By Weston Blasi
The holiday weekend affects the bond market’s hours on Friday. Here’s what you need to know.
U.S. financial markets will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day.
Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day, when America honors its fallen heroes – and financial markets and other institutions will be closed in observance of the holiday.
The origins of Memorial Day date back to 1868, when Civil War soldiers on the Union side decorated the graves of the war dead with flowers. Memorial Day officially became a federal national holiday in 1971, and is now part of a nationwide annual celebration that also serves as the unofficial beginning of summer.
The holiday weekend will be filled with travel, events and patriotic pride. It’s also a time when many Americans hit the road, with AAA predicting a record-setting 45 million people traveling domestically.
The bond market is among those getting a head start on the holiday weekend, closing early on Friday. Here’s what you need to know about how financial markets are impacted by the holiday weekend, as well as other openings and closures.
Is the stock market open on Memorial Day? Will financial markets close early on Friday?
All U.S. stock markets will follow normal hours the Friday before the holiday weekend, but the bond market will close early, at 2 p.m. Eastern on May 22.
U.S. stock and bond markets are closed on Memorial Day, May 25, and resume normal hours the following Tuesday, May 26.
Does the post office deliver mail on Memorial Day?
The U.S. Postal Service will not deliver mail on Monday.
FedEx (FDX) will not be operating, except for its Custom Critical shipments; FedEx Office stores will have modified hours.
Similarly, UPS (UPS) does not offer service on Memorial Day, and UPS Store locations may be closed, but it’s best to check with your local store in advance just in case. The company’s Express Critical shipments will remain operational.
Are banks open on Memorial Day?
Nearly all major banks are closed on Memorial Day. Banking apps and ATMs at your local bank should remain operational as normal if you need to check your balance, or withdraw or transfer money.
Are government offices open on Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday, and all nonessential federal government offices are closed. State government offices are likely to be closed as well, but it may depend on your area.
Are schools open on Memorial Day?
Schools and universities are typically closed on Memorial Day, though it’s always best to check with your local school district. Some private high schools could have alternative schedules.
Are most retail stores open?
Stores generally remain on Memorial Day, as the holiday weekend remains an big retail opportunity for many businesses.
According to a RetailMeNot survey, 66% of Americans said they were at least somewhat likely to hold out until Memorial Day to make a purchase they’ve been eyeing. Still some stores could be closed, or have modified hours, so be sure to check in ahead of time.
-Weston Blasi
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