Is stock market open Black Friday? Yes. On Friday, November 28, 2025, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will open for a partial session and close early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The shortened trading day follows the full market closure on Thanksgiving.
What happens on Thanksgiving vs. Black Friday
U.S. equity markets are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2025. That closure applies to major stock exchanges and most options and futures venues.
On Black Friday, the markets resume operations but on a modified schedule. Equities trading will end at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, while eligible options may close slightly later at 1:15 p.m.
Exact hours to expect on Nov. 28, 2025
- Premarket and the normal morning opening remain unchanged.
- NYSE and Nasdaq equities trading ends at 1:00 p.m. ET.
- Many options products stop trading at 1:15 p.m. ET.
- Bond-market hours may differ, as several fixed-income venues often operate on an adjusted early-close schedule. Traders handling bonds or Treasury products should confirm details with their broker.
Why markets shorten the session on Black Friday
The early close is a long-standing practice aligned with reduced activity around the Thanksgiving holiday. Many market participants, including institutional desks, operate with limited staffing. As a result, liquidity becomes thinner, spreads may widen, and trading volumes tend to fall. Even with lighter activity, retail earnings reports or macroeconomic data released before or after the holiday can still influence price movements.
What active traders need to watch
- Order timing: A shortened day leaves less room for managing positions. Trades placed close to the early close may not execute at ideal prices.
- Liquidity conditions: Reduced participation means wider bid-ask spreads. Traders using market orders should be careful about late-session execution.
- Options schedules: Some options follow the 1:15 p.m. close, while others match the equity schedule. Checking contract-specific hours helps prevent unexpected cutoffs.
- Futures and other asset classes: Futures markets often adjust hours separately from equities. Anyone trading globally should review each exchange’s holiday notice.
Considerations for long-term investors
Long-term portfolio holders generally will not feel major effects from the early close. The market still provides several morning hours for normal trading, and the weekend gap risk between Friday and Monday remains unchanged. Investors planning large portfolio adjustments, dividend strategies, or rebalancing often prefer to wait for full sessions to avoid liquidity complications.
How brokerages and clearing operate
Brokerages typically accept orders throughout the shortened session, but settlement timelines remain standard. Banking holidays can affect fund transfers. Anyone needing to move money in or out of a brokerage account during Thanksgiving week should plan ahead, as ACH and wire transfers may experience delays.
Checklist before you trade on Black Friday
- Confirm your broker’s customer-support hours and trading schedule.
- Prefer limit orders over market orders, especially in the final hour.
- Check exercise and assignment deadlines if you hold or write options.
- Review any earnings or retail-sector data that may move markets.
- Verify bond and futures hours separately if you trade across asset classes.
Quick recap
- Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27, 2025): markets closed.
- Black Friday (Nov. 28, 2025): markets open but close early at 1:00 p.m. ET for equities and 1:15 p.m. ET for many options.
Bottom line
If you’re asking is stock market open Black Friday, the answer is yes — but only for a shortened session ending early in the afternoon. Traders should prepare for lighter volumes, wider spreads, and stricter timing as the holiday weekend begins.