is the stock market closed on thursday? U.S. equities

Is the stock market closed on Thursday?

This article answers the common question "is the stock market closed on thursday" for U.S. equity investors and traders. You will learn the standard weekly hours for NYSE and Nasdaq, which holidays can make a Thursday a full closure or an early close, how exceptional events are handled, differences with around-the-clock crypto markets, and the authoritative places to check whether a specific Thursday will be closed. By the end you'll know how to confirm any Thursday's status and what steps to take when markets are closed or shortened.

Note: As of Dec 30, 2025, according to market reports, U.S. stock markets were scheduled to be closed on Thursday, Jan 1 (New Year’s Day), reducing liquidity and potentially increasing volatility in 24/7 crypto markets during that period.

Standard U.S. stock market schedule

Under ordinary circumstances, major U.S. equity exchanges operate on a fixed weekly timetable. The regular trading session for both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq runs from 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Outside that core window there are pre-market (extended-hours) sessions and after-hours sessions that many brokers and market participants use for additional liquidity. Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) sessions are not available for U.S. equities on these exchanges.

Practical points:

• Regular session: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET, Mon–Fri (normally open on Thursdays).
• Pre-market and after-hours: broker-dependent extended trading windows before 9:30 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.
• Weekends: exchanges are closed for equities.

When users ask "is the stock market closed on thursday," the default answer for most Thursdays is no — U.S. exchanges are open — unless a scheduled holiday, early-close, or exceptional event intervenes.

Regular holiday calendar and how holidays affect Thursdays

The NYSE and Nasdaq observe a set list of market holidays each year and publish an annual trading calendar that specifies full closures and early-closing days. If a recognized holiday falls on a Thursday in a given year, the exchanges will observe the holiday according to their rules and will be closed that day.

Key points about holiday observance:

• Exchanges publish official annual calendars (full-close and early-close dates).
• When a fixed-date holiday falls on a weekend, the exchanges may observe it on the nearest weekday; rules vary by holiday.
• If a holiday falls on a Thursday, that Thursday will typically be a full market holiday (closed) or an early-close day only if specified by the exchange.

Common holidays that can fall on a Thursday include:

• Thanksgiving Day (always Thursday)
• Christmas Day (Dec 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan 1) — these fall on various weekdays depending on the year and can be observed on a Thursday in some years.

When evaluating "is the stock market closed on thursday" for a specific year, consult the exchange calendars for that year because observance can change with calendar alignment.

Holidays that always or frequently fall on Thursday

Thanksgiving Day is the clearest example: it always occurs on the fourth Thursday of November, and U.S. equity markets are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Other holidays, like Christmas and New Year’s Day, may fall on a Thursday in some years. When that happens, exchanges will follow their published holiday rules — typically a full closure on the calendar holiday itself.

Examples:

• Thanksgiving: full closure on Thursday (markets closed).
• If Dec 25 or Jan 1 falls on a Thursday in a particular year, expect a full closure on that Thursday as listed on the exchange calendar.

Early-closing days that can occur on Thursdays

Exchanges sometimes designate early-closing sessions (shortened trading days) around certain holidays. These early closes commonly reduce the regular session to end at 1:00 p.m. ET but timing can vary by asset type and year. Early-closes may fall on a Thursday depending on the calendar year and the holiday schedule.

Typical early-close occasions include:

• The day before Independence Day (July 3 when observed)
• The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) — often an early close, which can be a Friday but in some years calendar shifts may make adjacent early-closes fall on other weekdays
• Christmas Eve (Dec 24) — frequently an early close when it falls on a weekday

If you are asking "is the stock market closed on thursday or only shortened?" note that some Thursdays may not be fully closed but could be early-close days; check the exchange calendar for the exact closing time.

Examples by year (how to interpret calendars)

Whether a Thursday is closed depends on the calendar year and the exchange's published schedule. The correct approach:

1. Open the NYSE and Nasdaq official trading-hours or holiday calendar for the target year.
2. Look for entries that fall on Thursdays (full closures or early closes).
3. Check broker notices and exchange press releases for last-minute changes.

