Instead of gearing up to trade Thursday, investors may be defrosting their Thanksgiving turkeys—and clipping coupons ahead of Black Friday.
This year, Thanksgiving and Black Friday come after two days of stock market gains. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite all finished higher after the release of the minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting earlier this month, which hinted that the Fed may become less aggressive with rate hikes moving forward.
Here’s what market participants should know about the holiday week.
Is the Stock Market Open on Thanksgiving?
Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will be closed in observance of the federal holiday, as will the U.S. bond market.
What Else Should I Know About Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the last Thursday of each November in the U.S., originated from a meal between colonial Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians that celebrated the 1621 harvest.
Nowadays, many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering around the dinner table for a hearty meal—and may spread out on the couch to watch some NFL games, too.
What About Black Friday?
Taking place one day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday marks one of the most important days for U.S. retailers and shoppers—and kicks the Christmas shopping season into high gear. Businesses typically mark the day with major discounts on products, and often open store doors early to get the ball rolling. It has now also become customary for retailers to offer major deals in the week leading up to Black Friday.
Is the Stock Market Open on Black Friday?
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will open at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, but close early at 1 p.m. The U.S. bond market, meanwhile, will shut at 2 p.m.
Are International Markets Open on Thanksgiving and Black Friday?
International markets will be open and keep normal trading hours on both days.
How Has the Stock Market Performed the Week of Thanksgiving?
On average, the
S&P 500,
the
Dow Jones Industrial Average,
and the
Nasdaq Composite
have all gained 0.6% the week of Thanksgiving since 1950, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
For the past 20 years, from Thanksgiving to the end of the year, the S&P 500 has climbed 1.4% on average, while the Dow has gained 1.9%, and the Nasdaq has climbed 1%.
Write to Angela Palumbo at angela.palumbo@dowjones.com
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