why is the stock market closed on thursday

why is the stock market closed on thursday — US equity exchanges follow published holiday and early-close calendars. A Thursday closure is usually a scheduled holiday (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas...

2025-08-14 06:43:00

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Why is the stock market closed on Thursday?

why is the stock market closed on thursday is a common question for investors and traders who see trading calendars and wonder why a regular weekday lacks normal sessions. In the United States, major equity exchanges (such as the NYSE and Nasdaq) publish annual holiday and early-closing calendars; when a holiday falls on a Thursday the exchanges suspend regular trading for the full day. Less commonly, unscheduled events — technical outages, emergency national events, or regulatory suspensions — can also close markets on a Thursday.

This guide explains exchange holiday policies, the scheduled holidays that can produce a Thursday full-day closure, how early-closing sessions differ from full closures, what happens to orders and settlement, how to check if trading will be halted on a particular Thursday, and a few notable historical examples. Practical tips for crypto traders and investors (including using Bitget and Bitget Wallet for continuity across 24/7 markets) are included.

Overview of exchange holiday policies

Major U.S. equity exchanges publish annual trading calendars that list full-day holidays and early-closing sessions. These calendars determine when the regular trading session (typically 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET for U.S. equities) is suspended or shortened. The same calendars also indicate pre-market and after-hours session rules and any special session times tied to holidays.

Exchanges coordinate with market regulators, clearinghouses, and industry groups when setting these schedules so settlement, clearing, and cross-market coordination work smoothly. Common authorities and references include exchange trading-hours pages, clearinghouse notices, and industry groups like FINRA and SIFMA.

When people ask why is the stock market closed on thursday, the typical explanation is that the calendar lists a recognized holiday on that weekday. The most frequent Thursday closures are Thanksgiving (always a Thursday) and certain fixed-date holidays that fall on Thursday in a given year.

Scheduled holidays that can fall on a Thursday

Short answer: scheduled holidays are the primary reason why is the stock market closed on thursday. The next sections describe the most common named holidays that fall on a Thursday and trigger full-day closures.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is the single most common reason the exchanges are closed on a Thursday. Because Thanksgiving is always observed on the fourth Thursday of November, U.S. equity markets (NYSE, Nasdaq) close for the full day. The day after Thanksgiving often has an early close (typically 1:00 p.m. ET), but the main Thanksgiving Thursday is a full-market holiday.

When investors search why is the stock market closed on thursday during late November, Thanksgiving is almost always the cause. Institutional and retail activity is low around the holiday, and the calendar is published well in advance.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day (December 25) is a recognized exchange holiday. When December 25 falls on a Thursday, U.S. exchanges close for the day. Around Christmas, exchanges may also schedule early closes on adjacent days (for example, Christmas Eve) depending on the weekday placement of the holiday.

Markets sometimes adjust their schedules when Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas falls on specific weekdays, so checking the annual calendar is important.

Juneteenth National Independence Day

Juneteenth (June 19) has been added to the list of exchange holidays in recent years and may fall on a Thursday in some years. When Juneteenth falls on a Thursday, U.S. equity exchanges observe the holiday and suspend regular trading for the day.

New Year’s Day (and other fixed-date holidays)

New Year’s Day (January 1) is a fixed-date holiday that sometimes falls on a Thursday depending on the year. If it does, exchanges are typically closed for the full day. Other holidays with fixed dates (for example, certain federal holidays) may shift observance, and some are included on the exchange calendar while others are not; the exchange calendars are authoritative for trading status.

Early closings versus full-day closures

Understanding the difference between early-closing sessions and full-day closures helps answer why is the stock market closed on thursday in different scenarios.

Full-day closures mean no regular session trades occur during normal market hours. The exchange is closed and regular limit and market orders do not execute until the next open.
Early-closing sessions shorten the regular trading day (for example, a 1:00 p.m. ET close instead of 4:00 p.m. ET). Early closes are commonly scheduled for the business day before certain holidays (e.g., the day after Thanksgiving, some pre-Christmas days) and are listed on exchange calendars.

For example, when investors ask why is the stock market closed on thursday during a long holiday week, it may be that the exchange set an early close on Wednesday and a full-day closure on Thursday (Thanksgiving). Conversely, some holidays lead to an early close on Thursday rather than a full closure depending on rules and the specific holiday.

Observance rules when holidays fall on weekends

Exchange calendars include observance rules for holidays that fall on weekends. Typical rules are:

If a holiday date falls on a Saturday, exchanges often observe it on the preceding Friday.
If a holiday date falls on a Sunday, exchanges often observe it on the following Monday.

