For many Americans, November 11th-Veterans Day is a day of quiet reverence, a time set aside to honor the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It's a federal holiday, meaning most government offices, the post office, and nearly all banks close their doors.This universal pause often leads investors and traders to ask a very important question: Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?
The answer might surprise you, especially given the widespread federal closures: Yes, the U.S. stock market is open on Veterans Day and operates on its regular schedule.
Both major exchanges, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Stock Market, maintain their normal trading hours, running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For equity traders, portfolio managers, and individual investors, it’s business as usual. However, the story is quite different for another key segment of the financial world, which we’ll dive into shortly.
Understanding the Stock Market vs. Federal Holiday Calendar
The fundamental confusion surrounding the Veterans Day schedule stems from the difference between a Federal Holiday and an Exchange Holiday.
Veterans Day is an official Federal Holiday, established by the U.S. government to ensure federal employees have the day off to observe the occasion. This is why you'll find most non-essential government services shut down.
The stock exchanges the NYSE and Nasdaq are not federal government agencies. They are private entities whose holiday schedules are set by their respective boards and largely driven by the goal of maintaining market continuity and aligning with the needs of global institutional investors.
The list of days the U.S. stock market does close is relatively short, typically covering only nine major holidays:
~ New Year's Day
~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
~ Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)
~ Good Friday
~ Memorial Day
~ Juneteenth National Independence Day
~ Independence Day (July 4th)
~ Labor Day
~ Thanksgiving Day
~ Christmas Day
Notice that despite being a federal holiday, Veterans Day is conspicuously absent from this official list. Similarly, Columbus Day (also a federal holiday) is a regular trading day for the stock market. This selective approach by the exchanges is the core reason for the continuous ticker tape on November 11th.
The Crucial Divide: Stocks vs. Bonds
While the equity market is fully operational, it’s vital for investors to be aware of a major split in the financial world on this day.
Key Trading Alert: The U.S. bond market is closed on Veterans Day.
The bond market, which includes the trading of U.S. Treasury securities and corporate bonds, follows a separate holiday schedule set by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). SIFMA typically observes all Federal Holidays, including Veterans Day and Columbus Day.
- Stock Investors (Equities): You can buy and sell stocks and ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) as usual on the NYSE and Nasdaq.
- Bond and Fixed-Income Investors: Trading in U.S. government and corporate bonds will be halted for the day, and will resume the following business day.
This partial shutdown means that the underlying fixed-income assets held within certain funds like bond ETFs or mutual funds will not be actively traded, which can sometimes impact the overall market environment, though often subtly.
Why the Difference? A Historical Perspective
The question of why the stock market chooses to operate on certain federal holidays while shutting down for others is often rooted in history, tradition, and global finance.
Veterans Day, originally established as Armistice Day in 1938 to commemorate the end of World War I, has not historically been a closure date for the major exchanges. While the exchanges have made adjustments over the decades most recently adding Juneteenth as a closure they have maintained the open-for-business status on November 11th.
One theory suggests that since markets are increasingly global, closing on every federal holiday would be disruptive to international trading and foreign investment firms that do not observe the same holidays. By limiting closures to the most significant national and religious holidays (like Thanksgiving and Christmas), the U.S. exchanges attempt to strike a balance between respecting national observance and maintaining continuous liquidity for global capital flows.
Veterans Day Financial Checklist for Investors
If you are planning to trade or manage your finances on Veterans Day, here is a quick guide to what you can expect:
| Financial Service | Veterans Day Status | Key Detail |
| NYSE & Nasdaq (Stock Market) | OPEN | Normal trading hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET. |
| U.S. Bond Market | CLOSED | Trading in Treasury bonds, corporate bonds, etc., is halted. |
| Banks (Physical Branches) | CLOSED | Nearly all major banks observe the Federal Holiday. ATMs and online banking remain functional. |
| Federal Reserve/Government | CLOSED | No mail delivery (USPS), and federal services are shut down. |
| Cryptocurrency Exchanges | OPEN (24/7) | Crypto markets operate continuously regardless of traditional holidays. |
Conclusion: Plan Your Trades Accordingly
For investors, the main takeaway is to always check the specific holiday schedule of the exchanges. On Veterans Day, the equities markets stand firm: the ticker tape will run, trades will be executed, and your portfolio will be active.
As you plan your trading for the second week of November, remember the split in the financial world. If your strategy involves fixed-income assets, you’ll have to wait until the next day. If it’s focused on stocks, you can proceed with confidence, knowing the markets are operational.
It's a uniquely American tradition that allows the economy to hum along, while still ensuring that those who work in federal and state offices have the day to reflect upon and honor the service and sacrifice of our nation's veterans.
Disclaimer: Trading hours are subject to change by the respective exchanges. Always confirm the current year's schedule directly with the NYSE or Nasdaq for the most accurate information.
FAQs
1. Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?
No, the U.S. stock market (NYSE and Nasdaq) remains open on Veterans Day. Trading runs on the regular schedule.
2. Are banks and the bond market open on Veterans Day?
Many banks are closed, but the bond market is typically closed or operates on a limited schedule.
3. Does Veterans Day affect stock trading hours?
No, regular trading hours stay the same. There are no special early closes for stock exchanges on this holiday.
4. Should investors expect lower trading volume on Veterans Day?
Yes, because banks and the bond market close, overall market participation may be lower, which can slightly reduce liquidity.
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