Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The name combines “June” and “nineteenth” and has been observed in Black communities across the U.S. for over a century.

In 2021, Congress passed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021. Federal agencies and financial institutions now close in recognition of the day.

All major U.S. financial markets, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and bond markets, will be closed on Thursday, June 19. This also includes the Federal Reserve, banks, and credit unions.

Here’s how the schedule will play out:

• June 18 (Wednesday): Normal trading hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET. Trades made will settle on Friday, June 20.
• June 19 (Thursday): All trading activity halts. No trades, settlements, or financial transactions will process. Banks and credit unions closed.
• June 20 (Friday): Markets and banks resume normal hours.

Banks, brokerages, and custodians will delay fund transfers, deposits, and withdrawals by one business day because of the closure.

What This Means For Investors

For most long-term investors, a single-day market closure won’t affect portfolio strategy. However, it may impact short-term traders or anyone planning to transfer funds. Be aware that if you’re trying to execute trades or withdraw funds close to the holiday, settlement dates and processing times may shift by at least one day.

For example, a sell order placed late Wednesday won’t settle until Friday. Similarly, a bank transfer initiated on Wednesday may not complete until Friday or Monday, depending on your financial institution.

If you’re planning to rebalance your portfolio, withdraw cash, or fund an investment account this week, build in extra time. The earlier you act before the holiday, the less likely you are to run into delays.

Note for crypto investors: Cryptocurrency markets never close, though if you need support from a centralized crypto exchange, you may experience delays.

What Else To Know

While Juneteenth is a relatively new Federal holiday, investors should take the time for national reflection and treat it like any other Federal event.

Banks, credit unions, and investment firms will be closed. Also, post offices and federal agencies will be closed.

Plan your transactions and trading accordingly.

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