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 Veterans Day lands on a weekend, the markets observe the holiday on the nearest weekday — typically the Friday before if November 11 falls on a Saturday, or the Monday after if it falls on a Sunday.

No stock trading happens on these days. If you have a trade order pending, it will not execute until the market reopens the following business day. Bond markets, options exchanges, and futures markets also close on Veterans Day, so the entire U.S. financial market shuts down for the holiday.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close completely on Veterans Day (November 11), with no stock trading possible that day.
  • When November 11 falls on a weekend, markets observe the holiday on the nearest weekday instead.
  • Any pending trade orders will wait until the market reopens the next business day to execute.
  • Bond markets, options exchanges, and futures markets also close on Veterans Day alongside stock exchanges.
  • You can still place orders after hours or before the market opens, but they will not fill until trading resumes.

What happens to your pending orders on Veterans Day

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, that order will sit in the queue until the market reopens. The order does not disappear — it straightforward waits. When the market opens the next day, your order enters the normal trading flow along with all the orders that accumulated overnight.

Limit orders (orders to buy or sell only at a specific price you set) also remain active. If the stock price hits your limit during the closure, the order still will not execute because no trading is happening. Once the market reopens, your limit order resumes working as normal.

If you want to avoid this delay, you can cancel any pending orders before the market closes on the day before Veterans Day. Most brokers let you cancel orders through their website or mobile app at any time while the market is open.

How to plan your trades around Veterans Day

Check your broker's holiday calendar at the start of each year or before you place large trades. Most brokers publish their holiday schedule on their website, and many send email reminders before major market closures. This helps you avoid placing orders you expect to fill the next day only to discover the market is closed.

If you trade options or futures, remember that these markets also close on Veterans Day. You cannot roll over expiring contracts or open new positions on that day. Plan any contract adjustments for the business day before the holiday.

After-hours trading is not available on Veterans Day either. Some brokers offer extended-hours trading (before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. on normal trading days), but these sessions do not operate on market holidays. You will have to wait until the market reopens the next day to trade.

Which other days the stock market closes

Veterans Day is one of nine days each year when U.S. stock markets close completely. The full list includes New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday (varies by year), 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).

When any of these holidays fall on a weekend, the market observes the holiday on the nearest weekday. The NASDAQ and NYSE follow the same holiday schedule, so both exchanges close on the same days.

Early closures on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve

Two days each year have partial closures rather than full closures. The day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday) see the market close at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the normal 4:00 p.m. close. This gives traders a shorter window to execute trades, but the market does operate those days.

If you plan to trade on these days, place your orders earlier in the day to may support they have time to execute before the early close. Orders placed after 1:00 p.m. on these days will not fill until the market reopens the next business day.

How market closures affect dividend payments and corporate actions

If a company pays a dividend on a day when the market is closed, the payment still goes out as scheduled. The closure does not delay dividend distributions. However, if the ex-dividend date (the date by which you must own the stock to receive the dividend) falls on a market holiday, the ex-dividend date moves to the previous business day.

Stock splits, mergers, and other corporate actions also proceed on schedule even if they occur on a market holiday. The market closure does not affect the mechanics of these events — it only prevents you from buying or selling shares that day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade on Veterans Day if my broker offers 24-hour trading?

No. Even brokers that offer extended-hours trading or cryptocurrency trading do not operate stock market trading on Veterans Day. The NYSE and NASDAQ are closed, so no stocks trade on that day regardless of your broker's other services.

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

You cannot sell on Veterans Day itself. Your only option is to place an order to sell as soon as the market reopens the next business day. If you need when ready access to cash, contact your broker about other options, though none will let you execute stock trades while the market is closed.

Do international stock markets close on Veterans Day?

No. Veterans Day is a U.S. holiday, so only U.S. exchanges close. International markets like the London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and others operate normally on Veterans Day. You can trade foreign stocks through most U.S. brokers on that day.

Will my broker charge me a fee if my order doesn't fill on Veterans Day?

No. Brokers do not charge fees for orders that fail to execute due to market closures. The order straightforward waits until the market reopens. However, check your broker's terms to confirm they do not charge inactivity fees or other charges unrelated to the closure itself.

How do I know if a holiday falls on a weekend and when the market will actually close?

Your broker's website lists the exact closure dates each year. The NYSE publishes its holiday calendar on its investor relations page, and most brokers mirror this schedule. If you are unsure whether the market is open on a specific date, call your broker or check their website before you plan to trade.