The U.S. stock market is set for a modified trading schedule as the holiday season approaches. On Christmas Eve, December 24, both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq will operate for a limited time, closing early at 1 p.m. ET. After this early closure, the markets will remain shut on Christmas Day, reopening at their regular hours on Friday morning.
Investors should mark their calendars, as the bond market will also observe an early closing time of 2 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve, continuing its closure through the holiday. Over-the-counter trading, which typically occurs outside of formal exchanges, will align with the same schedule, closing at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve and resuming regular hours the following Friday.
In addition to U.S. markets, international exchanges are adjusting their schedules as well. The London Stock Exchange will close early, starting at 12:30 p.m. local time on December 24, with operations fully halted on Christmas Day. The exchange will remain closed the following day for Boxing Day, and the trend continues into the new year with early closures on December 31 and complete shutdowns on January 1.
Similarly, EuroNext, covering markets in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, and Paris, will observe half days on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, while remaining closed on Christmas and the day after for St. Stephen’s Day. The Milan and Oslo markets will close entirely on Christmas Eve and remain shut through Boxing Day.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange will not have afternoon or after-hours trading sessions on Christmas Eve, while also being closed on Christmas Day. The exchange will observe closures for several days following the holiday, including a total shutdown on the first weekday after Christmas.
Both the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange will conclude trading on December 31 and remain closed on January 1, marking a significant pause in trading activity across major global financial markets.
As the holiday season unfolds, investors and traders alike are advised to keep these early closures in mind while making last-minute gift purchases and planning their trading strategies for the remainder of the year.
