what time does the stock market close today

What Time Does the Stock Market Close Today? Your Guide to New Year’s Eve Trading Hours

As the calendar winds down on another year, investors and traders across the United States are asking one critical question: what time does the stock market close today? With New Year’s Eve festivities on the horizon, market hours can shift, impacting trading strategies and portfolio management.

Understanding the specific schedule for the NYSE and Nasdaq is crucial, especially on a day like New Year's Eve, which often features abbreviated trading sessions. Whether you are looking to make a last-minute trade before the ball drops or simply want to track the final market movements of the year, knowing the exact closing times is essential.

This guide breaks down the verified trading hours for New Year’s Eve and offers a look ahead at the holiday schedule, ensuring you have the most accurate information to navigate the market's final hours of 2025.

The Final Bell: Today’s Trading Schedule

According to verified reports from Barron's, The Providence Journal, and USA Today, the U.S. stock market is indeed open on New Year's Eve, but with a modified schedule. While it is a full trading day, the hours are abbreviated to allow market participants to ring in the New Year early.

Verified Closing Time: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq will close early today, Tuesday, December 31, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

This early closure applies to the equity and equity options markets. It is a standard procedure for the market's "half-day" holidays, which also include days like Black Friday and the day after Christmas.

Key Details for Today

• Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2025
• Market Status: Open with abbreviated hours
• Closing Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• After-Hours Trading: Post-market trading will likely begin around 1:00 p.m. ET to 4:00 p.m. ET, though volumes can be lower than usual.

Investors should be aware that while the official closing bell rings at 1:00 p.m., orders placed shortly before the close can be subject to increased volatility. As noted by USA Today, these holiday hours are consistent across major U.S. exchanges, so there is no discrepancy between the NYSE and Nasdaq today.

"The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will close early on New Year's Eve, wrapping up the trading year at 1:00 p.m. ET." — Barron's

A Look Ahead: New Year's Day Market Closure

Once the clock strikes 1:00 p.m. ET today, the markets will officially shut down for the holiday. It is equally important to confirm the status of Wednesday, January 1, 2026.

All three verified sources confirm that the stock market will be fully closed on New Year's Day. There will be no pre-market, regular, or after-hours trading sessions.

This closure allows the financial infrastructure to reset and prepares the global markets for the opening bell on Thursday, January 2, 2026.

Historical Context: Why Do Markets Close Early?

The tradition of closing the stock market early on New Year's Eve is rooted in the operational rhythms of Wall Street and the broader cultural observance of the holiday. Historically, financial hubs like New York City see a significant exodus of workers heading out of town or to local celebrations.

By closing at 1:00 p.m., the exchanges ensure that floor traders, brokers, and back-office operations have adequate time to settle the day's trades while also allowing employees to participate in the holiday.

The Pattern of Holiday Hours

This "half-day" is part of a broader pattern of market holidays. The U.S. stock market observes nine full holidays annually where it is completely closed, including: * New Year's Day * Martin Luther King, Jr. Day * Washington's Birthday * Good Friday * Memorial Day * Juneteenth Independence Day * Independence Day * Labor Day * Thanksgiving Day

Additionally, there are two "half-days": * The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) * Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday) and New Year's Eve.

Interestingly, when a holiday falls on a weekend, the market typically observes the closure on the nearest weekday. For example, if New Year's Day were on a Saturday, the preceding Friday would likely be a full holiday closure.

Navigating the Market's Final Hours

For the average investor, the early close on New Year's Eve typically means a compression of trading activity. Volume often spikes in the morning and tapers off as the 1:00 p.m. deadline approaches.

Strategic Implications: * Portfolio Rebalancing: Many investors use the final hours to rebalance their portfolios for tax-loss harvesting or to adjust their asset allocation before the new year. * Global Impact: While U.S. markets are closing, international markets in Europe and Asia will remain open for their standard hours on December 31st. This can lead to gaps in pricing when U.S. markets reopen on January 2nd. * Lower Liquidity: As the day progresses, expect liquidity to dry up. This can lead to wider bid-ask spreads, particularly for smaller-cap stocks.

According to The Providence Journal, the schedule is designed to provide a clear end to the trading year, allowing traders to step away from their desks without worrying about late-breaking market news affecting their positions until the new year begins.

Looking Forward to 2026

As the market prepares to close today, investors are already looking toward the new trading year. The final trading day of 2025 sets the psychological tone for the market's year-end performance.

Once the market reopens on January 2, 2026, traders will be looking at fresh economic data, including the monthly jobs report, which is typically released the first Friday of the month. This data often sets the tone for market sentiment in the first quarter.

Summary of Key Times

To ensure you are prepared for the holiday schedule, here is a quick reference:

• December 31, 2025 (Today): Market closes at 1:00 p.m. ET.
• January 1, 2026: Market is Closed all day.
• January 2, 2026: Market reopens for normal trading hours at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Whether you are a day trader looking to capture final volatility or a long-term investor checking your year-end gains, knowing that the market closes at 1:00 p.m. ET today ensures you won't be caught off guard. From all of us following the markets, have a safe and happy New Year.