is the stock market closed on black friday

Is the stock market closed on Black Friday? Short answer: U.S. equity exchanges (NYSE, Nasdaq) usually remain open on Black Friday with shortened hours; bond, options and futures markets often foll...

2025-08-22 08:11:00

By EtherLingo

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Is the stock market closed on Black Friday

As an investor or trader asking "is the stock market closed on black friday", you want a clear, actionable answer and guidance for orders, settlement and liquidity. In short, is the stock market closed on Black Friday? No — major U.S. equity exchanges typically open on Black Friday but operate on shortened hours. This article explains how equities, bonds, options, futures and cryptocurrencies behave around Black Friday, how schedules vary by year and product, and how to confirm this year's exact hours before placing trades.

As of 2024-11-01, according to NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours and Nasdaq holiday notices, major U.S. equity exchanges historically open on Black Friday but close early for core trading sessions.

Definition and timing of Black Friday

Black Friday is the informal name for the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday in November; Black Friday therefore falls on the fourth Friday in November each year.

Retailers treat Black Friday as a major shopping day with special sales, while financial markets treat it as a regular trading day in many segments but often with shortened hours. Because the date shifts within the month each year, exchanges publish specific holiday and early-close calendars in advance so market participants can plan.

U.S. equity markets (NYSE and Nasdaq)

Standard policies and historical practice

When people ask "is the stock market closed on black friday", they usually mean the large U.S. stock exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq. Historically, both NYSE and Nasdaq treat Thanksgiving Day as a full holiday (markets closed) and the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, as an early-close trading day rather than a full closure.

Exchange operators publish annual holiday and trading-hour calendars stating when they will open, close early, or remain closed. These calendars are the authoritative source for the current year's schedule. As of 2024-11-01, the NYSE and Nasdaq have maintained the long-standing practice of an early close on Black Friday for core equity trading sessions.

Typical hours on Black Friday

A standard U.S. equity trading day opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and closes at 4:00 p.m. ET for the regular session. On Black Friday, the regular session commonly opens at the normal time in the morning and then ends early, typically at 1:00 p.m. ET for the regular trading session. Late or extended trading sessions (after-hours) are often shortened or disabled by brokers and exchanges on the same day.

To restate for clarity: when asking "is the stock market closed on black friday", the usual operational answer is that it is not closed for equities — it opens normally but closes early (commonly 1:00 p.m. ET for the main session).

Variations for specific market segments and exceptions

Although the general industry practice is an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET for equities, there can be variations:

Certain exchange-listed products (for example, some options or alternative trading sessions) may have slightly different early-close times.
Exchanges occasionally adjust schedules in response to extraordinary events, operational issues or changing policies. Annual calendars issued by exchanges are the final authority.
Broker-dealers and market makers may limit or change the availability of extended-hours trading even if the exchange posts a standard early-close time.

Because of these possibilities, always confirm the current year's precise schedule from the exchange or your broker before trading.

U.S. fixed-income and bond markets

SIFMA recommendations and fixed-income practice

Fixed-income markets, which include Treasury, municipal and corporate bond trading, follow conventions often coordinated by industry groups. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) issues recommended holiday schedules for interdealer and institutional trading.

As of 2024-11-01, SIFMA guidance typically sets the day after Thanksgiving as a shortened day for many fixed-income trading desks, with many interdealer and institutional venues observing an early close later than the equity early close. A fairly common pattern is an early close around 2:00 p.m. ET for many fixed-income products.

How bond hours differ from equity hours

Compared with equities, fixed-income markets may:

Close their dealer-to-dealer or institutional trading windows later than equities (e.g., 2:00 p.m. ET rather than 1:00 p.m. ET).
Maintain electronic trading platforms for longer hours, although liquidity may thin.
Exhibit differing hours across product types (Treasuries, corporates, municipals) and trading venues (interdealer brokers, swap execution facilities, electronic platforms).

When planning trades in bonds around Black Friday, confirm schedules with SIFMA notices, custodians, and trading counterparties.

