U.S. Markets to Close for Christmas Holiday

As the holiday season approaches, investors should note the modified trading schedule for U.S. stock exchanges. Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will see market closures, affecting trading activity across major exchanges including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq.

Official Holiday Trading Schedule

The complete closure schedule for the Christmas period is as follows:

  • Christmas Eve (December 24): Markets will be closed for the full trading day
  • Christmas Day (December 25): Markets will remain closed for the federal holiday
  • December 26: Normal trading hours resume at 9:30 AM ET

Global Market Implications

The U.S. market closure coincides with holiday schedules across many international exchanges. European markets including the London Stock Exchange will also observe closures on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, potentially creating a period of reduced global trading liquidity. Investors with international portfolios should coordinate with their brokers regarding specific exchange schedules.

Financial professionals recommend that traders complete any time-sensitive transactions before the holiday closure and review their portfolios for year-end tax considerations. The traditional holiday period often sees reduced trading volumes in the preceding days, which can sometimes lead to increased volatility.