Just realized I have no clue when trading resumes after major holidays.
Is it always Sunday 5pm EST or does it vary depending on which holiday we just had?
Christmas and New Year are the main ones that change.
New Year and Christmas week are the biggest wildcards for market hours. Most other holidays stick to the Sunday evening schedule.
I set up a trading calendar each January with all major holidays marked. Beats scrambling through broker announcements every long weekend.
Plan ahead - don’t assume normal hours.
Learned this the hard way in 2018. Had positions ready for what I thought was a normal Sunday open after New Year’s. Market didn’t open until Tuesday.
Now I check MT4 every Friday before long weekends. Server time shows when trading resumes.
Easter’s tricky too - European markets close but US stays open. Got hit with weird spreads during those partial opens.
Markets change opening times after holidays, especially when they fall on Sunday or Monday. Christmas and New Year’s often have the biggest impacts. Sydney opens first but may also be closed. Tokyo, London, and New York have their own holiday schedules. Always check your broker’s platform on Friday before a holiday weekend; do not assume the standard Sunday 5pm start.
Generally Sunday 5pm EST other holidays vary.
Christmas and New Year mess with schedules the most. Regular holidays like Thanksgiving keep normal hours.
Broker sites post exact times a few days ahead.
Most holidays stick to the usual Sunday 5pm EST opening but Christmas and New Year sometimes push it to Monday or Tuesday.
Your broker sends notices about holiday schedules - check those emails. I mark key dates on a calendar since missing the opening screws up my whole trading week.