Stock Market Holiday Trading Schedule

Predicting Trading Volume

Globalization has brought many opportunities to the average investor who is looking for as many trading opportunities as possible. As little as 15 years ago, the majority of investors were confirmed to the major North American markets to buy and sell their shares. Factor in the stock market holidays, and you were looking at a very set schedule for investing your hard earned money.

Of course, the largest stock markets reside in North America. Of the major exchanges, none are bigger and trade more volume than the NYSE, Nasdaq and Amex exchanges. Even the TSX trades at a lower volume when the US enjoys a holiday. Therefore, its important to remember the days when the US markets are closed, and plan your trades around this.

There are several variables that impact a trader's decision to buy or sell, and the timing of a holiday is one of them. Historically, some holidays are better than others for getting in before, and others suggest that its time to sit on some cash. Many larger institutional traders will close positions several days before a holiday, causing lighter trading volume around stock market holidays.

While we have covered other world markets in the past, for our purposes here, we'll look at the holidays that impact the US stock exchanges.

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• President's Day
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day After Thanksgiving Day - Closes at 1pm
• Christmas Eve - Closes at 1pm
• Christmas Day - December 25, 2010

As with many large companies, there are also some special rules that apply:

• While not an official holiday, the day after Thanksgiving the markets close at 1pm
• If the holiday that is being observed falls on a Saturday, then the market is closed on the proceeding Friday
• If the holiday that is being observed falls on a Sunday, then the market is closed on the following Monday

Some holidays change from year to year such as:

• Martin Luther King Jr Day falls on the 3rd Monday in January
• Presidents Day falls on the 3rd Monday in February
• Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May

Keeping track of the stock market holidays on the exchanges you trade on will help you become a better informed trader.