSE and NASDAQ follow the same schedule.

If you hold a position (own a stock) and are worried about price movement over the Veterans Day weekend, you have the option to sell before the market closes on the last trading day. This locks in your price but means you miss any gains if the stock rises when the market reopens. This is a personal decision based on your risk tolerance and outlook.

Other U.S. market holidays that close the stock exchange

Veterans Day is one of nine days each year when the NYSE and NASDAQ close completely. The full list includes New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Some of these holidays fall on weekends, in which case the market observes them on the nearest weekday. For example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday instead. The NYSE publishes its full holiday calendar each year on its website, and most brokerages mirror this schedule.

On days when the market closes early (such as the day after Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas), regular trading ends at 1 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the normal 4 p.m. close. This is different from a full closure and still allows you to trade, but with a shorter window.

What to know about after-hours and pre-market trading

Even though the regular stock market is closed on Veterans Day, some brokerages offer pre-market trading (before 9:30 a.m. Eastern) and after-hours trading (after 4 p.m. Eastern) on other days. However, these sessions do not operate on market holidays. You cannot trade stocks in pre-market or after-hours sessions on Veterans Day itself.

Pre-market and after-hours trading have much lower volume than regular market hours, which means fewer buyers and sellers. This can result in wider spreads between the bid price (what buyers offer) and the ask price (what sellers want), and your order may take longer to execute or may not execute at all. For this reason, most individual traders avoid these sessions unless they have a specific reason to trade outside regular hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks on Veterans Day if I use a different broker?

No. All U.S. stock exchanges close on Veterans Day, regardless of which brokerage you use. The closure is set by the NYSE and NASDAQ, not by individual brokers. Every brokerage that offers stock trading must follow this schedule.

What if I need to sell a stock urgently on Veterans Day?

You cannot sell during regular market hours on Veterans Day. If you absolutely need to exit a position, some brokerages offer after-hours trading on the day before or the day after the holiday, though prices may be worse. Your best option is to sell before the market closes on the last trading day before Veterans Day.

Do bonds and mutual funds trade on Veterans Day?

Bond markets close on Veterans Day, just like stocks. Mutual funds do not trade during the day — they execute once per day at the close of the market. On Veterans Day, mutual fund trades execute at the next market close, which is the day after the holiday.

Will my dividend payment be delayed if it is due on Veterans Day?

No. Dividend payments are processed by the company's transfer agent and are not affected by stock market closures. If a dividend is scheduled to pay on Veterans Day, you will receive it on that date. The market closure does not change dividend payment dates.

Can I place an order on Veterans Day to execute the next day?

Yes. You can place orders anytime, including on Veterans Day, and most brokerages will queue them to execute when the market opens the next trading day. However, the price you receive may differ from what you expected, since stock prices can change overnight based on news or market conditions.