MW Is the stock market open on Christmas? Does the post office deliver mail?
By Charles Passy
It's the height of the holiday season, so expect schedule changes
It's almost time to unwrap those presents: Christmas is coming up on Dec. 25, and so is Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, which begins this year on the evening of the 25th.
With all this holiday activity, it's worth keeping in mind what will be open and closed when. Here's our quick guide.
Is the stock market open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
The two major stock markets - the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq - will close early on Dec. 24, at 1 p.m. Eastern time, and will remain closed on Dec. 25.
Bond markets will close at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will remain closed on Dec. 25.
Trading on all financial markets resumes Dec. 26.
Is mail delivered? What about FedEx and UPS?
The U.S. Postal Service will deliver mail on Dec. 24, and post-office locations will be open, but customers are advised to check with their local office for specific hours. There will be no regular mail delivery on Dec. 25, but Priority Mail Express shipments will be delivered. Post offices will be closed that day.
UPS $(UPS)$ will follow a regular delivery schedule on Dec. 24. Service will be curtailed on Dec. 25 except for UPS Express Critical Service. UPS Store locations will be open on Dec. 24 but may be closed on Dec. 25.
FedEx $(FDX)$ will also follow a regular delivery schedule on Dec. 24, although FedEx Express will be offered on a modified basis. Service will be curtailed on Dec. 25 except for FedEx Custom Critical. FedEx Office locations will have modified hours on Dec. 24 and will be closed on Dec. 25.
Are banks open?
Banks are generally closed on Dec. 25, but you can always make transactions through an ATM or your bank's app or website - although the posting of transactions may be delayed. And while banks may be open on Dec. 24, you should with your local branch to see if it has modified hours that day.
Will government offices be open?
Since Christmas Day is a federal holiday, all nonessential federal government offices are closed on Dec. 25. It is also typically recognized as a state holiday, so expect state offices to be closed as well.
What about Christmas Eve? This year, President Joe Biden issued an executive order requiring all federal executive departments and agencies to close on Dec. 24, with employees "excused from duty."
States make their own decisions regarding Dec. 24. In Florida, for example, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced earlier this month that state offices will be closed on Dec. 23 and 24 in addition to the standard Dec. 25 closure.
Are stores open?
If you're looking to purchase a holiday gift at the last minute - or you're shopping for meal essentials for a Christmas or Hanukkah feast - you can rest assured that stores and supermarkets are generally open on Dec. 24. However, some will close early.
Dec. 25 is a different story. Most major retailers, including Costco $(COST)$, Walmart $(WMT)$, Target $(TGT)$ and Sam's Club, are closed on Christmas Day.
But some pharmacies will remain open on Christmas Day. CVS $(CVS)$, for example, said its stores will be open on Dec. 25, although some locations may have reduced hours. "We recommend that customers call their local store before visiting or check hours at cvs.com," a CVS spokesperson said.
-Charles Passy
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 23, 2024 10:36 ET (15:36 GMT)
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