Is the stock market open on Columbus Day? Trading hours, liquidity, and what investors should expect today

U.S. investors often wake up on Columbus Day—also observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day—wondering whether they can place trades as usual. The answer for Monday, October 13, 2025 is straightforward: the U.S. stock market is open on its normal schedule, while the bond market is closed. Here’s how that split affects trading conditions, settlement, and strategy throughout the day.

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Is the stock market open on Columbus Day

Stock market hours on Columbus Day

Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq operate on regular hours today: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Standard pre-market (typically 4:00–9:30 a.m. ET) and after-hours sessions (4:00–8:00 p.m. ET) are available through participating brokers. Equity and ETF options on listed names follow the exchanges’ normal schedule, so hedges and income strategies can be implemented without interruption.

Because the equity markets are open while federal offices and many banks are closed, participants should expect a “semi-holiday” feel: active, but with pockets of thinner depth. Spreads can widen modestly, particularly in smaller-cap names and illiquid options strikes, and intraday moves may overshoot when large orders hit a quieter tape.

Bond market closed: why it matters for stocks and ETFs

The U.S. bond market is closed for the holiday, including cash Treasuries and most corporate bond trading. That matters even if you’re focused on equities:

Fixed-income ETFs (Treasury, corporate, muni) will still trade on the exchanges, but their creation/redemption ecosystem relies on an underlying market that’s largely paused. As a result, these ETFs can show wider premiums/discounts to net asset value and wider bid-ask spreads than on a typical Monday.
Rate-sensitive sectors—financials, utilities, REITs, homebuilders—may see muted price discovery because their primary macro driver (real-time yields) isn’t updating in the cash market. Futures do trade, but without the confirming signal from cash Treasuries, equity traders often mark time until Tuesday.

Settlement, margin, and corporate actions under T+1

Since the U.S. shift to T+1 settlement, trades executed today settle on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. That compresses funding and documentation windows:

Cash management: If you’re selling to fund a withdrawal or a new purchase, proceeds arrive one business day later.
Margin requirements: With settlement cycling faster, ensure collateral is lined up to avoid forced sales after today’s close.
Dividends and splits: Corporate actions scheduled for this week proceed on their stated record and payable dates; today’s open session means ex-dividend timing behaves normally.

Banks, USPS, and government services: open vs. closed checklist

Many investors multitask on market holidays. Here’s a quick snapshot for Monday, Oct. 13:

Open: Stock exchanges (NYSE/Nasdaq), options exchanges, futures venues (with modified schedules in some contracts), most online brokerages and customer support (reduced staffing possible).
Closed: Most banks and credit unions, U.S. Postal Service retail counters and regular mail delivery, many federal and state offices, and the bond market.

Trading playbook for a “split” holiday

Today’s mixed opening creates a few practical considerations:

Use limit orders. With potentially thinner liquidity and wider spreads, limits protect against unfavorable fills—especially in small caps and bond-linked ETFs.
Stagger entries/exits. Break larger orders into slices to reduce market impact in a quieter order book.
Mind ETF premiums/discounts. For fixed-income ETFs, compare intraday prices to indicative values and consider waiting until Tuesday if you need tight tracking to NAV.
Volatility timing. The first and last 30 minutes often concentrate volume on holiday-adjacent sessions; plan around the opening and closing rotations.
Check broker notices. Some platforms adjust cutoff times for money movement when banks and mail services are closed.

What’s next on the 2025 market calendar

Looking ahead, the U.S. stock market remains open on Veterans Day (Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025) but will close on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025), with a 1:00 p.m. ET early close on Black Friday (Nov. 28, 2025). If you’re planning trades, options expirations, or transfers around those dates, build in the same liquidity and settlement awareness you used today.

On Columbus Day 2025, U.S. stocks and listed options trade normally, but the bond market is closed. Expect workable—if slightly thinner—liquidity, be deliberate with order types, and remember that T+1 means today’s executions settle tomorrow.