U.S. Stock Markets Stay Open on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Despite the federal holidays of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, US stock markets remained open on Monday, October 14, 2025, allowing investors to continue trading as usual. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Stock Market operate on regular hours from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Eastern Time, there was also a holiday for government offices, banks and bond markets.
The dual observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day has, in recent years, become a moment of reflection across the United States. However, it remains a regular trading day for equities, a fact that often surprises new investors.
Stock markets function normally
Trading activity on Wall Street proceeded without any disruption. Both the NYSE and Nasdaq were open, continuing a long-standing tradition of operating during most federal holidays. According to market analysts, the day generally sees low trading volume as many institutional traders and government offices take leave, but liquidity in the stock market remains adequate for normal trading.
Historically, US equity markets are closed only for major holidays such as New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Columbus Day is not one of the market holidays recognized by major exchanges.
Bond Markets Closed in Observance
Unlike stock exchanges, US bond markets, including the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), remained closed for the day. Treasury trading halted due to federal holidays as well as the closure of government offices, including the U.S. Treasury Department. The bond market is expected to reopen for normal trading on Tuesday, October 15.
The closure of bond markets often leads to slightly less trading activity in equities as some investors and analysts rely on bond yields to dictate market sentiment. However, experts said the impact on overall market performance is minimal.
Mixed performance in major indices
The market started the week with a cautious stance. During afternoon trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 neared a record high, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained a slight 0.4%. Analysts attributed the positive sentiment to declining inflation expectations and optimism over the upcoming corporate earnings report for the third quarter.
Investors are keeping a close eye on economic indicators due later in the week, including September consumer price index (CPI) data and retail sales figures. These reports are expected to influence the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision, making this week’s trading session especially important despite the holidays.
A Split Holiday Across the U.S.
Columbus Day, which commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492, has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1937. However, in recent years, several states and cities have adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American communities.
While federal offices, banks, and post offices were closed on Monday, private businesses and markets largely continued to operate. The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) remained open, reflecting the financial industry’s alignment with global trading schedules rather than the domestic federal holiday calendar.
Investor Sentiment and Economic Outlook
Market experts noted that the decision to keep stock exchanges open during federal holidays like Columbus Day reflects the interconnected nature of global finance. With international markets in Europe and Asia operating normally, U.S. exchanges remain active to avoid trading disruptions and maintain global liquidity.
“The stock market doesn’t take a break just because it’s a U.S. federal holiday,” said Jennifer Lee, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets. “Given that global markets trade around the clock, keeping U.S. exchanges open ensures that investors can respond to global developments in real time.”
Lee also noted that the relative quiet of Columbus Day trading often offers investors a chance to adjust positions ahead of key earnings announcements or macroeconomic data releases.
Market Trends and Sector Highlights
Monday’s session saw modest gains across technology and consumer discretionary stocks. Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon edged higher by around 0.5%, while Tesla rose nearly 1% as analysts projected stronger third-quarter deliveries. Financial stocks traded flat amid limited activity in the bond market due to its closure.
Energy stocks fell slightly as crude oil prices fell following recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, gold prices remained steady, reflecting a cautious stance among investors awaiting inflation data later this week.
Global market context
International markets were mixed, with European indices showing modest gains as investors reacted to improving German industrial production data. Asian markets including Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi closed higher, boosted by signs of an economic recovery and easing concerns over global supply chains.
The MSCI World Index, which tracks global equity performance, remained flat, suggesting global investors were largely unfazed by the US federal holiday.
conclusion
While much of the US public sector halted operations to celebrate Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Wall Street continued business as usual, highlighting the global, seamless nature of financial markets. The day’s trading activity reflected the typical holiday-week pattern – light volume but steady investors focused on upcoming economic data and earnings reports.
For traders and investors, the holiday serves as a reminder that financial markets operate on their own calendar, guided more by global economic rhythms than national rituals. As bond markets prepare to reopen and key inflation data emerge, market attention will soon shift from the holiday conclusion to the Federal Reserve’s policy path and corporate performance in the final quarter of 2025.