Options, ETFs, OTC and other equity-related trading sessions

Options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), over-the-counter (OTC) equities and other listed products can follow bespoke holiday schedules specified by their listing exchange or clearing venue.

Listed options may have an early close time that differs slightly from equities; for example, some options products historically closed at 1:15 p.m. ET on Black Friday while equities closed at 1:00 p.m. ET. Participants should check exchange-specific notices for precise product-level early-close times.
ETFs trade on exchanges and therefore generally follow the exchange's early-close rule for the regular session; however, authorized participant and creation/redemption processes may have different operational cutoffs.
OTC trading desks set their own hours; on reduced-liquidity days desks may narrow bid/ask spreads or limit transactions.
Extended-hours (pre-market and after-hours) trading is commonly curtailed on holiday-shortened days; many brokers suspend after-hours trading or restrict order types.

Futures and commodity markets (CME, ICE, etc.)

Futures and commodities exchanges operate on modified hours around Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Because futures markets include many different products (equity index futures, interest rate futures, energy, metals, agricultural commodities), each product may follow a distinct schedule.

Common patterns include:

Electronic trading may continue for certain futures contracts with a short maintenance window or early close for the main contract.
Some products observe an early close on Friday while others continue electronic sessions with reduced liquidity.

Exchange-specific calendars from futures venues such as CME Group and ICE are the authoritative source for exact hours. When trading index futures or commodity contracts around Black Friday, check the product calendar for settlement times and trading halts.

Cryptocurrency markets

Cryptocurrency markets operate 24/7/365 across centralized and decentralized venues. If you ask "is the stock market closed on black friday" and you trade crypto instead of traditional securities, note that crypto markets do not observe U.S. federal holidays.

That said, liquidity and spreads in crypto markets can still change on holidays because institutional participants, OTC desks and market makers may reduce activity. For crypto traders:

Expect continuous trading availability on most exchanges and on-chain.
Prepare for potentially wider spreads and reduced depth during U.S. holiday hours.
Consider using tools such as limit orders and monitoring order-book depth when liquidity thins.

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Practical effects for traders and investors

Liquidity and volatility

Holiday-shortened sessions like Black Friday typically see reduced participation from institutional desks, retail traders and market makers. Lower participation often results in:

Lower trading volumes compared with a normal session.
Wider bid-ask spreads and a thinner order book, which can worsen execution quality for market orders.
Greater sensitivity to single large orders — price moves can be larger in percent terms because fewer resting orders exist to absorb flow.

When asking "is the stock market closed on black friday", remember that even though markets are open, their microstructure on that day can materially affect trade outcomes.

Order execution and trading strategies

To trade more safely on Black Friday consider these practical precautions:

Avoid large market orders; use limit orders to control execution price.
If you must trade large sizes, consider working orders in advance or using algorithms provided by brokers to minimize market impact.
Be mindful of shortened pre-market and after-hours sessions; do not assume extended trading will be available.
Double-check broker notices — some brokers route orders differently or restrict certain order types on holiday-shortened days.

Corporate events and settlement considerations

Corporate actions, dividends and settlement windows can be affected by holiday schedules. Specific considerations:

Trade date vs. settlement date: a trade executed on Black Friday still follows the standard settlement cycle (for U.S. equities, typically T+2), but operational timing for processing may be affected by shortened hours.
Record dates, ex-dividend dates and option exercise deadlines are set by issuers and exchanges; if these fall near Thanksgiving, verify cutoff times for exercises and corporate actions.
Mutual fund and ETF NAV calculations and some back-office operations may follow different holiday schedules; check custodial and fund documentation.

Always confirm with your broker or custodian how holiday hours affect settlement instructions and corporate action processing.

How to confirm current-year hours

When planning around the question "is the stock market closed on black friday" use authoritative sources to confirm the year's schedule:

Check the NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours calendar published by the exchange for the year.
Check Nasdaq’s holiday and trading hours notices for any deviations.
For fixed-income trades, refer to SIFMA’s published holiday schedule and member notices.
For options and ETF specifics, consult the listing exchange’s product notices and the options clearing corporation (or equivalent) for exercise cutoffs.
For futures and commodities, consult the exchange product calendar (for example, CME or ICE) for product-specific hours.
Read broker or platform notices — brokers often summarize holiday hours and any changes to routing or after-hours trading.

