BREAKING: U.S. stock market closes early today for Christmas Eve
The call is in. U.S. stock trading wraps up early today. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close at 1 p.m. Eastern, Wednesday, December 24, 2025. Markets are fully closed tomorrow for Christmas Day. If you were planning to trade late this afternoon, you are out of runway.
Today’s hours, tomorrow’s shutdown
Today is a shortened session. Expect lighter volume, wider spreads, and a fast final hour. There is no regular after hours once the exchanges close, and many brokers restrict extended trading around early closes. That means fills can be slow and prices can jump in thin markets.
Tomorrow, Thursday, December 25, the stock market is closed. That includes NYSE, Nasdaq, and most U.S. options venues. CME and bond market schedules are also limited, with the Treasury market following an early close today and a full close tomorrow.
Today, Dec 24: Early close at 1 p.m. ET.
Tomorrow, Dec 25: Full market holiday.
Why this matters for your money
This week is not just about time off. It is about timing. The U.S. moved to T+1 settlement this year. A stock trade you make today will settle Friday, December 26, since Thursday is a holiday. That can affect cash availability, margin, and how you line up year end moves.
Watch your resting orders. Good till canceled orders can trigger on thin prints in a quiet tape. Stop orders can slip if spreads widen. Options pricing often looks quirky on half days, since market makers run smaller books and hedging is harder.
Banks and payments also slow down. Many branches close early today and shut tomorrow. Fedwire and ACH cutoffs move up. Plan for delays on wires, transfers, and checks. If you need cash posted against a margin call, do not wait.
Liquidity is lower on half days. A small order can move a stock more than usual. Use limits, not market orders.
Market setup, risk, and the holiday drift
Holiday weeks often trade on headlines, not depth. One big order can set the tone. Today’s early close compresses a normal day of positioning into a few hours. That can lift the open, then sap momentum by late morning. The close at 1 p.m. can be jumpy as funds square risk.
Tomorrow’s shutdown pauses price discovery for a full day. Any global news that lands on Thursday will get priced in at Friday’s open. Expect a gap up or down if the news is material. For active traders, Friday’s first 15 minutes will be key.
The Santa Claus rally window, the last five trading days of December and the first two of January, is now in play. Thin tape can magnify moves. Be careful chasing strength or weakness into the close today.
What to do before the bell rings at 1 p.m.
You still have a few hours. Make them count.
- Check your broker’s holiday notice and trading cutoffs
- Convert market orders to limit orders to control price
- Review stops and GTC orders for surprise fills
- Plan cash transfers for Friday settlement and next week
- Line up tax moves you must finish this year
Tax loss harvesting, options, and funds
If you are harvesting losses, remember this rule. For stocks and ETFs, the tax event is based on trade date, not settlement. A sale executed today counts for 2025. Watch the wash sale rule if you plan to reenter the name within 30 days.
Weekly equity options expiring Friday, December 26, trade as normal on Friday. Today’s early close can distort pricing and implied volatility. If you plan to roll or close positions, do it early in the session and work your price.
Mutual funds do not trade intraday. Orders placed today will follow fund company cutoffs, which often align with the exchange’s early close. If you miss today’s window, your order will process on the next market day.
If you must be in the market today, trade the open and the first hour. Liquidity tends to be better before it fades.
Looking ahead
If a market holiday falls on a weekend in another year, the exchanges typically observe it on the nearest weekday. That keeps settlement and operations aligned. For now, focus on today’s 1 p.m. finish and tomorrow’s full closure. Then we are back on Friday, with normal hours and a market ready to react to any holiday headlines.
Bottom line. The clock is ticking. Trade with limits, manage risk, and plan cash and tax moves before the early bell. Enjoy the break, then be ready for a busy Friday open.
