The stock market is closed on Presidents Day

The U.S. stock market does not trade on Presidents Day. All major U.S. exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the NASDAQ, and the S&P 500 — shut down for the day. Presidents Day falls on the third Monday in February each year.

This closure applies to stock trading, options trading, and bond markets. If you have a standing order to buy or sell on Presidents Day, it will not execute that day. Your order will sit until the market reopens on Tuesday morning.

Futures markets and international exchanges operate on their own schedules. Some overseas markets may trade while U.S. markets are closed, but you cannot trade U.S. stocks during the closure.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE, NASDAQ, and all U.S. stock exchanges close on Presidents Day, which occurs on the third Monday of February.
  • Any buy or sell orders you place on Presidents Day will not execute until the market reopens on Tuesday.
  • International stock markets may remain open while U.S. markets are closed, but U.S. stock trading halts completely.
  • Futures markets and after-hours trading platforms operate independently and may have different schedules.

When the market reopens after Presidents Day

The market reopens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, the day after Presidents Day. All pending orders from Monday will process starting at market open, though the price you receive may differ from what you expected when you placed the order.

If significant news breaks while the market is closed — earnings reports, economic data, or geopolitical events — stock prices may gap up or down when trading resumes. Your limit orders (orders to buy or sell at a specific price) may not fill if the stock opens outside your price range.

How to plan trades around the Presidents Day closure

If you want to buy or sell on or around Presidents Day, place your order before the market closes on Friday. You can set a limit order (buy at this price or lower, sell at this price or higher) that will sit until the market reopens Tuesday morning.

If you need to trade during the Monday closure, some brokers offer access to after-hours trading or electronic communication networks (ECNs), though these operate with lower volume and wider bid-ask spreads than regular market hours. Check your broker's platform to see what options are available to you.

Many traders straightforward avoid placing orders around holiday closures to reduce the risk of gaps or unexpected price movement overnight.

Other U.S. market holidays that close all exchanges

Presidents Day is one of nine days per year when U.S. stock exchanges 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 Day, and Christmas Day.

On these days, no regular trading occurs on the NYSE, NASDAQ, or other major U.S. exchanges. Some brokers may offer limited trading through alternative systems, but volume is minimal and spreads are wide.

What happens to dividends and corporate actions on Presidents Day

If a company pays a dividend on Presidents Day, the payment still goes out as scheduled. You do not receive the dividend on a different day because the market is closed. The ex-dividend date (the date by which you must own the stock to receive the dividend) is set in advance and does not shift for market closures.

Similarly, stock splits, mergers, and other corporate actions proceed on their scheduled dates regardless of whether the market is open. Your account will reflect these changes when you log in after the market reopens.

International markets and Presidents Day

Presidents Day is a U.S. holiday only. Stock exchanges in Europe, Asia, and other regions operate on their own holiday calendars and remain open while U.S. markets are closed. The London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and other major exchanges trade normally on Presidents Day.

If you hold international stocks or trade on foreign exchanges, you can still buy and sell those securities on Presidents Day. However, U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs cannot be traded through U.S. brokers during the closure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I place an order on Presidents Day if I use a mobile app?

Yes, you can place an order through your broker's app or website on Presidents Day, but it will not execute until the market reopens on Tuesday. The order sits in your broker's system and processes at market open or at your specified price, whichever comes first.

What if I need to sell stock urgently on Presidents Day?

You cannot sell through regular market hours on Presidents Day. Some brokers offer after-hours trading or access to alternative trading systems, though prices may be significantly different from regular market prices and the volume of buyers is much lower. Contact your broker to see what options they offer.

Do mutual funds and ETFs trade on Presidents Day?

Mutual funds do not trade on Presidents Day — they are priced once per day after market close, and that pricing does not happen on holidays. ETFs that track stock indexes also do not trade on Presidents Day. However, some bond ETFs or international ETFs may trade depending on their underlying holdings and your broker's platform.

Will my broker charge me a fee if my order doesn't execute on Presidents Day?

No. Your broker will not charge a fee because the market is closed. The order straightforward waits until the market reopens. However, if you use a broker that charges monthly subscription fees or per-trade commissions, those fees explore as usual.

How far in advance should I plan for Presidents Day?

If you know you want to trade around Presidents Day, place your order by Friday before the holiday. This gives you time to set limit orders at your desired prices. If you wait until Monday, you will have to wait until Tuesday to trade, which could result in a different price than you expected.