BREAKING: U.S. stock market to close early at 1 p.m. ET today
I can confirm the NYSE and Nasdaq will close at 1 p.m. Eastern today. This is the standard Christmas Eve schedule when it falls on a weekday. Both exchanges will be closed tomorrow for Christmas Day. If you need to trade, the window is short, and conditions will be thin.
Regular hours return on the next business day. That means a normal 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern session when markets reopen.
Today’s schedule at a glance
Stocks open at 9:30 a.m. Eastern and close at 1 p.m. Eastern. Options on stocks and ETFs follow the same 1 p.m. close. The official closing auction will run at 1 p.m., not 4 p.m. Market on close orders hit the book earlier, with a 12:50 p.m. cutoff.
Pre-market trading is available on many platforms from 4 a.m. to the opening bell. Liquidity is limited in that window. After-hours trading is different today. Some brokers will shorten or cancel it entirely on an early close day. Check your platform before you count on that liquidity.
The U.S. bond market is set to follow a recommended early close at 2 p.m. Eastern. Treasurys often see lighter flows on this schedule. Many futures contracts observe adjusted holiday hours as well, and volume drops materially in the afternoon.
Use limit orders today. Spreads can widen quickly in thin tape, even in large cap names.
What this means for markets
An early close reshapes the day. The final hour becomes noon to 1 p.m., and the close matters. Dealers square books sooner. The closing auction pulls liquidity forward. That can create sharp moves in the last 15 minutes.
Expect lighter volume across the board. Fewer resting orders mean more slippage. A single large print can move a price more than usual. ETFs can trade at small premiums or discounts near the bell, as the arbitrage window narrows early.
Volatility can spike around headlines or company updates. Most firms avoid releasing major news into a short session. Still, any surprise can travel further when depth is thin. If you are managing risk, set alerts and know your exits.
Settlement, cash, and the holiday ripple
U.S. stocks now settle on T plus 1. A trade executed today will settle on Thursday, since tomorrow is a holiday. That matters for cash needs, margin, and tax planning. If you planned to free up funds immediately, build in the extra day.
Banks and brokers run on limited schedules today. Wire and ACH cutoffs are often earlier than normal. Some deposit credits will post on the next business day. Options assignment and exercise processing follows the exchange schedule, so check your broker’s holiday notice.
In fixed income, a 2 p.m. close dampens price discovery. Short term funding desks wind down early. Treasury liquidity pockets can appear around midday, then fade. If you need a print, work the order proactively.
What to do before the bell
You have a smaller runway today. Be deliberate.
- Review open orders and good till canceled tickets
- Switch market orders to limits for better control
- Recheck stops and alerts around thin levels
- Confirm your broker’s after-hours and cash deadlines
Do not assume normal after-hours liquidity. Many venues scale back, and some symbols do not trade after the early close.
A quick read on positioning
Portfolio managers often lock in risk early on a short day. That can favor profit taking in recent winners. Laggards can see brief relief rallies as shorts trim lines. None of this changes the long term story, but it can distort today’s prints.
If you are dollar cost averaging, stick to plan. If you are trading, think small and precise. There is no prize for forcing a trade into a thin tape.
The bottom line
The stock market closes at 1 p.m. Eastern today, and is closed tomorrow. Liquidity will be lighter, spreads wider, and the close will come fast. Plan around T plus 1 settlement on Thursday. Confirm your broker’s cutoffs for orders, cash, and options.
Trade with intention, keep orders tight, and respect the clock. The next full session resumes after the holiday, with the usual 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern rhythm. Enjoy the break, and come back ready. 📈
