You've probably been there. It’s a Monday morning, you’ve got your coffee ready, you’re looking at your watchlist, and... nothing. The tickers aren't moving. The charts are flatlines. You check your internet connection, but it’s fine. Then it hits you: it’s a federal holiday. Specifically, it's the third Monday of February.
If you’re wondering is stock market open on presidents day 2025, the short answer is a flat no.
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq will both be completely shuttered on Monday, February 17, 2025. They don't do "half days" for this one. They don't do "skeleton crews." They just close. But honestly, it’s not as simple as just "everything is closed." The financial world is a messy web of different schedules, and while the equity guys are sleeping in, other parts of the market are still grinding away in the shadows.
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Why the Stock Market Takes a Break
The market doesn't just close because the traders want a long weekend—though they certainly don't complain. Presidents Day, which is officially designated as "Washington’s Birthday" by the federal government, is one of the nine core holidays the U.S. exchanges observe.
It’s actually kinda interesting. We call it Presidents Day, but the law still technically honors George Washington. Back in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The goal? Give workers more three-day weekends. It’s the same reason Memorial Day and Labor Day always land on Mondays.
For the big players like the NYSE and Nasdaq, this means a total halt. No pre-market trading. No after-hours session. If you try to execute a trade on your phone while sitting on the couch, it’ll just sit there as an "open order" until Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. ET.
The "Everything Else" Problem: What Stays Open?
This is where people get tripped up. You might think "The Market" is one single entity. It isn't.
While the stock market is closed on February 17, 2025, the Futures markets are a different story. If you trade S&P 500 futures (ES) or Oil (CL), you’ll see some action. Typically, CME Globex runs a truncated schedule. They’ll open on Sunday evening as usual, but they’ll hit a "halt" early on Monday—usually around 1:00 p.m. ET—before reopening later that evening for the Tuesday session.
Basically, if you’re a futures trader, you get a nap, not a full day off.
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Then there's the Bond Market. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) generally follows the federal government’s lead. Since Presidents Day is a federal holiday, the bond market is closed too. This means no trading in U.S. Treasuries. If you were looking to hedge your portfolio with some government debt moves, you’re out of luck until Tuesday.
Banks and the Post Office
Since we’re talking about a federal holiday, most banks (Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America) will have their doors locked. ATMs still work, obviously. Your Zelle transfer will probably go through, but don't expect a wire transfer to clear.
The U.S. Postal Service? Closed.
FedEx and UPS? They usually keep most of their operations running, though maybe with some "modified" service levels.
Is the Stock Market Open on Presidents Day 2025 for Crypto?
Cryptocurrency is the one outlier that never sleeps. If you're bored because the Dow isn't moving, Bitcoin is still ticking. Ethereum is still fluctuating. Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance don't care about George Washington.
Honestly, some traders use holiday weekends to pivot entirely into crypto because the lack of institutional volume in traditional markets can sometimes lead to "weird" volatility in the digital space. Just be careful; low volume can lead to sudden spikes or dips that don't always make sense.
Historical Context: Does the Market Rally After the Holiday?
Traders love patterns. There’s a lot of talk about the "Presidents Day reversal" or "holiday hangover."
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Historically, the week following Presidents Day hasn't been a guaranteed win. According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the month of February is often a bit of a slog. It’s that weird transition period between New Year optimism and Spring growth. While one day off won't crash the economy, the Tuesday reopening often sees a rush of "catch-up" volume that can make the first 30 minutes of trading pretty chaotic.
Common Misconceptions to Watch Out For
- "It's an early close day." Nope. That’s for things like the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) or Christmas Eve. Presidents Day is a hard "No."
- "Foreign markets will be closed too." Actually, London (LSE), Tokyo (TSE), and Hong Kong (HKEX) will be wide open. It’s a U.S.-only holiday. If something massive happens in Europe on that Monday, U.S. traders will have to wait until Tuesday morning to react, which often leads to a "gap" in the charts.
- "Options don't decay on holidays." Sadly, theta (time decay) never takes a day off. If you're holding options over the long weekend, they're losing value while you’re at your BBQ.
Actionable Steps for the Long Weekend
Since you can't trade, use the time wisely. Here’s what pro traders actually do when the market is closed:
- Audit your journal. Go back through your trades from January. Where did you mess up? Where did you follow your plan perfectly?
- Set your alerts. Since you know the market reopens Tuesday, February 18, at 9:30 a.m. ET, set your price alerts on Sunday night.
- Check the earnings calendar. The week after Presidents Day usually features some heavy hitters reporting their quarterly numbers.
- Relax. Overtrading is a real thing. Sometimes the best thing for your P&L is to literally step away from the screen for 72 hours.
The stock market isn't going anywhere. It’ll be there on Tuesday morning, just as volatile and unpredictable as ever. Take the win, enjoy the day off, and maybe read a book that isn't about technical analysis.
Keep in mind that while the physical floors are closed, the world’s news cycle doesn't stop. By the time Tuesday morning rolls around, the "is stock market open on presidents day 2025" question will be replaced by "why did the S&P gap up/down 1%?" and you'll want to be rested and ready for that.
Next Steps:
Confirm your current positions' exposure to time decay over the three-day break. If you're holding short-term options, ensure your risk management accounts for the fact that you cannot exit those positions until Tuesday morning. Review the economic calendar for Tuesday, February 18, to see if any major data releases (like retail sales or manufacturing numbers) coincide with the market reopening.