By Mackenzie Tatananni
The first few months of 2026 haven given investors a lot to wrap their head around.
Since the end of January, software stocks have been battered by concerns over artificial-intelligence disruption that have since impacted other sectors, such as private credit. The Iran war, which began in late February, triggered broad macroeconomic uncertainty and a shift into risk-off territory.
Now it's time to take a breather. Here's what to know about trading hours for Thursday and Good Friday.
Is the Stock Market Open Today and on Good Friday?
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will be open on Thursday and closed on Friday. The exchanges will reopen at at their regular time, 9:30 a.m. Eastern, on Monday.
Similarly, over-the-counter markets, the Cboe Futures Exchange, and the CME Globex trading platform will be open on Thursday but shut on Friday.
The bond market, however, will close early at 2 p.m. on Thursday and remain closed on the religious holiday.
What About International Markets?
The London Stock Exchange, the Euronext Paris, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange are just some of the marketplaces that will be open for trading on Thursday but closed on Friday.
Others, like the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange, will keep normal business hours on both days.
Some foreign exchanges will be closed for Easter Monday, including the Euronext Paris and the London Stock Exchange.
Will Banks and Post Offices Be Open on Thursday and Good Friday?
Yes. The Federal Reserve observes 11 federal holidays each year, but Good Friday isn't one of them. This means branches at most major banks, such as Capital One, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase, will be open.
Friday is business as usual for the U.S. Postal Service, meaning USPS locations will be open and carriers will deliver mail.
What About Private Carriers?
UPS Store and FedEx Office stores will be open on both days. Unlike certain federal holidays, both UPS and FedEx will offer pickup and delivery services on Good Friday.
What Is Good Friday?
Good Friday is a Christian holiday celebrated two days before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, and is historically a day of sorrow, fasting, and reflection.
Easter, the principal holiday of the Christian church, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It concludes a 40-day period known as Lent, during which Christians focus on prayer, almsgiving, and practice traditions such as abstinence from eating meat on certain days.
Modern customs blend religious tradition with secular festivities, including parades, egg hunts, and family meals that center on themes of springtime and renewal.
Easter may fall on April 5 this year, but the holiday never is observed on a fixed day. The date is determined through a calculation known as computus paschalis, literally "computation of Easter" in Latin. This ensures the holiday lands on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox.
Write to Mackenzie Tatananni at mackenzie.tatananni@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 02, 2026 08:00 ET (12:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments