You’re staring at your trading app on a Monday morning, coffee in hand, wondering if the tickers are actually going to move. It’s Monday, November 11. Veterans Day. You know the post office is locked up tight. You know the local bank branch has that "Closed" sign hanging in the window. But what about your portfolio? Is stock market open on Veterans Day 2024? The short answer is a resounding yes.
If you are looking to buy or sell shares of Nvidia, Apple, or that speculative penny stock you’ve been eyeing, the doors are wide open. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq keep regular trading hours on Veterans Day. They don't take the day off.
The Great Market Divide
Here’s where things get kinda weird. While the folks on the equity floor are shouting and clicking away, the bond market is a literal ghost town. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)—which basically sets the rules for bond trading—recommends a full market close for Veterans Day.
Because the bond market is closed, things don't exactly move at lightning speed behind the scenes.
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It’s a lopsided holiday. You can trade stocks, but because the Federal Reserve is closed, the "plumbing" of the financial system is essentially turned off. This creates a strange lag that most casual investors don't see until they try to move their cash around.
Is Stock Market Open on Veterans Day 2024? The 2-Day Settlement Trap
Even though the answer to "is stock market open on Veterans Day 2024" is yes, your money might behave like it's a holiday anyway. This comes down to something called settlement.
Usually, when you sell a stock, it takes one business day for that trade to officially "settle" (known as T+1). However, because Veterans Day is a federal bank holiday, that clock stops ticking.
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Let’s say you sold a bunch of shares on Friday, November 8. Normally, that cash would be settled and ready for withdrawal by Monday, November 11. But since banks are closed on Monday, the settlement is pushed to Tuesday.
- Stocks: Trading normally (9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET).
- Bonds: Closed. No Treasury yields moving, no corporate bond trading.
- Banks: Closed. No wire transfers, no ACH deposits.
- Postal Service: Closed.
If you’re a day trader, this probably doesn't change your life. You can still open and close positions. But if you were planning on selling stock on Monday to pay your rent on Tuesday, you’re going to have a bad time. The banking system needs to be "awake" to move that money into your checking account.
Why doesn't the NYSE just close?
It feels inconsistent, right? Most federal holidays like Memorial Day or Labor Day see everything shut down. Veterans Day (and Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day) are the outliers.
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The stock exchanges generally only close for holidays that are widely observed by the private sector. Since most big corporations and private businesses stay open on November 11, the NYSE and Nasdaq follow suit to provide liquidity. They don't want to miss a day of volume if the rest of the world is still working.
What about the rest of the year?
Since Veterans Day is one of the final holidays of the year, it’s basically the "calm before the storm" for market schedules. After November 11, the calendar gets a lot more aggressive with the "Closed" signs.
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov 28 (Closed).
- Black Friday: Friday, Nov 29 (Early close at 1:00 PM ET).
- Christmas Eve: Tuesday, Dec 24 (Early close at 1:00 PM ET).
- Christmas Day: Wednesday, Dec 25 (Closed).
Honestly, the lack of bond market activity on Veterans Day can actually make the stock market a bit "jumpy." Without the stabilizing influence of Treasury moves, sometimes equity volatility creeps up. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s something seasoned traders watch out for.
Actionable Next Steps for Traders
Don't get caught off guard by the banking freeze. If you need to manage your money around the holiday, here is exactly what you should do:
- Initiate Transfers Early: If you need cash in your bank account by Monday or Tuesday, initiate that withdrawal from your brokerage no later than Wednesday of the previous week.
- Check Your Options: Options trading remains open on Veterans Day, but like stocks, the settlement of the underlying cash will be delayed.
- Watch the Spreads: Because some institutional players take the day off anyway, liquidity can be slightly lower than a normal Monday. Be careful with large market orders; use limit orders to protect your price.
- Plan for No News: Don't expect any major government economic reports (like CPI or employment data) on Veterans Day, as those government offices are closed.
Basically, go ahead and trade if you want, but don't expect your bank to help you out until Tuesday morning.