Stock Market Operations on Juneteenth What Happens?

The Stock Market will be closed on Monday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth. The observance of the newest federal holiday has led to the closure of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, adding it to the list of market holidays that also includes Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Juneteenth, also recognized as Emancipation Day, Black Independence Day, and Jubilee Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about the closures of various markets.

Will the U.S. Stock Market be open on Juneteenth?

No, the Stock Market will be closed on Monday, June 19th, to observe the holiday.

U.S. stock exchanges determine their holiday schedules in coordination with regulators. As a result, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and Cboe Global Markets will all be closed.

In 2021, the NYSE officially recognized Juneteenth as a holiday after consulting with market participants to establish consensus. Last year marked the first closure of the market for this occasion.

Are bond and commodities markets closed on Juneteenth?

Yes, the U.S. bond market will be closed, leading to a pause in trading government bonds, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and some other assets. Additionally, CME Group’s markets for U.S. commodities such as wheat, corn, oil, and copper will also be closed.

Will banks and post offices close for Juneteenth?

Yes, both Federal Reserve Banks and major Wall Street banks will be closed for the holiday. Nonmember banks may also choose to close. The Postal Service will suspend various operations, including post offices.

What is the significance of Juneteenth?

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, a date that falls roughly two months after the end of the Civil War and approximately two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared enslaved individuals in the Confederacy as free. On that day, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops and issued an order informing the last enslaved individuals in Texas of their newfound freedom.

Although the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was ratified in December 1865, pockets of enslavement persisted in some parts of the country for several years.

When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?

Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed it into law. It now holds the same status as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other federal holidays.

The holiday gained national attention following global protests for racial equity in 2020. Congressional leaders from both parties viewed establishing the holiday as an important gesture to acknowledge the suffering endured by those enslaved in America and as an act of racial reconciliation.

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This marked the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.

The Stock Market closes for holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Additionally, trading may end early on certain days. However, it remains open for some federal holidays, including Columbus Day and Veterans Day.