Illustrative examples (non-exhaustive):

• A year when Jan 1 falls on a Thursday: the exchanges will observe New Year’s Day on that Thursday and be closed.
• The fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving): always a full closure.
• A year when Dec 25 is a Thursday: expect a full closure on that Thursday, as specified in the exchange calendar.

Remember: exact dates vary by year. The routine way to determine whether a particular Thursday is closed is to consult the official calendar for the year in question.

Special/unscheduled closures and exceptional events

Beyond scheduled holidays and early closes, exchanges may declare unscheduled full or partial closures for rare, exceptional reasons — for example, national days of mourning, severe natural disasters, extreme market disruption, or other emergency declarations. These events are uncommon but can cause a Thursday market closure even if that date was not on the published holiday list.

Characteristics of unscheduled closures:

• Announced via exchange messages and regulator notices.
• May follow national or exchange-level protocols.
• Usually accompanied by instructions on order handling, settlement, and when trading will resume.

Historical context: unscheduled closures are rare. When they occur, exchanges release official statements and brokers follow with client notifications.

Differences for other markets (bonds, options, futures, crypto)

Not all markets follow the exact same holiday schedule. Some distinctions to keep in mind when you ask "is the stock market closed on thursday" but also trade other instruments:

• Options and ETFs: listed options markets often follow similar holiday schedules to equities, but contract-level or venue-level rules can differ. Clearing and settlement windows may also be affected.
• U.S. Treasury and bond markets: these venues observe many of the same federal holidays, but there are differences in hours and settlement.
• Futures markets: many futures exchanges maintain their own calendars and may have electronic trading hours that differ from equities (sometimes running almost continuously across time zones, with daily maintenance windows).
• Crypto markets: operate 24/7 globally and do not observe stock-exchange holidays. Cryptocurrencies remain tradable on Thursdays even when U.S. equity exchanges are closed.

Given these differences, when you ask "is the stock market closed on thursday" you should also verify the schedule for any specific market you trade.

Practical effects for traders and investors

A full market closure or early close on a Thursday affects trading activity, settlement, corporate events, and liquidity. Below are the main practical impacts:

Order execution and order types

• Orders submitted during a full-close are typically queued by brokers and will execute when markets reopen, unless the broker offers extended-hours execution or cancels the orders per client instructions.
• Limit orders placed during a holiday may rest in the order book or be held by your broker until the next open.

Settlement windows and corporate actions

• Trade settlement (e.g., T+1 or T+2) calculations use business days; a market holiday on a Thursday shifts the settlement calendar.
• Dividend payment dates, record dates, and corporate announcements may be scheduled around holidays; issuers sometimes avoid important releases on market holidays.

Liquidity and volatility considerations

• Before a holiday closure there can be thinner liquidity and higher spreads; after the reopen, pent-up order flow may cause volatility.
• For 24/7 markets like crypto, a U.S. equity closure on Thursday can coincide with very thin dollar liquidity on centralized venues and amplified moves in crypto markets due to global participants reacting to U.S. macro events.

Broker-dependent handling

• Brokers provide guidance on how they handle orders during holidays and early closes. Some offer limited trading in extended hours, others will route or defer orders until normal hours.

When asking "is the stock market closed on thursday" keep these downstream effects in mind when planning trades around holidays.

How to check whether the market is closed on a specific Thursday

To determine whether a particular Thursday will be closed, use authoritative sources and a simple verification process:

1. Check the NYSE and Nasdaq official holiday & trading-hours pages for the target year.
2. Review exchange press releases (ICE/NYSE Group announcements) for any updates or changes.
3. Consult broker notifications and trading-platform alerts (your broker's holiday schedule and client notices).
4. Cross-check reputable financial calendars (e.g., market calendars compiled by major brokerages or financial information services) for confirmation.
5. For unscheduled closures, follow exchange notices and major financial news outlets for real-time updates.

Authoritative sources to consult (official order):

• NYSE official trading hours and holiday calendar (exchange documentation)
• Nasdaq official trading hours and holiday calendar
• Broker or clearinghouse notices you trust

If you need continuous trading during an equity holiday, remember that cryptocurrencies trade 24/7 and Bitget exchange provides non-stop crypto access; Bitget Wallet supports round-the-clock custody and transfers.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is the U.S. stock market always closed on Thursdays? A: No. When asked "is the stock market closed on thursday," the standard answer is that U.S. equity exchanges are open on most Thursdays. Exceptions occur when a scheduled holiday falls on a Thursday or when an exchange declares an unscheduled closure.

