BREAKING: U.S. stock and bond markets are closed today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If you planned to trade, settle cash, or move money, adjust now. I have the full read on what is open, what is not, and how this holiday shifts the week for investors.
Markets are closed today
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are shut all day Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. There is no regular or after-hours trading for U.S. stocks or ETFs. Equity and index options are also closed. The U.S. bond market is dark as primary dealers and Treasury trading desks observe the federal holiday. That pause includes most corporate and muni trading as well.
Futures are the exception. Select contracts on CME operate on a modified electronic schedule. Expect a limited daytime session with a midday halt, then a Monday evening reopen. Liquidity is usually thin during these holiday windows, so size your orders with care.
Market status today, stocks and bonds closed. Select futures on modified hours, evening reopen expected.
What is open, what is paused
Futures and crypto hours
Risk never fully sleeps. Equity index futures and key rates futures follow shortened MLK Day sessions, then resume Monday evening. That sets the tone for Tuesday’s cash open. Oil and metals typically follow similar adjusted hours. Crypto trades around the clock, which can amplify weekend headlines and gap risks into Tuesday.
Banking, mail, and deliveries
Most bank branches are closed. ATMs and mobile banking are live, but the Federal Reserve is closed, so wires do not move and ACH payments scheduled for today push to the next business day. The U.S. Postal Service is closed with no regular delivery. Some parcel carriers run modified routes. Retail broker support lines may be limited or normal, firm by firm.
A quick snapshot for planning:
- NYSE, Nasdaq, options, and U.S. bonds, closed today
- CME futures, modified hours with evening reopen
- Banks, branches closed, online open, Fedwire and ACH delayed
- USPS, closed, private carriers vary
Trading and settlement implications
This holiday shifts the tape, the calendar, and your cash. With T plus 1 settlement now in force for U.S. equities, trades executed on Friday will settle on Tuesday. That affects cash availability, margin headroom, and buying power for active accounts. If you planned to recycle proceeds today, build in the extra day.
Options do not trade today, but time decay does not take a holiday. When markets reopen on Tuesday, options pricing will reflect one less day to expiration. Dividends and corporate actions follow business days, so record and payable dates that would fall today shift to the next valid date.
Watch global markets. Europe and Asia trade on normal hours, which can reprice risk while the U.S. is paused. Futures will try to mark that shift overnight. That sets up gap potential at Tuesday’s open, especially in sectors tied to commodities, China headlines, or rates.
Settlement and payments, Friday stock trades settle Tuesday. ACH and wires initiated today will not process until the next business day.
Investment playbook for the long weekend
Use the quiet to get ahead of Tuesday. Review open orders and adjust limit prices to reflect any overnight futures move. If you are waiting on cash, confirm settlement dates before placing new trades. For options, reassess near-term exposures since time decay will step down at the open. Volatility can pop after a three day break, so consider smaller position sizes or hedges if you expect a hot start.
Cash management matters. Holiday timing can change interest accruals on margin and sweep balances. If you have bills or payroll tied to ACH, confirm Tuesday processing to avoid surprises. Earnings season is heating up, and several large names report later this week. Moves in those stocks can pull indexes and sector ETFs, so map your catalysts now.
Set price alerts, update stop losses, and queue Tuesday orders with clear limits. Thin overnight signals can flip fast at the open.
The road ahead
The next U.S. stock market holiday is Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. Between now and then, the calendar is heavy with earnings and key economic reads. Today’s pause compresses the week, which often raises turnover on Tuesday and Wednesday. Go in prepared, manage your liquidity, and stay nimble. Markets are closed now, but the setup for the next move has already started.
