Honestly, nobody wants to be the person staring at a frozen ticker on a Thursday afternoon while everyone else is arguing about whether the turkey is dry. It happens every year. Someone forgets that the NYSE doesn't care about your "day-trading grind" when there’s stuffing to be eaten.
If you are looking for stock market hours thanksgiving week 2024, you need to know that the schedule isn't just a simple "open or closed" situation. It’s a bit of a hybrid.
The Big Shutdown: Thursday, November 28, 2024
Let’s get the easy part out of the way. On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the U.S. stock market is completely closed.
This means no regular session. No pre-market. No after-hours.
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq both take the full day off to observe Thanksgiving. If you try to place a trade, it’s basically just going to sit in a queue until Friday morning. It is one of the few days of the year where the "city that never sleeps" actually catches some Zs.
Black Friday Isn't Just for Retail
The day after Thanksgiving—Friday, November 29—is where things get a little weird. Most people assume the market is either closed for a "bridge day" or fully open. Neither is true.
On Friday, November 29, 2024, the stock market opens at its usual 9:30 a.m. ET, but it pulls the plug early.
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The closing bell rings at 1:00 p.m. ET.
That’s a truncated session. It’s only three and a half hours of core trading. If you’re used to that late-afternoon volatility or the "power hour" that usually happens before 4:00 p.m., you’re going to be disappointed. By 1:05 p.m., the floor is quiet.
Why the early close matters
You might think, "Big deal, it’s just a few hours."
Actually, it matters quite a bit because liquidity dries up. Volume on Black Friday is historically some of the lowest of the year. When there aren't many people buying or selling, price swings can get jagged. Small trades can move the needle more than they should. Basically, it’s a playground for algorithms and a few bored traders, so be careful with market orders.
What about Bonds and Commodities?
If you trade fixed income or futures, your clock looks different. The bond market (overseen by SIFMA) typically follows a more conservative schedule than stocks.
For 2024:
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- Thursday, Nov 28: Bond markets are closed.
- Friday, Nov 29: Bond markets close at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Notice that extra hour? Stocks close at 1:00, but bonds linger until 2:00.
As for commodities like gold or oil on the CME, they usually have a "halt" or early close on Thursday, then resume for a shortened session on Friday. Usually, electronic trading stays open longer than the pits, but volume is so thin it’s almost ghost-town levels.
The "Pre-Thanksgiving" Slump
Don't expect much action on Wednesday, November 27, either. While it’s technically a full trading day (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), the "Wednesday before" is notorious for being a low-conviction day.
Most institutional desks are already half-staffed.
People are catching flights or starting their prep. If there’s no major economic data dropping—like a surprise CPI report or a Fed leak—the market tends to drift.
Key Times to Tape to Your Monitor
- Monday, Nov 25: Normal hours (9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET)
- Tuesday, Nov 26: Normal hours
- Wednesday, Nov 27: Normal hours (but usually very low volume)
- Thursday, Nov 28: MARKET CLOSED (Thanksgiving Day)
- Friday, Nov 29: EARLY CLOSE at 1:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday)
Why This Week is Historically Weird
There’s this thing called the "holiday effect." Some analysts, like those at the Stock Trader’s Almanac, have pointed out that the market has a historical tendency to be bullish during Thanksgiving week.
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Is it because of "Santa Claus Rally" optimism?
Maybe. Or maybe it’s just that short-sellers don't want to hold risky positions over a long weekend. Either way, don't bet the house on it. Historical trends are just that—history. They aren't a guarantee of what happens in 2024, especially with the current geopolitical climate.
Practical Steps for Your Portfolio
Don't leave open orders hanging. Check your "Good 'Til Canceled" (GTC) orders.
If you have a limit order sitting out there and some weird news breaks on Thursday while you're eating pie, that 1:00 p.m. Friday open could see a massive "gap" in price. Your order might execute at a price you aren't happy with.
- Tighten your stops. Or better yet, widen them if you expect low-liquidity "whipsaws."
- Avoid "Market Orders" on Friday. Use limit orders to ensure you don't get filled at a ridiculous price during the low-volume session.
- Check your international exposure. Just because the U.S. is closed doesn't mean London (LSE) or Tokyo (TSE) are. If you hold heavy international ETFs, their underlying assets will still move while you're offline.
Keep an eye on the clock. That 1:00 p.m. ET deadline on Friday comes fast. Once the bell rings, you’re stuck until Monday morning.
Enjoy the break. The charts will still be there when you get back.