will the stock market be open on presidents day

Will the stock market be open on Presidents Day? Short answer: major U.S. equity and Treasury markets close on Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February). This guide explains which markets close, h...

2025-09-09 09:04:00

By Nexus Link

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Will the stock market be open on Presidents’ Day?

Yes-or-no clarity up front: will the stock market be open on presidents day? No — major U.S. equity exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq do not open for regular trading on Presidents’ Day, and many fixed-income venues and clearing operations pause as well. Trading resumes on the next regular business day (regular session 9:30–16:00 ET for equities), though some after-hours or alternative venues and product schedules can differ. This article explains the holiday, which markets close, how settlement and derivatives are affected, and practical steps investors should take.

As of 2025-02-01, according to NYSE holidays & trading hours, the NYSE observes Presidents’ Day and lists it as a market holiday. As of 2025-02-01, Nasdaq Trader calendar also shows Presidents’ Day as a holiday for equity and options markets. As of 2025-02-01, SIFMA’s holiday schedule recommends bond market closures for Presidents’ Day. As of 2025-02-01, financial media summaries from USA Today, TODAY and Investopedia confirm that major U.S. markets are closed on Presidents’ Day. Fidelity’s 2025 market holidays list also marks Presidents’ Day as a non-trading day for primary U.S. exchanges.

Background — Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday)

Presidents’ Day is the federal holiday observed on the third Monday in February in the United States. It originated as Washington’s Birthday and now generally honors U.S. presidents. The federal observance date moves to the third Monday each February, which means the calendar date varies by year and can fall between February 15 and February 21.

Because the holiday is federally observed, many financial institutions align their operating schedules with the federal calendar. However, exchanges and market utilities publish their own official holiday calendars each year — so the observed date and any special session notes are set by the exchanges and clearinghouses.

U.S. equity exchanges and Presidents’ Day

This section covers the typical policies for major U.S. equity trading venues.

NYSE

The New York Stock Exchange traditionally closes for Presidents’ Day. The standard NYSE regular trading session is 9:30–16:00 ET on business days; on Presidents’ Day the regular session is suspended. As of 2025-02-01, NYSE holiday listings identify Presidents’ Day as a market holiday. When the NYSE is closed, order routing to NYSE-listed shares does not result in execution on that venue until the next open market day. Normal trading resumes at 9:30 ET on the next business day.

Nasdaq

Nasdaq follows a similar policy and designates Presidents’ Day as a market holiday on its calendar. As of 2025-02-01, Nasdaq’s trading calendar lists Presidents’ Day as a non-trading day for U.S. equity and primary options markets. When Nasdaq is closed, both regular session and extended session executions for Nasdaq-listed securities tied to the primary market are paused.

Other U.S. exchanges

Regional exchanges and alternative listing venues typically align with the primary exchanges’ holiday schedule. NYSE Arca, NYSE American and other U.S. equity trading venues generally observe the same holiday closures or publish notices when they differ. Always check the specific exchange notices for any exceptions or special session rules for the year in question.

Fixed-income / bond markets and SIFMA recommendations

U.S. fixed-income markets — including many Treasury and corporate bond trading desks — often follow SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) recommendations for holiday schedules. SIFMA traditionally recommends that the Treasury market and many institutional government and agency bond trading venues close for Presidents’ Day.

When bond markets are closed, dealer-to-dealer trading activity and institutional liquidity decline sharply, which can affect price discovery and secondary market access. As of 2025-02-01, SIFMA’s holiday schedule lists Presidents’ Day among recommended bond market closures. Treasury settlement and auction operations may also observe adjusted schedules tied to the holiday.

Trading hours, settlement, and clearing implications

Holiday closures have practical operational impacts beyond simply not trading. Below are the main effects to expect.

Order entry and execution

Orders routed to closed exchanges on Presidents’ Day will not execute during the exchange’s regular session. Retail market orders submitted through brokers are queued and will execute only when the market reopens (unless the order is designated for a different market or venue that is open).
Regular U.S. equity session hours are normally 9:30–16:00 ET; these sessions are suspended on exchange holidays such as Presidents’ Day.
Pre-market and after-hours sessions tied directly to the primary exchanges are not available when an exchange is closed. Some alternative trading systems (ATS) or off-exchange venues may have limited activity, but institutional liquidity is typically minimal.

Trade settlement (T+1/T+2) and operational effects

Settlement cycles (T+1 for many equities in the current market environment, T+2 for some products historically) count business days. A holiday like Presidents’ Day is not a business day, so it delays the settlement clock. For example, a trade executed the Friday before Presidents’ Day will have settlement dates calculated excluding the holiday.
Clearing operations at central counterparties and depositories also pause or operate on reduced staffing levels, which means margin, netting and collateral movements may be delayed until normal operations resume.

Corporate actions and deadlines

Corporate action deadlines — such as record dates, ex-dividend dates, proxy cutoff times and option exercise cutoffs — may fall on or near the holiday. Exchanges and transfer agents will typically publish guidance on how deadlines are shifted when a holiday occurs.
Dividend record dates and payment schedules are set in advance; if a payment or record date falls on a holiday, the mechanics (payment processing, bank transfers) may move to the nearest business day. Investors should verify corporate notices and broker communications for exact timing.

Derivatives, options, and futures

Options and many equity derivatives listed on U.S. exchanges typically follow the same holiday closures as the underlying equities. For example, U.S.-listed equity option exchanges close on Presidents’ Day, and standard option settlement processes are affected accordingly.

