The stock market is open for regular trading on most Mondays

The stock market — meaning the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — operates on Monday through Friday during standard market hours, which run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. On a typical Monday, you can buy and sell stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other securities just as you would on any other weekday.

The exception is when Monday falls on a federal holiday that the market observes. The NYSE and NASDAQ close entirely on these days, and no trading happens. The market also closes on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve if that day falls on a weekday.

If you're planning to trade on a Monday, check whether that specific Monday is a market holiday. The easiest way is to look at the NYSE holiday calendar on the exchange's website or ask your brokerage whether the market will be open.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days.
  • The market closes on federal holidays including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, even if those days fall on a Monday.
  • You can check the NYSE holiday calendar or contact your brokerage to confirm whether a specific Monday is a trading day.
  • Orders placed after 4:00 p.m. on any day, including Monday, are held until the market opens the next trading day.

Federal holidays when the market closes on Monday

The NYSE observes ten federal holidays each year. If any of these fall on a Monday, the market will be closed that day. The holidays are: New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday (varies), 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 market also closes on the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday following the fourth Thursday in November) and on Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday. These closures are set each year, so a Monday holiday does not shift to another day — if Independence Day is a Monday, the market closes that Monday.

What happens if you try to trade on a closed Monday

If you place an order through your brokerage on a Monday when the market is closed, the order will not execute that day. Instead, it sits in your account as a pending order. Most brokerages will automatically submit it when the market opens on the next trading day, unless you cancel it first.

Some brokerages offer after-hours trading, which allows limited trading from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days. However, after-hours trading is not available on market holidays, and the volume of trades is much lower than during regular hours, which can mean wider price swings and harder-to-fill orders.

Pre-market trading on Monday mornings

Even though the official market open is 9:30 a.m., some brokerages allow pre-market trading starting as early as 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This means you can place orders before the regular session begins on Monday mornings. Pre-market trading is less liquid than regular trading — fewer buyers and sellers are active — so prices can move more sharply and orders may take longer to fill or may not fill at all.

Not all brokerages offer pre-market trading, and not all stocks can be traded during these hours. Check with your brokerage to see whether pre-market trading is available on your account and which securities you can trade.

How to confirm the market is open on a specific Monday

The most reliable way to check is to visit the NYSE website and look for their official holiday calendar. This calendar lists every day the market will be closed for the current and upcoming years. You can also call your brokerage's customer service line — they can tell you when ready whether trading will be available on the Monday you're asking about.

Many financial news websites and stock market apps also display a banner or notification on market holidays, so if you check your usual source for market information on a Monday morning and see a notice that the market is closed, that's your confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks on Monday if it's a federal holiday?

No. If Monday is a federal holiday that the NYSE observes — such as New Year's Day, Independence Day, or Thanksgiving — the market will be completely closed and no trading will happen. Your order will wait until the next trading day.

What time does the stock market open on Monday?

Regular trading opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday through Friday. Some brokerages offer pre-market trading as early as 4:00 a.m., but this is not official market trading and has lower volume and wider price swings.

If I place an order on Monday after 4 p.m., when will it go through?

Your order will be held and submitted when the market opens on the next trading day, which is usually Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. If Tuesday is also a holiday, it will wait until the following trading day.

Does the stock market close early on any Mondays?

No. The market closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time every regular trading day, including Monday. It does not close early on Mondays, though it does close early (at 1:00 p.m.) on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve if those days fall on a weekday.