Do stocks trade on Good Friday?
Introduction
Do stocks trade on Good Friday? For U.S. investors the straightforward answer is no: major U.S. stock exchanges close on Good Friday. This article explains what that closure means in practice, which U.S. and international markets follow the holiday, how different instruments are treated, and what alternatives traders and investors have while exchanges are closed.
As of 2026-01-14, according to official exchange holiday calendars and industry guidance from exchanges and market associations, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq observe Good Friday as a market holiday. Read on to learn which instruments are affected, how orders and settlements are handled, and where 24/7 trading options such as cryptocurrencies on Bitget fit into holiday trading plans.
Quick answer
- Do stocks trade on Good Friday? For primary U.S. equity markets, no. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq close for the full trading day on Good Friday, and U.S. bond markets generally follow the same schedule. Markets reopen on the next regularly scheduled trading day.
- Good Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States, but it is treated as a de facto market holiday by major U.S. exchanges and many market participants.
Historical background
Observing Good Friday on U.S. exchanges is rooted in long-standing custom. Exchanges in the United States began recognizing religious and civic holidays in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Good Friday became part of many exchanges' holiday schedules because of lower historical participation on the day and a desire to align with other financial markets and clearing operations.
Practical reasons given by exchanges and market participants for observing Good Friday include:
- Historically low retail and institutional participation on Good Friday, reducing liquidity.
- The need to coordinate with bond, clearing and settlement systems and international markets that also observe closures, which helps maintain orderly markets.
- Operational risk reduction: fewer staff and reduced back-office activity on holiday dates can increase settlement risk, so exchanges choose to close or reduce hours to manage that risk.
Taken together, tradition and practical market-structure considerations explain why Good Friday remains on many exchange calendars.
Which U.S. markets and instruments are affected
Equity markets (NYSE, Nasdaq, regional exchanges)
Primary U.S. equity exchanges — including NYSE, Nasdaq and many regional exchanges — close for the full trading day on Good Friday. Exchange holiday calendars list Good Friday as a non-trading day; market participants should check the exchanges’ published holiday calendars each year for any changes.
As of 2026-01-14, exchange calendars from major U.S. exchanges continue to list Good Friday as a holiday. Because calendars are published and updated annually, verify the current year’s calendar before placing trades around the holiday.
(Source references: official exchange holiday calendars and exchange notices.)
Bond and fixed-income markets
U.S. bond markets generally follow the same holiday schedule as equities and are closed on Good Friday. Industry groups and market participants often rely on coordinated holiday observance to align primary and secondary market trading, settlement cycles, and clearing operations.
SIFMA (the industry association representing U.S. broker-dealers and banks) and bond-market participants historically advise that settlement, dealer desks, and interdealer trading may be limited or closed on Good Friday. Confirm the specific calendar from your broker or the firm that handles your bond trades.
Options and listed derivatives
Listed options and other exchange-traded derivatives on major U.S. venues typically follow the underlying exchanges’ holiday schedules. When a primary exchange is closed, the listed options markets on that exchange are closed as well. There are exceptions on other holidays where exchanges may adopt early-close schedules; for Good Friday, the common practice is full closure.
Always check exchange notices for product-specific exceptions and for any early-close or special auction procedures in adjacent trading days.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds
ETF trading is exchange-dependent. If the exchange where an ETF is listed is closed for Good Friday, ETF secondary-market trading is paused for that day. ETF creation/redemption activity and fund administrator operations may also be limited or closed, affecting settlement and net asset value (NAV) publication timing.
Mutual funds do not trade intraday like ETFs; their NAVs are typically calculated at the end of the business day. If fund administrators are closed for the holiday, NAV calculation and corporate actions may be delayed. Check fund prospectuses and administrator notices for operational schedules.
Futures, commodities, and foreign-exchange markets
Futures and commodity markets have their own holiday schedules. Some futures markets settle to U.S. holiday calendars and close on Good Friday, while others may operate reduced hours or remain open depending on the contract and venue. For example, U.S.-listed commodity contracts tied to agricultural, energy, or metals markets can have differing holiday rules.
