Today, the major North American stock markets are closed in observance of Good Friday, a significant Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This closure affects the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq, which will not conduct any pre-market, regular, or after-hours trading sessions. The pause extends to key indices such as the Nasdaq Composite, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and S&P 500, halting equity and related financial instrument trading for the day.
Good Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States, but it has long been recognized by financial markets as a non-trading day, a tradition maintained by the NYSE and Nasdaq for over a century. While most government offices and banks remain open, the financial markets take this day off to allow traders and financial professionals time for reflection and to reset ahead of the Easter weekend. The U.S. bond market, governed by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), will also close early on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET and remain closed on Friday.
This market holiday offers a brief respite for Wall Street amid ongoing economic and geopolitical developments. Although the markets are closed, futures trading and international markets may still respond to global news, which investors should monitor over the weekend in preparation for Monday’s reopening.
On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the day before the closure, U.S. equity markets showed mixed results. The S&P 500 edged up 0.13% to close at 5,282.70, despite a choppy session that left the index down for the shortened week amid tariff concerns. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.13% to 16,286.45, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply by 1.33% to 39,142.23. The Dow’s decline was largely influenced by a steep drop in UnitedHealth shares following an earnings miss and a $5.5 billion quarterly charge reported by Nvidia related to U.S. export restrictions on its H20 GPUs destined for China and other regions.
Trading will resume on Monday, April 21, 2025, with the usual schedule:
- Pre-market trading: 4:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Regular trading session: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
- After-hours trading: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Investors will be closely watching upcoming earnings reports from major companies, particularly in banking and technology sectors, which could influence market direction. Additionally, economic data releases related to inflation, consumer sentiment, and manufacturing activity will be critical in shaping expectations around Federal Reserve policies. Geopolitical developments over the weekend may also introduce volatility when trading resumes1.
Following Good Friday, the U.S. stock markets will observe several other holidays with full trading suspensions:
Following Good Friday, the U.S. stock markets will observe several other holidays with full trading suspensions:
- Memorial Day: May 26, 2025 (Monday) — Honors fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Juneteenth: June 19, 2025 (Thursday) — Commemorates emancipation of enslaved African Americans
- Independence Day: July 4, 2025 (Friday) — Marks the birth of the United States
This closure serves as a reminder of the intersection between cultural observances and financial market operations, providing a momentary pause in the fast-paced trading environment,