These rules mean that weekend placement can shift closures to adjacent weekdays (Friday or Monday), which affects whether a Thursday is closed in a given year. For instance, if a fixed-date holiday falls on a Saturday and the exchange observes it on Friday, then Thursday will remain open; conversely, if the holiday is observed on the following Monday, Thursday remains unaffected.

Other reasons a Thursday market closure might occur

While scheduled holidays are the most common reason why is the stock market closed on thursday, other rare causes can force a Thursday closure or extended suspension.

Emergency or extraordinary national events

In extraordinary circumstances — major national emergencies, severe safety threats, or events that disrupt the normal functioning of financial markets — exchanges can suspend trading or close for the day. Such decisions are uncommon and usually accompanied by official exchange and regulator notices.

Technical outages or exchange system failures

Significant technical problems at an exchange or its market infrastructure providers can force unscheduled closures or suspension of trading. System outages that prevent order entry, matching, or clearing can result in a market-wide halt until the issue is resolved; these incidents are usually explained publicly after restoration.

Regulatory or security-related suspensions

Regulators or exchanges may suspend trading in individual securities or, in rare cases, the entire market to protect market integrity, respond to extreme volatility, or address systemic risks. These interventions are exceptional and come with formal announcements.

Market-wide circuit breakers versus full exchange closure

It is important to distinguish intraday circuit breakers from full-day closures. Circuit breakers are automated intraday mechanisms that pause trading temporarily when the market moves sharply; they do not equate to a full-day exchange closure. A circuit breaker temporarily halts trading to allow liquidity and information to normalize, after which trading resumes the same day. Full-day closures stop regular session trading entirely for the scheduled holiday or extended suspension.

Impact on investors, orders and settlement

When investors ask why is the stock market closed on thursday they also want to know the practical effects. Key impacts include:

Order entry: On a full-day closure, most regular-market orders will not execute until the market reopens. Some brokers may accept order submissions but will queue them for the next trading day.
Extended hours and after-hours trading: After-hours and pre-market sessions may have different availability during holiday weeks; check your broker’s rules. Extended-trading liquidity typically thins during holiday periods.
Settlement timing: Holiday closures affect settlement schedules. U.S. equity trades currently follow a T+1 settlement cycle for standard equities (move to or adoption of T+1 is now in effect), which means trades settle one business day after the trade date. If Thursday is a holiday, settlement days shift accordingly; trade date and settlement calculations follow business-day conventions.
Mutual funds and bond markets: Mutual funds, bond markets, and other asset classes may follow different holiday calendars. For instance, some fixed-income markets or international markets may be open even when U.S. equities are closed, so traders should check each market’s schedule.
Clearing and corporate actions: Corporate action deadlines, dividends, and option expirations can be affected by holiday schedules. Check issuer and clearinghouse notices for exact handling.

How to confirm whether the market is closed on a particular Thursday

To confirm why is the stock market closed on thursday for a specific date, consult authoritative and up-to-date sources:

Official exchange calendars: NYSE and Nasdaq publish annual holiday and trading-hour calendars that list full-day holidays and early closes. These are the primary authoritative sources.
Exchange press releases: For special changes or one-off adjustments, exchanges publish formal notices and press releases.
Broker notifications: Your broker will normally send notices or display status updates about upcoming holidays and the ability to place orders.
Industry guides: FINRA, SIFMA, and clearinghouses often publish holiday guidance relevant for settlement and market operations.
Reputable media and market data vendors: MarketBeat, Today.com, and financial news organizations summarize holiday schedules each year, but always cross-check with exchange calendars.

As an example of market commentary tied to holiday closures: as of Dec 30, 2025, according to CryptoTale, US stock markets were to remain closed on Thursday (Jan 1) for New Year’s Day, which contributed to thinner liquidity and heightened potential for exaggerated price moves in 24/7 markets such as crypto. This highlights how an exchange holiday (a Thursday closure) can ripple into adjacent markets and affect short-term volatility.

Typical calendar examples and year-to-year changes

Exchanges publish annual calendars because holiday dates shift year to year. Examples of authoritative calendar publications include the ICE/NYSE Group annual holiday and early closing calendar and Nasdaq’s trading calendar. Media outlets such as MarketBeat and Today.com provide year-by-year summaries for quick reference, but the exchange calendar is definitive.

Because holidays like Thanksgiving are fixed to a weekday, some closures are predictable far in advance. Fixed-date holidays like Christmas and New Year’s can land on different weekdays each year, producing occasional Thursday closures. Observance rules for weekend placement mean that a holiday may be observed on a Friday or Monday rather than the exact date, creating additional yearly variation.

