Fresh off Thanksgiving, many Americans may be looking for deals on Black Friday—with investors likely planning to trade on U.S. exchanges. Here’s what you need to know before trying to make changes to your portfolio.
Is the Stock Market Closed on Black Friday?
No, the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will be open on Black Friday. But you’ll have to get your trades in early, because both close at 1 p.m. Eastern.
U.S. bond markets and U.S. over-the-counter markets will shut down at 2 p.m.
Are Foreign Stock Exchanges Open on Black Friday?
The Toronto Stock Exchange, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange, and the Shanghai Stock Exchange will all be open on Black Friday.
How Has the Stock Market Previously Performed on Black Friday?
From 2001 to 2020, the S&P 500‘s performance on Black Friday was mixed, finishing up just half of the time. The index gained more than 1% on three Black Fridays—in 2001, 2007, and 2012—while it slipped 1.7% on the “retail holiday” in 2009.
What Does Black Friday Mean for Retailers?
Investors have been optimistic in the leadup to the holiday season. Many retailers have had to learn how to leverage the pandemic for their physical stores—and they’ve seen increased bricks-and-mortar shopping.
Last week, retail giant Walmart (ticker: WMT) reported third-quarter earnings and sales that beat Wall Street estimates, with the company raising its fiscal-year guidance. Home Depot(HD) also reported third-quarter earnings that beat earnings expectations, thanks to continued interest in home improvement amid a strong housing market.
Retail stocks have largely performed well so far this year: the SPDR S&P Retail exchange-traded fund (XRT) is up roughly 60%, while the S&P 500 has gained around 25%. The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RCD), which is evenly weighted so that price movements aren’t too swayed by any one stock,has climbed about 30%.
Is the Stock Market Open on Cyber Monday?
Yes. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will return to normal trading hours and open at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 29th, or Cyber Monday, when many retailers are planning to offer special discounts online.
U.S. bond markets and U.S. over-the-counter markets will also resume regular hours of operation.