Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve?

Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve?

As the year winds down, many investors ask a very practical question: is the stock market open on Christmas Eve?

Between closing out positions, tax planning and taking time off, knowing exactly when markets open and close, especially in 2025, helps you avoid surprises and manage risk more confidently.

Let’s start with the direct answer for Christmas Eve 2025, then move into the general rules, global markets, and what holiday trading conditions mean for your strategy.

Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas 2025?

Yes. On Wednesday, 24 December 2025, the US stock market is open, but only for a shortened session.

According to the official NYSE and Nasdaq holiday calendars:

• Wednesday, 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve)
  
  • NYSE & Nasdaq: Open as usual at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time
    
  • Early close at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
    
• Thursday, 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day)
  
  • Full market holiday: NYSE and Nasdaq are closed
    

So, if you’re specifically wondering “is the stock market open on Christmas Eve 2025?” the answer is: Yes, but only until 1:00 p.m. ET.

This half-day schedule sets the tone for the rest of the holiday period and follows a broader pattern that repeats most years.

Stock Market General Rule on Christmas Eve?

Stepping away from 2025 for a moment, there’s a simple rule you can use in most years:

When Christmas Eve falls on a weekday:
US stock markets are usually open with an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET.

When Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday or Sunday:
There is no special Christmas Eve session, and markets are just closed for the weekend as normal.

On the 25th December, Christmas Day is always treated as a full market holiday for NYSE and Nasdaq. This is why some years you’ll see headlines saying “the stock market is closed on Christmas Eve”. This is not because the rules changed, but because 24 December landed on a weekend.

How Does This Compare to Other Major Markets?

Many investors also keep an eye on markets outside the US, so it helps to know how other major exchanges operate around Christmas.

London Stock Exchange (LSE)

• Christmas Eve is typically a short trading day.
  
• The closing auction begins around midday, and trading winds down early.
  
• The LSE is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, giving UK traders a longer break.
  

Europe (Euronext and Other Exchanges)

• Many European exchanges treat Christmas Eve as a half day, closing in the early afternoon local time.
  
• Christmas Day is a full holiday, and 26 December is also a holiday in several countries.
  

Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)

• The TSX generally mirrors US practice:
  
  • Early close on Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday
    
  • Full closure on Christmas Day

Asia–Pacific

• In markets such as Japan and mainland China, Christmas is not a major local holiday, so December 24 and 25 are often normal trading days.
• In Hong Kong and Singapore, Christmas Day is a public holiday, so markets are closed. Christmas Eve is typically open, though some years may operate with early closing hours.

For global portfolios, this means that even if the US stock market closes early on Christmas Eve 2025, some Asian markets may operate normally, while Europe and the UK run shorter sessions.

What About Bonds, Futures and After-Hours on Christmas Eve?

To plan properly around Christmas Eve, it helps to look beyond just equities.

US Bond Market (SIFMA Guidance)

The US bond market usually follows recommendations from SIFMA. Around Christmas:

• Bond trading often closes early, commonly at 2:00 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve.
  
• Christmas Day is a full holiday for bonds as well.

Exact timing can vary, so it’s worth checking the latest SIFMA or broker notices if you trade fixed income.

Futures (CME Group)

For equity index, FX and commodity futures:

• CME Group runs modified schedules around major holidays.
  
• On or around Christmas Eve, some futures contracts may close early or switch into a reduced “holiday schedule” and then resume after Christmas.

Again, the detail depends on the contract you trade, so it’s best to consult the current CME holiday calendar.

After-Hours Trading

On a stock market half day like Christmas Eve 2025:

• After-hours trading is usually shortened or not available.
  
• Even when technically open on certain venues, liquidity is extremely thin, and spreads can widen significantly.
  

How Christmas Eve Affects Trading Conditions

Knowing whether the market is open is only the starting point, the next thing to consider is how a half-day session actually affects trading conditions.

1. Lower Trading Volumes

Many institutional desks, funds and active traders take leave in the final week of December. As a result:

• Volumes tend to drop sharply compared with normal sessions.
  
• Price moves can be slower for long stretches, then jump unexpectedly when a larger order hits.

2. Thinner Liquidity and Wider Spreads

With fewer orders on both sides of the book:

• Bid–ask spreads can widen, especially in small caps and niche ETFs.
  
• Large market orders may cause more slippage than usual.

3. Odd Volatility Spikes

Holiday markets are often quiet, until they aren’t.

• A single corporate headline or macro rumour can cause outsized moves, precisely because there are fewer participants to absorb the flow.
  
• These moves sometimes fade quickly once normal liquidity returns.

4. Settlement and Year-End Planning

US equities now follow a T+1 settlement cycle, meaning most trades settle one business day after the trade date. Around Christmas and New Year, additional holidays can still push those settlement dates into the following week or even into the next year, so it’s important to check whether a year-end trade will settle in the current calendar year.

Practical Tips for Trading on Christmas Eve 2025

If you plan to trade on Christmas Eve 2025, it helps to adjust your approach to the shorter, thinner market conditions. Start by checking your broker’s holiday notice, as some platforms restrict certain order types or close functions earlier than the official 1:00 p.m. ET cutoff. 

Given the lighter liquidity, rely more on limit orders to control your execution price and avoid large market orders, especially in illiquid stocks or ETFs where even small trades can move prices.

It also pays to map out the full holiday sequence: 24 December closes early, 25 December is a full market holiday, and 26 December returns to normal hours. Knowing this will help you decide whether to enter positions or hold them through the break. Finally, set realistic expectations. Christmas Eve isn’t ideal for aggressive strategies. It’s better used for small adjustments, tidying up positions, and ensuring your portfolio is set up comfortably for the holiday period.

Conclusion

Christmas Eve may be a shorter trading day, but it still offers investors a chance to fine-tune their portfolios before markets pause for the holiday. With a clear understanding of the schedule and a calmer market backdrop, it becomes a good moment to slow the pace, take stock of your positions, and prepare for the final stretch of the year. 

As long as you approach the session with intention and awareness, you can wrap up your trading year on a confident, organised note.