Q: Are there Thursdays when markets close early instead of fully closing? A: Yes. Some pre-holiday or holiday-adjacent days can be early-close days that may fall on a Thursday in certain years. Early-close schedules (e.g., 1:00 p.m. ET) are published annually by exchanges.

Q: Are cryptocurrencies tradable if the stock market is closed on Thursday? A: Yes. Crypto markets operate 24/7 and remain tradable. For continuous trading during equity holidays, consider using Bitget exchange and Bitget Wallet to manage crypto positions and transfers at any time.

Q: Where can I find an authoritative answer for a specific Thursday? A: The most authoritative answer will come from the NYSE and Nasdaq official calendars or your broker’s holiday & trading hours notices for the relevant year.

See also

• NYSE (exchange operations and trading hours)
• Nasdaq (market schedule)
• Market holidays (annual exchange calendars)
• Cryptocurrency exchanges and 24/7 trading (Bitget as an option for round-the-clock crypto access)

References

• NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours — official exchange calendar and trading-hours rules (as published by NYSE Group).
• ICE / NYSE Group press release — annual holiday calendar announcements.
• Fidelity — Stock market holidays summary and examples (investor-facing broker calendar).
• MarketBeat — stock market holiday schedules and yearly lists.
• Motley Fool, Today, Cash App — consumer finance summaries of holiday closures and early closes.
• Market reports: As of Dec 30, 2025, market coverage noted that U.S. stock markets were scheduled to be closed on Thursday, Jan 1 (New Year’s Day), reducing liquidity and potentially increasing volatility in 24/7 crypto markets.

Sources referenced as of dates noted in the text are official exchange calendars and leading broker/brokerage summaries. For the definitive status of any particular Thursday, consult the applicable year’s official exchange calendar.

Practical checklist: confirm a Thursday’s status in 3 steps

1. Open the NYSE or Nasdaq official trading-hours calendar for the year in question.
2. Verify the Thursday date in question for full closure or early close.
3. Check broker notices and exchange bulletins for any last-minute or unscheduled changes.

More about holiday timing and settlements

Trade settlement and corporate timelines rely on business-day conventions. A holiday on a Thursday can shift settlement windows and affect corporate action timings. For instance, if a trade executes on Wednesday and the next business day is Friday because Thursday is a holiday, settlement (T+1 or T+2) is calculated with the holiday excluded.

When planning around a Thursday holiday, review your broker's settlement and corporate-action guidance so you can anticipate record dates and payment dates appropriately.

Market liquidity and macro context: why a Thursday holiday matters

Holiday closures, particularly near major U.S. macro events, compress liquidity. As noted in market coverage around Dec 30, 2025, U.S. stock markets were closed on Thursday, Jan 1, reducing liquidity and creating an environment where 24/7 crypto markets could experience outsized reactions to macro news due to thinner dollar liquidity. Traders often watch key macro releases and central bank communications closely when liquidity is thin because even modest surprises can produce sharp, short-lived moves across risk assets. This underscores why asking "is the stock market closed on thursday" is not just a scheduling question but a risk-management one.

Responsible use and next steps

If you trade equities, plan order timing and settlement around exchange holidays. If you rely on continuous access to markets, remember that crypto trading is available 24/7 and Bitget provides continuous crypto trading and custody via Bitget Wallet for users who need always-on market access.

For the most reliable immediate answer to "is the stock market closed on thursday" for any specific date:

• Visit the NYSE and Nasdaq official trading-hours calendars for the current year.
• Review broker client alerts and exchange bulletins.
• Monitor major financial news for reports of any unscheduled closures.

Further exploration: check the exchange calendars now and save the annual holiday schedule in your trading plan. For continuous crypto exposure when U.S. equity venues are closed, explore Bitget exchange and Bitget Wallet for 24/7 execution and custody.

Article produced for informational and educational purposes only. The information reflects exchange calendars and market coverage available at the time of writing. This is not investment advice.