Quick Overview
- NYSE and Nasdaq will not trade on Monday, May 25, 2026, observing Memorial Day
- Regular trading hours resume Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET
- Fixed income markets and over-the-counter trading are suspended for the holiday
- Global exchanges in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Paris maintain regular schedules
- Historical data shows May delivers average gains of 0.5% for the S&P 500 over two decades
American equity markets observe a trading holiday on Monday, May 25, 2026, in recognition of Memorial Day. Both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market will remain closed until Tuesday’s opening bell.
This market pause follows an eventful trading week on Wall Street. Market participants have been analyzing corporate results from Nvidia and monitoring developments in quantum computing equities.
Memorial Day Closures Across Financial Services
Fixed income markets concluded early trading on Friday and will remain shuttered through the holiday. Over-the-counter trading platforms are similarly inactive for the observance.
Nationwide banking institutions are not conducting business today. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and JPMorgan Chase align their schedules with Federal Reserve holiday protocols.
The United States Postal Service has suspended operations for the day. Memorial Day represents one of eleven official USPS holidays throughout the year.
FedEx has halted the majority of its delivery services, with the exception of FedEx Custom Critical operations. UPS standard pickup and delivery are unavailable, though Express Critical maintains 24-hour service availability.
Global Trading Continues Uninterrupted
Since Memorial Day is exclusively an American federal observance, international financial markets proceed with typical operations. The Shanghai Stock Exchange, Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Euronext Paris all conduct standard trading sessions today.
Historical Market Patterns During Late Spring and Summer
Investors frequently reference the adage “sell in May and go away” when discussing seasonal trading strategies. This maxim suggests summer periods yield diminished performance. Historical evidence presents a nuanced picture.
Over the previous twenty years, the S&P 500 has delivered average May returns of 0.5%. When narrowing the timeframe to the last ten years, that figure increases to approximately 1.5%.
June performance shows average gains of 0.2% across two decades, while the ten-year average climbs to roughly 1.9%. July demonstrates stronger momentum, with recent decade averages reaching 3.4%.
August produces moderate results. Ten-year averages for the S&P show 0.9% gains, declining to 0.2% when examining twenty years of data.
September consistently emerges as the most challenging month. The benchmark index has declined an average of 1.3% during September over the recent ten-year period.
Certain market observers also monitor the “holiday effect” phenomenon. This pattern suggests markets experience modest appreciation preceding holidays, followed by softer trading afterward. Researchers attribute this partially to heightened consumer activity and reduced trading participation as investors take vacation time.
Standard market operations resume Tuesday, May 27, with the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
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