Futures markets have different operators (e.g., CME Group) and may publish separate holiday calendars. Some regulated futures contracts or international derivatives may remain tradable if their clearinghouses or exchanges decide to remain open, but volumes and liquidity may be reduced. Always check the specific exchange or contract notice for exact session schedules.

After-hours / alternative trading and OTC markets

Dark pools and ATSs that route to primary exchanges generally align with exchange holiday schedules, so primary liquidity providers are often offline.
Over-the-counter (OTC) activity can continue in some sectors, but institutional participation is limited on federal holidays. Broker-dealers may permit internal crossing or execute bilateral transactions, but public liquidity and price transparency can be poor.
Retail electronic brokers may accept order instructions on Presidents’ Day, but any marketable orders will remain pending until the exchange reopens.

Impact on investors and practical guidance

This section gives practical guidance for different investor types and common operational questions.

Retail investors

If you ask "will the stock market be open on Presidents’ Day" because you plan trades, expect that orders will not execute until the market reopens. Use limit orders if you want to control execution price when markets reopen.
Margin and maintenance calls: broker margin systems may still calculate positions and margin requirements; some brokers enforce margin rules even on holidays. Check your broker’s margin policy and liquidity buffers ahead of holiday weekends.
Corporate event planning: if you have engagements around dividends, earnings, or record dates, confirm the exact processing dates with your broker or the issuer.

Institutional traders and market-makers

Institutional desks and market-makers plan staffing and hedging schedules around holidays. Reduced primary market-making can increase bid-ask spreads and reduce fill rates in any off-exchange trading on the holiday.
Confirm cutoffs for broker-dealers, clearinghouses and custodians well ahead of Presidents’ Day to prevent operational or settlement disruptions.

Banking / consumer impacts

Many U.S. banks and the U.S. Postal Service close on Presidents’ Day. ACH and domestic bank transfer windows are affected, so payments and transfers that require bank processing may be delayed.
ATM access remains active, but bank branch services and phone support are usually limited. If you need bank-processed funding for trading, plan for the holiday gap.

Exceptions, observed dates, and weekend rules

When Presidents’ Day falls on a weekend, federal observance is on the closest weekday (the holiday is scheduled on the third Monday, so it does not usually fall on a weekend). Exchanges publish annual calendars and some holidays (like New Year’s Day or Good Friday) may have special session notes. Always check the official annual holiday calendar on exchange pages for the specific year.

If an exchange announces an unscheduled closure or special session, it will issue a market notice. For planned holidays like Presidents’ Day, exchange calendars are typically published well in advance.

Crypto markets and non-U.S. markets

Cryptocurrency exchanges and assets trade 24/7 and do not observe U.S. federal holidays. If you need access to tradable markets on Presidents’ Day, crypto markets provide continuous trading — for example, Bitget operates 24/7, and Bitget’s services (including Bitget Wallet) are accessible during U.S. holidays. Note that fiat on-ramps, bank transfers, and fiat settlement may still be affected by bank holidays.

International equity exchanges follow their own national holiday calendars: markets in Europe, Asia or other regions may be open on U.S. holidays or may observe local holidays that differ from U.S. schedules.

How to confirm market status

If you need to know definitively whether the markets are open, take these steps:

Check the official NYSE and Nasdaq holiday pages and annual trading calendars. (As of 2025-02-01, both cited exchanges list Presidents’ Day as a holiday.)
Consult SIFMA’s holiday schedule for bond market guidance. (As of 2025-02-01, SIFMA recommends bond market closures on Presidents’ Day.)
Review exchange bulletins (e.g., Nasdaq Trader calendar) and clearinghouse notices for settlement and special session details.
Check your broker’s communications — brokers typically post holiday hours for trading desk support and funding cutoffs.
For continuous access on holiday dates, consider markets and products that trade 24/7 (for example, crypto on Bitget), while keeping in mind fiat and banking constraints.

References and sources

As of 2025-02-01, NYSE holidays & trading hours (official exchange calendar).
As of 2025-02-01, Nasdaq Trader: U.S. Equity and Options Markets Holiday Schedule (official exchange calendar).
As of 2025-02-01, SIFMA holiday schedule and market recommendations.
Fidelity, "Stock market holidays 2025" (market holidays summary).
Investopedia, "Is the Stock Market Open on Presidents’ Day?" (explanatory overview).
USA Today and TODAY coverage: summary reporting on market closures for Presidents’ Day 2025.

Notes for editors

Exchange holiday calendars can change; always prioritize the official NYSE/Nasdaq/SIFMA pages for the current year.
When updating for a specific year (e.g., Presidents’ Day 2026), include the exact observed date and any exchange-specific notices.

Further practical tips and final note

If your question is precisely "will the stock market be open on presidents day" and you need a short operational checklist:

Expect NYSE and Nasdaq to be closed; equity market hours resume the next business day at 9:30 ET.
Bond markets typically close per SIFMA guidance; settlement clocks pause.
Options and many derivatives follow the primary exchange holiday schedules; check contract calendars for exceptions.
Crypto markets (including trading on Bitget) remain operational 24/7, but bank funding may be delayed by the holiday.

To avoid surprises, confirm exchange calendars and broker notices ahead of the holiday, and consider alternatives for continuous trading needs. Explore Bitget for 24/7 digital-asset access, and use Bitget Wallet for custody if continuous availability matters during U.S. market holidays.

If you’d like, I can expand any section with year-specific calendar examples (for example, the exact calendar date for Presidents’ Day 2026) and include sample settlement-date calculations given a hypothetical trade date.

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