Investors in the United States and globally, including those in India tracking international markets, need to mark their calendars for an altered trading schedule this festive season. While US President Donald Trump recently declared December 24 and 26 as federal holidays for 2025, leading to a five-day weekend for government employees, the nation's financial markets will follow a different plan.
Stock Exchanges Defy Federal Holiday Schedule
Contrary to the closure of federal offices, the major US stock exchanges have confirmed they will remain operational on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2025. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq have officially stated that they will not adopt the federal holiday schedule. This means trading will proceed, but with significant timing adjustments that every investor must note.
Revised Trading Hours for December 24
Instead of a full closure, the US equity markets will observe an early close. According to the official holiday calendars published by the exchanges, trading on December 24 will conclude at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This is notably earlier than the standard trading hours of 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET.
The bond market will also wrap up early, as recommended by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), with an early close scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on the same day.
Official Holiday and What Comes Next
The executive order from the White House, issued last week, officially grants a day off to federal workers on both December 24 and December 26. However, the only full trading holiday for the stock market in this period remains Christmas Day, December 25. All market activity will pause on this day, with normal trading hours resuming on Friday, December 26.
Looking further ahead, investors can plan for the 2026 market holidays, which include standard closures for New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, among others.
Key Takeaways for Traders:
- The US stock market will NOT be closed on Christmas Eve (Dec 24, 2025).
- Both NYSE and Nasdaq will close early at 1:00 PM ET.
- The US bond market will close early at 2:00 PM ET.
- The next full market holiday is Christmas Day, December 25.
Indian investors and fund managers with exposure to US equities must factor these revised timings into their strategy to avoid any last-minute disruptions during the holiday-shortened session.
