Stock Market Holidays 2008 & 2009

General Stock Market Holiday Rules
Any holiday that falls on a Sunday and that is observed by the stock market or the stock exchange on that Sunday means that the market will be closed the following Monday.

Any holiday that falls on a Saturday, and that is observed by the stock market or the stock exchange on that Saturday, means that the market will be closed on that Friday before the holiday.

The day following Thanksgiving Day has a tradition of closing at 1:00 p.m. on that day, even though it is not considered an official holiday. *This holds true for other holidays as well.  Please note the early closing times for those days that precede and follow the holidays listed below.

It is also important for investors to understand that since we live in a global economy that other countries do not celebrate all of these stock market holidays. Fortunately for those living in the United States, the largest stock markets in the world are located here and they do follow the American holiday schedule.

Regular Stock Market Hours of Operation
The regular trading hours of the stock market are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The after-hours sessions run from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the NASDAQ and they run from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the NYSE Euronext.

Please print out and post both the 2008 and the 2009 stock market holidays calendars below.

2009 Stock Market Holidays Calendar
New Years Day  ( January 1, 2009)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  (January 19, 2009)
Washington’s Brithday / President’s Day  (February 16, 2009)
Good Friday  (April 10, 2009)
Memorial Day  (May 25, 2009)
Independence Day  (July 3, 2009)
Labor Day ( September 7, 2009)
Thanksgiving Day **  (November 26, 2009)
Christmas Day **  (December 25, 2009)

**The NYSE Trading Floor closes early (1PM ET) on Friday, November 27, 2009 (the day after Thanksgiving); and Thursday, December 24, 2009.

2008 Stock Market Holidays Calendar
New Years Day  (January 1, 2008)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  ( January 21, 2008)
Washington’s Brithday / President’s Day   (February 18, 2008)
Good Friday  (March 26, 2008)
Memorial Day  (May 26, 2008)
Independence Day **  (July 4, 2008)
Labor Day  (September 1, 2008)
Thanksgiving Day **  ( November 27, 2008)
Christmas Day ** (December 25, 2008)

**The NYSE Trading Floor closes early (1PM ET) on Thursday, July 3, 2008; Friday, November 28, 2008 (the day after Thanksgiving); and Wednesday, December 24, 2008.

We hope that you found this information useful. For additional helpful information please check out our stock market glossary filled with stock market terminology as well as articles describing Japanese candlesticks and various chart patterns. You can also read more about technical analysis and indicators such as moving averages and the different types of moving averages.

Please continue your stock market education and learn about how to read stock charts.