The stock market is open on most Mondays, but not all of them

The stock market opens on Monday unless that Monday is a federal holiday. The major U.S. exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — follow the same holiday schedule. When a Monday falls on a federal holiday, the market closes for the entire day and no trading happens.

The exchanges publish their holiday calendar each year so you can plan ahead. If you're unsure whether a specific Monday is a trading day, you can check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly — they list every closure date.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is open on regular Mondays during normal trading hours, which run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • The market closes on Mondays that fall on federal holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and Memorial Day.
  • The NYSE and NASDAQ follow the same holiday schedule, so all major U.S. stock exchanges close on the same days.
  • You can check the official exchange websites or your brokerage's calendar to confirm whether a specific Monday has trading.

Which Mondays the market is closed

Several Mondays throughout the year fall on federal holidays when the stock market does not trade. The most common ones are Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), and Labor Day (first Monday in September).

The market also closes on Independence Day (July 4th), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), Christmas Day (December 25th), and New Year's Day (January 1st). When these holidays fall on a Monday, trading stops for that day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the market may close on the nearest weekday instead — for example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday.

Regular Monday trading hours

On Mondays when the market is open, trading runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This is the standard trading window for the regular market session. Before the official open, there is a pre-market session that starts at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and after the close, there is an after-hours session that runs until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Pre-market and after-hours trading involve lower trading volume and wider bid-ask spreads, meaning the difference between buy and sell prices can be larger. Most individual investors trade during the regular session when volume is highest and prices are most stable.

How to check if Monday is a trading day

The easiest way to confirm whether a specific Monday has trading is to visit the NYSE or NASDAQ websites. Both publish their annual holiday calendars in advance. Your brokerage account may also display a market calendar showing which days are open and closed.

If you use a financial news site like Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, or CNBC, they typically note when the market is closed and often explain why. Many brokerages send email reminders before major holiday closures, so if you have alerts turned on, you may receive a notification automatically.

What happens if you try to trade on a closed Monday

If you attempt to place a trade on a Monday when the market is closed, your order will not execute during market hours. Depending on your brokerage, the order may be held and executed when the market reopens on Tuesday, or it may be rejected outright and you'll need to resubmit it.

Some brokerages allow you to place orders during pre-market or after-hours sessions, but these are not the same as regular trading. Prices can move significantly between the close on Friday and the open on Monday, especially if news breaks over the weekend. If you're planning to trade early in the week, check your brokerage's rules about how orders are handled when the market is closed.

Early closures and half-days

In addition to full closures, the stock market sometimes closes early on certain days. The day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) is a half-day, with the market closing at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve (December 24th) is also a half-day when it falls on a weekday.

Mondays are rarely half-days because the holidays that trigger early closures typically fall on other days of the week. However, it's worth checking the exchange calendar if you're planning to trade on a Monday near a major holiday, just to be certain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day Monday?

No. Presidents' Day falls on the third Monday in February, and the stock market is closed on this day. All U.S. stock exchanges shut down for the holiday, so no trading occurs.

Can I trade stocks on a Monday if the market is closed?

You cannot trade during regular market hours on a closed Monday. Some brokerages allow pre-market or after-hours trading, but these sessions have lower volume and wider price spreads. Most orders placed on a closed day are held until the market reopens.

What time does the stock market open on Monday?

The regular trading session opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Mondays when the market is open. Pre-market trading begins at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time if your brokerage supports it.

Do all stock exchanges close on the same Mondays?

Yes. The NYSE, NASDAQ, and all other major U.S. stock exchanges follow the same federal holiday schedule. When one closes, they all close on the same day.

Where can I find the complete list of market closures?

The NYSE and NASDAQ both publish their annual holiday calendars on their official websites. Your brokerage may also display this calendar in your account dashboard or in their help section.