As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, traders and investors may have questions about the trading schedule of major U.S. stock markets. Those curious about the status of the stock market on Friday, November 28, 2025, will find that the markets will indeed be open but will operate on an adjusted timeline.
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Stock Market are set to have an early close at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, categorizing Black Friday as an early-close trading day rather than a full market holiday. This will also apply to U.S. bond markets, which will close at 2:00 p.m. ET, as recommended by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA).
For those planning to trade on Black Friday, it’s crucial to be aware of the condensed hours. U.S. stock markets will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., while many options will have a slightly extended closure at 1:15 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the bond markets will remain open during the morning session but conclude their trading day at 2:00 p.m. ET.
As Thanksgiving week progresses, here’s how the schedule looks for the major markets:
- Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Normal trading hours, with equity markets open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Thursday, November 27, 2025: Both U.S. stock and bond markets will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving.
- Friday, November 28, 2025: U.S. stock markets will open for trading, but will close at 1:00 p.m. ET, with options trading winding down shortly thereafter. Bond markets will close an hour later at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Such trading schedules are predictable from previous decades and are noted in financial media as part of the Thanksgiving week tradition.
Ahead of Black Friday, the markets are showing signs of strength. On November 26, reports indicate a notable rally in major stock indices, driven by positive economic data and growing expectations for a potential interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve in December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed about 0.76%, the S&P 500 gained 0.82%, and the Nasdaq Composite saw an increase of 0.93%. The upbeat sentiment has sparked interest in technology shares, particularly those linked to artificial intelligence.
However, Black Friday presents its own unique trading landscape, with expectations of lower trading volumes that could lead to higher volatility in stock prices. Traders are advised to take precautions by using limit orders instead of market orders to mitigate risks associated with the thin volume of trades.
Investors should also be mindful of earlier cutoff times set by brokers for same-day settlements, mutual fund orders, and complex options strategies. In addition, international traders should note that the early closure impacts the global trading environment, especially with the timing translating differently across international time zones.
With all these considerations in mind, those involved in the markets are reminded that, even with an early close, significant market movements can still occur, and positions held into the weekend will reflect any developments during the shortened trading hours.
