US stock market closure details
Major US exchanges including the NYSE and Nasdaq 100 will fully close their equity and options markets on 9 January, observing a National Day of Mourning.
The bond market will operate on a shortened schedule, closing early at 2:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) rather than its usual 4:00 PM ET close.
This market closure aligns with the state funeral proceedings for former US president Jimmy Carter, who passed away on 29 December, 2024, at the age of 100.
Current president Joe Biden officially declared 9 January as a National Day of Mourning, triggering the market closures as part of honouring the former president’s legacy.
IG’s modified trading hours
US index futures on IG’s trading platform, including Wall Street, US 500, US Tech 100 and US Russell 2000, will close early at 2:30 PM GMT, though out-of-hours pricing remains available until futures reopen at 11:00 PM GMT.
The Volatility Index (VIX) observes an early closure at 2:30 PM GMT before resuming trading at 9:00 PM GMT, while US rates markets close at 6:15 PM GMT and reopen at 11:00 PM GMT.
Chicago Soft Commodities will close at 6:15 PM GMT, reopening at 1:00 AM GMT, though New York cocoa, coffee and New York sugar futures maintain regular hours.
Lumber and livestock markets close early at 6:15 PM GMT, resuming on January 10 at 3:00 PM and 2:30 PM GMT respectively.
Markets remaining open
Several key markets will continue normal operations throughout 9 January, offering ongoing trading opportunities through CFD trading.
Forex trading remains unaffected, with all currency pairs available during standard market hours.
US metals and energy commodities will follow their regular trading schedules, providing consistent access to these markets.
New York cocoa, coffee and sugar markets maintain their usual hours, offering additional trading opportunities during the closure period.
Impact on trading activities
Traders using online trading platforms should review any open positions in affected markets before the closure times.
While some US markets are paused, market-moving news and events may still occur, potentially affecting prices when markets reopen.
Consider exploring opportunities in unaffected markets or practicing strategies with a demo account during the closure periods.
Monitor global market reactions and news developments that could impact US markets upon reopening.
How to prepare for market changes
- Review your current positions in affected US markets
- Note the specific closing and reopening times for markets you trade
- Consider setting alerts for market reopening times
- Adjust stop-loss and take-profit levels accordingly
- Plan your trading strategy around modified market hours
Historical context and precedent
Market closures for presidential funerals follow established tradition in US financial markets, showing respect for former US presidents.
A recent example occurred in December 2018, when markets closed to honour former president George H.W. Bush during his state funeral proceedings.
These closures apply to all major US exchanges and affect trading across shares, options, and other securities.
The tradition demonstrates the deep connection between American political institutions and financial markets, with exchanges formally recognising the passing of former presidents.
