If you’ve ever woken up on a federal holiday, poured a coffee, and wondered if you can actually trade your favorite tech stock, you aren't alone. It's confusing. Honestly, the U.S. financial calendar is a bit of a patchwork quilt. You’ve got the post office closed, banks shuttered, and the local DMV taking a nap, yet when you check your brokerage app, the tickers are still moving.
The big question every October is the columbus day stock market open status. People assume that because it’s a federal holiday, Wall Street goes dark.
Nope.
In 2026, Columbus Day (also widely observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day) falls on Monday, October 12. While your mail carrier is staying home and the Federal Reserve is officially closed, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are very much alive and kicking.
Why the Stock Market Stays Open While Banks Close
It feels like a glitch in the matrix. How can the banks be closed but the stock market be open? Basically, it comes down to who makes the rules. The stock exchanges are private entities. They don’t have to follow the federal government's lead on every single holiday.
The NYSE and Nasdaq have a specific "naughty list" of holidays where they actually pull the plug. Columbus Day isn't on it. Neither is Veterans Day, by the way.
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Important Distinction: The bond market is a different animal. While you can buy 100 shares of Apple on Columbus Day, you'll have a much harder time trading government Treasuries.
The bond market follows the recommendations of SIFMA (the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association). Since bonds are heavily tied to the banking system and the Federal Reserve, the bond market does close for Columbus Day. This creates a weird "half-open" financial world.
The Weird Reality of Trading on a "Bank Holiday"
You’ve got to be careful with your cash moves today. Since the Federal Reserve is closed, the "plumbing" of the financial system is essentially on a break. This means:
- Settlement Delays: If you sell a stock on Monday, October 12, the "T+1" settlement clock might skip a beat because banks aren't processing the wire transfers.
- Liquidity Dips: Because the "big money" bond traders are off, the stock market can sometimes feel a bit sluggish.
- ACH Transfers: Don't expect that transfer from your checking account to hit your brokerage until Tuesday.
Historical Oddities: Why Wall Street Doesn't Care About October 12
You might wonder why the markets decided to stay open for this one. Traditionally, the stock market only closes for holidays that are universally recognized across almost all private sectors—think Christmas, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July.
Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937, but the NYSE decided long ago that taking a random Monday off in October just wasn't necessary for business.
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2026 Trading Hours at a Glance
For those who just want the raw numbers, here is how Monday, October 12, 2026, looks for your portfolio:
- NYSE: Open (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET)
- Nasdaq: Open (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET)
- Bond Market: Closed
- Over-the-Counter (OTC): Mostly open, but very thin volume
- International Markets: Varies (The London Stock Exchange doesn't care about U.S. holidays, obviously)
It's sorta funny when you think about it. You could be sitting in a quiet office because half your coworkers took the "federal holiday" off, but the floor of the NYSE is still screaming over price movements.
The "Invisible" Impact on Your Portfolio
Even though the columbus day stock market open is a "go," the day usually lacks the fireworks of a normal Monday. Professional traders call these "low volume" days. When volume is low, price movements can be exaggerated. A single large sell order can move a mid-cap stock more than it would on a busy Tuesday because there are fewer buyers sitting at their desks to soak up the shares.
If you're a day trader, this is great. If you're a long-term investor, it's mostly noise.
What About Indigenous Peoples' Day?
In recent years, many states and cities have shifted to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day. While the name and the spirit of the holiday have evolved, the financial mechanics remain the same. Whether your calendar says Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, the NYSE treats it as a standard business day.
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Actionable Steps for Investors
Don't let the "bank holiday" status trip you up. If you plan on being active in the market on October 12, 2026, keep these things in mind:
- Fund your account early. If you see a dip you want to buy on Monday morning, make sure your "buying power" is already there. Your bank won't help you move money on the actual holiday.
- Watch the spreads. Because there are fewer people trading, the "bid-ask spread" (the gap between what a buyer offers and a seller wants) might be wider than usual. Use limit orders instead of market orders to avoid getting a bad price.
- Check your bond ETFs. If you hold something like TLT or BND, they might trade, but they won't have the usual underlying bond market to give them a "true" price signal. Things can get wonky.
- Confirm your local bank's status. While most banks are closed, some "retail" branches in grocery stores might have limited hours. Don't count on it, though.
Basically, treat it like a normal Monday for your stocks, but a Sunday for your cash. It’s a bit of a headache, but that’s just how the U.S. financial system works.
If you're looking ahead at the rest of the year, remember that the real closures happen for Thanksgiving (Nov 26) and Christmas (Dec 25). Those are the days when the screens actually go dark. For October 12, keep your eyes on the tickers—they’ll be moving.
Next Steps:
- Verify your brokerage's specific policy: While the exchanges are open, some smaller boutique firms might have limited support staff.
- Set up your ACH transfers by Friday, October 9: This ensures you have liquidity for the Monday session.
- Review your limit orders: Ensure they are adjusted for potential low-volume volatility.