Foreign-exchange (FX) markets are primarily OTC and global — they often remain open on Good Friday in at least some jurisdictions, but liquidity can be substantially lower. Reduced participation and thinner order books can lead to wider spreads and greater volatility.
Because futures and FX hours vary by venue and instrument, check the specific market's published calendar before trading.
International markets: variations and notable exceptions
Global exchanges differ in how they treat Good Friday and related holidays (for example, Easter Monday is observed by some markets). Many European and Commonwealth exchanges observe Good Friday; others observe both Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Notable points:
- Several Latin American and European exchanges typically close for Good Friday.
- Some Asian exchanges (for example, markets in Tokyo or Shanghai) may remain open on Good Friday because Good Friday is not a holiday in those jurisdictions.
- Emerging market calendars can vary by country and by year.
Because the observance of Good Friday and adjacent holidays depends on local laws and market practice, investors with cross-border exposure should check each market's annual holiday calendar to confirm trading hours.
Practical implications for traders and investors
Order handling and pending orders
- Do stocks trade on Good Friday? No — so any market orders submitted on Good Friday for U.S. exchanges will typically be queued and not executed until the exchange reopens. Limit orders may remain in the book depending on your broker’s policies.
- Stop orders, market-on-open orders and other conditional orders that would trigger during closed periods may be handled differently by different brokers. When markets reopen, orders may execute at prices significantly different from the stop level due to overnight news, creating slippage.
- If you need to place orders around a holiday, contact your broker to understand how they handle order acceptance, cancellation, and expiration during holidays.
Settlement, corporate actions, and clearing
Settlement cycles (e.g., T+1 for U.S. equities) can be affected by holiday closures. A Good Friday closure can shift operational deadlines and move settlement dates into the next open business day, potentially compressing timelines.
Corporate actions such as dividend record dates, proxy deadlines, and effective dates for corporate reorganizations can also be impacted. Clearinghouses and custodians may operate on modified schedules; check with your custodian or broker for specific timelines.
Liquidity and volatility considerations around adjacent sessions
Even when exchanges are open on the days surrounding Good Friday, liquidity can be thinner in sessions immediately before or after the holiday. Reduced liquidity can produce wider bid-ask spreads and increase the potential for price gaps at the reopening.
Plan orders with reduced liquidity in mind, consider limit orders to control execution price, and be alert to news flow over the holiday weekend that can affect reopening prices.
Alternatives and trading while exchanges are closed
After-hours/alternative trading venues and crossing sessions
When official exchanges are closed for Good Friday, there is generally no normal after-hours trading on those exchanges. Some venues offer crossing sessions or special auction mechanisms on certain holidays, but these are exchange-specific and less common for Good Friday. Always check the exchange’s rules and notices for details.
Over-the-counter (OTC) and off-exchange trading
Some OTC markets and broker-dealer desks may still facilitate negotiated trades while exchanges are closed. Price discovery and liquidity differ from normal exchange trading. OTC trades can have different settlement mechanics and counterparty risk.
If you plan to trade in OTC or off-exchange venues during a holiday closure, confirm the counterparty, settlement timing, and any additional costs or operational constraints with your broker.
Cryptocurrency markets
Cryptocurrencies trade 24/7 on global networks and are not affected by exchange holidays. For traders and investors seeking continuous access, crypto markets provide an always-open alternative. When mentioning Web3 wallets and 24/7 trading, the recommended option in this article is Bitget Wallet for secure custody and Bitget exchange for advanced crypto trading services.
Note: crypto market prices and liquidity are independent of traditional market holidays and can be highly volatile; this is a distinct market with different risk profiles and settlement models.
Why exchanges observe Good Friday (rationale)
Exchanges cite a combination of historical practice and operational reasons when maintaining Good Friday as a holiday. Key rationales include:
- Historical tradition and the precedent of low participation on the day.
- Reduced participation leading to thinner liquidity and increased potential for disorderly markets.
- Coordination with bond and clearing systems to ensure settlement and reduce operational risk.
- Resource planning: many back-office and clearing functions operate with reduced staffing on holidays, and aligning closures helps prevent settlement mismatches.
