Is the Stock Market Open on Veterans Day Today?
It’s a federal holiday—your bank is closed, mail isn’t running, and government offices are dark. So, it’s natural to wonder, why are Wall Street traders still at their desks? The short answer is yes, the U.S. stock market is open and operating on its normal schedule on Veterans Day, and the reason is simpler than you might think.
The key is that federal holidays and stock market holidays are two completely different schedules. Think of the stock market’s calendar like that of a private company. While it observes many major national holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, it doesn’t automatically close just because the government does. This distinction is the root of the confusion around days like Veterans Day.
This difference exists because the rule-makers are separate entities. Federal holidays are, of course, set by the U.S. government. But stock market holidays are decided by the exchanges themselves—primarily the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq. As businesses focused on maximizing opportunities for investors, they generally only close on days with the most widespread, national significance, keeping NYSE trading hours unchanged on many federal holidays.
Ultimately, this explains why the stock market is open on Veterans Day and other government holidays that don’t close markets, like Columbus Day. The core principle is simple: a federal holiday does not guarantee a market closure. That decision always rests with the private exchanges that run the show.
Why Veterans Day is Open but Good Friday is Closed: Key Holiday Examples
Thinking about the stock market schedule like a private company’s calendar helps explain these differences. While it observes most major national holidays, it skips some and adds a few of its own based on tradition and operational needs. This is why knowing the specific stock market holiday schedule is so important.
The best counter-example to Veterans Day is Good Friday. While not a federal holiday—meaning banks and post offices are typically open—the Good Friday stock market is always closed. This tradition dates back to the early days of the New York Stock Exchange and has been maintained ever since, making it a market-only holiday.
To see how this works in practice, here’s a simple breakdown of three different holidays:
| Holiday | Federal Holiday? | Banks & Post Office | Stock Market |
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| Veterans Day | Yes | Closed | Open |
| Good Friday | No | Open | Closed |
| Thanksgiving Day | Yes | Closed | Closed |
You can’t rely on the federal calendar to know what US holidays the stock market is closed. The exchanges march to the beat of their own drum. However, there’s one more important wrinkle to be aware of, even on a day like Veterans Day when the stock market is fully open.
What About the Bond Market? A Key Difference to Know on Veterans Day
Just when it seems straightforward, there’s one important exception to the “business as usual” rule on Veterans Day. While we often say “the market,” we’re usually talking about the stock market, where shares of companies are traded. However, there’s also a massive bond market, where debt from governments and corporations is bought and sold. On Veterans Day, these two markets don’t follow the same schedule.
The stock market may be running a full session, but the bond market veterans day closure is typically an early one. Based on SIFMA holiday recommendations—guidelines from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, a key trade group—the U.S. bond market is advised to close early, usually at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. This is done to ensure the market can operate smoothly on a day when the federal banking system that supports it is closed.
This highlights a crucial point for any investor: the rules for one market don’t always apply to another. It’s a great reminder that even when the New York Stock Exchange is humming along, other parts of the financial world may be winding down.
If the Market Is Open, Why Are My Bank and Post Office Closed?
The reason for this divide is that banks and stock markets answer to different authorities. While exchanges like the NYSE set their own schedules, U.S. banks follow the holiday calendar published by the Federal Reserve—the nation’s central bank. Because the list of Federal Reserve bank holidays aligns with federal holidays like Veterans Day, your local branch is closed even when the trading floor is open.
This creates a practical hurdle for investors. Although the stock market is open for business, the banking system that moves money is not. That means if you want to buy a stock on Veterans Day but don’t have enough cash in your brokerage account, you won’t be able to initiate a transfer from your bank until the next business day.
Ultimately, the key is to plan ahead. If you anticipate trading on a bank holiday like Veterans Day or Columbus Day, make sure your brokerage account is funded in advance. Knowing the official schedule for the market is the best way to avoid any last-minute surprises.
The Official 2024 NYSE Stock Market Holiday Calendar
To help you plan your trades and avoid confusion for the rest of the year, here is the official 2024 stock market holiday schedule. On these dates, the major U.S. exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq, are fully closed for business.
- New Year’s Day: Monday, January 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, January 15
- Washington’s Birthday: Monday, February 19
- Good Friday: Friday, March 29
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 27
- Juneteenth National Independence Day: Wednesday, June 19
- Independence Day: Thursday, July 4
- Labor Day: Monday, September 2
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 28
- Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25
Beyond full-day closures, you should also be aware of a few special dates known as early closure days. On these days, the market closes ahead of schedule, typically at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The most common examples are the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) and, in some years, Christmas Eve. These shortened sessions can easily catch investors off guard if they aren’t paying attention to the official calendar.
For the most current and reliable information, your best bet is always to go straight to the source. We highly recommend bookmarking the official NYSE holiday calendar page. It’s the definitive guide that will keep you prepared for any schedule changes and ensure you’re never left wondering if the market is open.
Your 3-Step Checklist to Never Be Confused by a Holiday Again
You no longer need to search for an answer each time a holiday approaches. You now hold the simple but powerful key to understanding the financial calendar: the U.S. stock market runs on its own schedule, not the government’s. This one insight turns confusion about trading on federal holidays into clarity.
To make it even easier, use this quick mental checklist, your new guide to U.S. stock market operating hours:
- Is it a major national holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving? The market is almost certainly closed.
- Is it a federal holiday like Veterans Day or Columbus Day? The market is likely open, but your bank is probably closed.
- Need 100% certainty? The official NYSE website is the only source of truth.
The next time a holiday appears on the calendar, run through this mental check. Instead of searching for an answer, you’ll have one in seconds. You haven’t just learned a fact for today; you’ve gained a tool that builds your financial confidence for good.