Notable historical Thursday closures (examples)

Scheduled Thursday closures are ordinarily tied to Thanksgiving and occasional fixed-date holidays. Examples include:

Thanksgiving Day (every year on a Thursday) — the most consistent scheduled Thursday full-day closure.
Years when December 25 or January 1 fall on a Thursday — exchanges close for Christmas Day or New Year’s Day on those Thursdays.

Unscheduled Thursday closures are rare. When they occur, exchanges release official statements documenting the cause (technical outage, emergency, or regulatory action) and the timeline for reopening. For precise details about any historical unscheduled closure, consult the exchange press releases archived on the exchange website.

Practical checklist for investors and crypto traders

If you’re preparing for a Thursday when you suspect the market may be closed, use this checklist:

Check the official NYSE and Nasdaq trading calendars for that date.
Review broker notices about order acceptance, extended-hours availability, and when queued orders will execute.
Confirm settlement implications for pending trades and corporate actions (T+1 or other conventions).
For crypto traders: remember crypto markets run 24/7 but liquidity can drop when major fiat markets close. Consider using Bitget and Bitget Wallet for consistent access and risk management tools during thin liquidity windows.
Note that mutual funds and bonds may have different holiday rules. Verify with fund providers or bond market notices.

Why holiday closures matter for crypto markets and liquidity

Even though crypto markets operate 24/7, scheduled closures of U.S. equity markets (answers to why is the stock market closed on thursday) still influence crypto liquidity and risk appetite because institutional flows, macro releases, and fiat on-ramps can slow during holidays. Lower liquidity means price moves can be more volatile and short-lived.

As noted earlier, and to provide an up-to-date context: as of Dec 30, 2025, according to CryptoTale, major US macro events were expected in the following days and US stock markets were to remain closed on Thursday (Jan 1) for New Year’s Day; with liquidity thinning into the New Year, these conditions could lead to sharper, short-lived crypto moves. This demonstrates how a Thursday market holiday in equities can have cross-market implications.

How Bitget can help during holiday closures

When U.S. exchanges close for a Thursday holiday, crypto traders may still want to manage exposure or access markets that remain open. Bitget provides a trading platform and Bitget Wallet that operate continuously, with tools designed for risk management when liquidity is thin. Consider the following features:

24/7 market access: Bitget markets do not follow U.S. equity holidays, helping traders maintain positioning when fiat markets are closed.
Risk controls and order types: Use limit orders, stop-limit orders, and position risk settings to manage exposure during thin liquidity windows.
Bitget Wallet: A recommended Web3 wallet option for secure custody and on-chain interactions during off-hours.

Note: mentioning Bitget is informational and does not constitute investment advice. Always review platform terms and available risk tools.

Regulatory and operational references

For official confirmation of why is the stock market closed on thursday on any date, consult these primary sources:

NYSE holidays and trading hours pages and official exchange notices.
Nasdaq trading calendar and exchange advisories.
ICE/NYSE Group annual holiday and early-closing calendar press releases.
FINRA and SIFMA guidance on market holidays and settlement conventions.
Broker-specific notifications about order handling and extended-hours trading.

These sources publish firm dates and observance rules; use them as the authoritative reference.

Frequently asked questions

Q: If the stock market is closed on Thursday, can I still place trades that day?

A: Most brokers will accept non-market orders and queue them for the next trading day. Extended-hours and off-exchange trading rules differ by broker; check broker notices. For crypto, platforms like Bitget remain operational 24/7, though liquidity may be lower.

Q: How does a Thursday closure affect settlement?

A: Settlement follows business-day conventions (e.g., T+1 for many U.S. equities). If Thursday is a holiday, settlement dates shift forward accordingly, so trades executed before the holiday may settle later.

Q: Are circuit breakers related to why is the stock market closed on thursday?

A: Not directly. Circuit breakers are intraday mechanisms that pause trading when prices move sharply; they do not create full-day closures. Full-day closures are scheduled holidays or exceptional, formal suspensions.

References and primary sources

Exchange calendars and trading hours: NYSE holidays and trading hours pages; Nasdaq trading calendar pages; ICE/NYSE Group annual holiday and early-closing calendar press releases. (Consult exchange pages for official dates and observance rules.)
Industry guidance: FINRA and SIFMA notices on market holidays and settlement.
Media summaries and annual lists: MarketBeat and Today.com publish yearly market-holiday summaries; these are useful cross-checks but always confirm with the exchange calendar.
Market commentary example: As of Dec 30, 2025, according to CryptoTale, US stock markets were to remain closed on Thursday (Jan 1) for New Year’s Day, further reducing liquidity and increasing the potential for exaggerated moves in 24/7 markets like crypto.