These reasons combine to make a market-wide closure the efficient choice for many primary exchanges.
How to confirm whether markets will be open
To confirm whether markets will be open on Good Friday in any given year, consult authoritative sources:
- Official exchange holiday calendars (e.g., NYSE, Nasdaq and regional exchange calendars).
- Exchange announcements and press releases (exchange operations pages and official notices).
- Industry guidance from trade associations and market bodies.
- Broker-dealer client notices and help pages detailing order acceptance and settlement operations during holidays.
- Financial media and market calendars published by reputable outlets.
Always verify the calendar for the specific year you’re trading; because Good Friday moves each year with Easter, the calendar date changes annually.
Typical calendar behavior and examples
Good Friday is a movable date based on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox and lunar cycles; it typically falls between late March and mid-April. Exchanges commonly publish multi-year holiday calendars months or a year in advance so market participants can plan.
Exchanges also publish early-closing days around other holidays (for example, the trading day before Independence Day or Christmas Eve) with specific early-close times. For Good Friday, however, the prevailing practice in the U.S. has been full-day closure rather than early close.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: Are U.S. markets closed on Good Friday? A: Yes. For primary U.S. equity and bond markets, exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq close for the full trading day on Good Friday.
Q: Are bond markets closed on Good Friday? A: Generally yes. U.S. bond and fixed-income markets usually observe Good Friday and have limited or no trading and settlement activity.
Q: Will my broker accept orders on Good Friday? A: Many brokers will accept orders for the next trading day, but orders will not execute until the exchange reopens. Broker policies differ; contact your broker or review their holiday policies.
Q: Do options and ETFs trade on Good Friday? A: Listed options and ETFs that trade on closed exchanges do not have normal secondary-market trading on Good Friday. Fund operations and NAV publication may be affected.
Q: Are crypto markets closed on Good Friday? A: No. Crypto markets operate 24/7, including Good Friday. For those who require continuous access to markets, crypto trading on Bitget and custody in Bitget Wallet remain available.
See also
- Exchange holiday calendars (annual NYSE and Nasdaq calendars)
- SIFMA holiday recommendations and guidance for fixed-income markets
- Trading hours and settlement cycle explanations (T+1, T+2)
- Cryptocurrency 24/7 market overview and Bitget Wallet features
References and further reading
- NYSE official holiday and trading hours pages (exchange calendar and notices)
- Nasdaq holiday calendar and exchange notices
- Industry guidance from securities market associations and clearinghouses (holiday observances)
- SIFMA commentary on holiday schedules for bond markets
- Investor education materials on market holidays and settlement cycles
- Financial media market calendars and coverage of exchange holiday policies
As of 2026-01-14, exchange holiday calendars and exchange notices continue to list Good Friday as a non-trading day for primary U.S. exchanges. Confirm the current year calendar from the exchange or your broker before trading around the holiday.
Practical checklist for traders and investors before Good Friday
- Verify the current year’s exchange holiday calendar for each market you trade.
- Check broker-specific rules about order handling, acceptance and expiry dates.
- Review settlement timelines if you have trades that settle close to the holiday.
- Anticipate lower liquidity in adjacent sessions and consider using limit orders to control execution price.
- If you need continuous access to markets, consider cryptocurrencies via Bitget exchange and secure custody with Bitget Wallet, noting that crypto markets carry different risks.
Final notes and recommended next steps
Do stocks trade on Good Friday? For major U.S. markets the answer is no — they are closed — but variations exist across asset classes and jurisdictions. Before the holiday, verify published exchange calendars, your broker’s operational notices, and any fund or custody implications for settlement and corporate actions.
To explore continuous trading alternatives and Web3 custody options while traditional markets are closed, consider Bitget exchange for crypto trading and Bitget Wallet for secure custody. Learn more about how 24/7 markets differ from exchange-traded markets and plan order-handling and settlement around holiday schedules.
Explore more market holiday guides and Bitget resources to stay prepared for upcoming holidays and to understand how alternative markets can fit into your trading or investment workflow.
