By Mackenzie Tatananni
As millions of Americans hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, investors are welcoming the chance to slow down.
The holiday follows a chaotic week driven by quarterly earnings from artificial-intelligence giant Nvidia and a flurry of excitement around quantum computing stocks.
Here's what investors should know about trading hours on Monday.
Is the Stock Market Open or Closed on Memorial Day?
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market are both closed May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. They will reopen at their usual time, 9:30 a.m. Eastern, on Tuesday.
Following an early close on Friday, the bond market will remain closed for the holiday. Over-the-counter markets also will be closed on Monday.
What About International Markets?
As Memorial Day is only a federal holiday in the U.S., international markets will remain open on Monday.
These include the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and the Euronext Paris.
Will Banks and Post Offices Be Open?
Major banks, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and JPMorgan Chase, will shut their doors on Monday in accordance with the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule.
Post offices will also suspend operations. The U.S. Postal Service's website shows that Memorial Day is one of 11 holidays it observes this year.
What About Private Carriers?
Most FedEx service, including Freight and Logistics, will be unavailable. However, FedEx Custom Critical, a specialty service offering expedited shipping for some packages, will be operational. FedEx Office locations will have modified hours, but these may differ by location.
UPS won't offer pickup or delivery service on Monday, though Express Critical services are available 24/7. UPS Store locations may be closed -- the carrier advises that you check with your local store for specific hours of operation.
How Has the Market Performed Around Memorial Day?
The adage "sell in May and go away" suggests investors should divest their holdings in May and reinvest in November to bypass a period of typically low returns in the summer. Is there any truth to it?
Historical data shows May falls roughly in the middle, as far as monthly stock performance goes. On average, the S&P 500 has gained 0.5% each May over the past 20 years, according to Dow Jones Market Data. Over the past decade, that number increases to roughly 1.5%.
Data for June varies. While the 10-year average return is around 1.9%, the S&P has gained an average of just 0.2% each June over the past 20 years.
However, July has generally yielded better returns. The S&P has gained an average of 3.4% each July over the past 10 years, and 2.4% each July over the past two decades.
August brings modest gains, with the S&P marking an average annualized gain of 0.9% and 0.2% over the past decade and the last 20 years, respectively. In September -- historically the worst month for stocks -- the benchmark average has dropped by an average of 1.3% over the 10-year period and slipped 0.5% over the 20-year span.
What Else Should I Know About Memorial Day?
Observed on the last Monday of May each year, Memorial Day honors and mourns the military personnel who died both during wartime and times of peace. The holiday was formalized through an order issued by prominent Civil War general John Alexander Logan in 1868. At the time, it was known as "Decoration Day."
Logan was the third commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the holiday was established to honor fallen soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers.
The holiday was officially renamed Memorial Day by an act of Congress in 1971, which is when it was formally designated a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May.
Memorial Day is one of three holidays that pay tribute to American soldiers. Armed Forces Day is unofficially held on the third Saturday of May to celebrate current service members. Veterans Day, which is observed annually on Nov. 11, honors those who previously served.
Other countries have their own days of remembrance, such as Australia's Anzac Day, the U.K.'s Remembrance Sunday, and France's Armistice Day. South Korea observes its own Memorial Day on June 6, which is meant to remember those who served during the Korean War and other significant conflicts.
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
May 25, 2026 00:01 ET (04:01 GMT)
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