As of 2024-11-01, NYSE and Nasdaq calendars continue the conventional early-close practice on the day after Thanksgiving; always check the latest exchange notices each year.

History and rationale for early closes

Early-closing practices for days surrounding major U.S. holidays are longstanding and based on several practical reasons:

Reduced participation: many institutional traders and brokerage staff take time off for the holiday, reducing order flow and market-making capacity.
Operational considerations: shortened hours reduce post-holiday operational workload while maintaining market access for participants who want to trade.
Tradition and coordination: exchanges coordinate schedules to provide predictable windows for trading and settlement.

Over time the exact hours and policies have evolved; the modern practice balances the need for continuous market access with operational prudence.

International markets and holidays

Most non-U.S. exchanges do not observe U.S. federal holidays like Thanksgiving, so their calendars typically remain unchanged on Black Friday. Examples:

European and Asian exchanges usually maintain normal opening hours on the day after U.S. Thanksgiving.
Cross-listed securities can have settlement and reporting considerations when U.S. and foreign markets differ in holiday observance.

If you trade international securities, check each local exchange’s calendar rather than assuming U.S. holiday practices apply internationally.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the market closed on Thanksgiving?

A: Yes — U.S. equity exchanges (NYSE and Nasdaq) and many other markets are closed on Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November). When considering "is the stock market closed on black friday", remember Thanksgiving itself is a full close.

Q: Is the market open on Black Friday?

A: Yes — most major U.S. equity exchanges open on Black Friday but operate on shortened hours (commonly an early close in the early afternoon). The direct answer to "is the stock market closed on black friday" is that it is generally open but closes early.

Q: When do bond markets typically close on Black Friday?

A: Bond markets often follow SIFMA guidance and may close later than equities on Black Friday. A common pattern is an early close around 2:00 p.m. ET for many interdealer and institutional fixed-income trading desks, but confirm with SIFMA notices for the current year.

Q: Do crypto markets close on Black Friday?

A: No — cryptocurrency markets operate continuously 24/7, including Black Friday. However, liquidity can change as institutional participants and OTC desks reduce activity.

Q: Where can I find the exact hours this year?

A: Check the NYSE and Nasdaq holiday calendars, SIFMA notices, futures exchanges (CME/ICE) product calendars, and your broker’s holiday schedule to confirm current-year hours.

Practical checklist for traders before Black Friday

Confirm the current year’s exchange calendars (NYSE, Nasdaq) and product-level notices.
Check SIFMA guidance for fixed-income trading hours.
Confirm options exercise and ETF creation/redemption deadlines with your broker.
Adjust order types: prefer limit orders, avoid large market orders in thin markets.
Anticipate wider spreads and plan execution accordingly.
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References and notes on sources

As of 2024-11-01, according to NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours, the NYSE traditionally observes Thanksgiving as a full holiday and the following Friday as an early-close day for equities.
As of 2024-11-01, according to Nasdaq holiday and trading-hour notices, Nasdaq follows a similar early-close convention for the day after Thanksgiving.
As of 2024-11-01, SIFMA’s Holiday Schedule commonly recommends shortened trading hours or early closes for fixed-income markets on the day after Thanksgiving.
Major finance outlets (Investopedia, Fidelity, Morningstar and financial news summaries) have commonly reported the practice that U.S. equity exchanges open on Black Friday but close early; consult their holiday guides for context and historical reporting.

Note: exchange calendars and industry guidance are updated annually. Use the exchange and SIFMA notices for final confirmation each year.

Final practical reminder

Answering the main search intent: if you search "is the stock market closed on black friday", the clear, practical answer is that the stock market is usually open on Black Friday with shortened hours — plan accordingly and confirm this year’s schedule before trading.

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The content above has been sourced from the internet and generated using AI. For high-quality content, please visit Bitget Academy.