Is the US bond market open?
The regular weekday trading session for the U.S. bond market is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
There are slight variations with trading hours and holidays/early closures when it comes to the bond market. Its pre-market trading hours take place from 4 to 8 a.m. Its regular hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and its extended trading hours occur from 5 to 8 p.m. ET.
- March 28, 2024 — Day before Good Friday.
- May 24, 2024 — Friday before Memorial Day.
- July 3, 2024 — Day before Independence Day.
- Nov. 29, 2024 — Day after Thanksgiving.
- Dec. 24, 2024 — Christmas Eve.
- Dec. 31, 2024 — New Year's Eve.
Latest After-Hours Trades ->
Investors may trade in the Pre-Market (4:00-9:30 a.m. ET) and the After Hours Market (4:00-8:00 p.m. ET). Participation from Market Makers and ECNs is strictly voluntary and as a result, these sessions may offer less liquidity and inferior prices.
Although there are provisions for early trading, US Stock Market open time like dow jones, nasdaq and nyse opening time always refers to the beginning of normal hours or 9.30 AM on all working days. Trading does not happen on Saturdays and Sundays.
How a Trading Session Works. The regular weekday trading session for the U.S. bond market is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
The day before Good Friday. The Friday before Memorial Day. The day before Independence Day. The day following Thanksgiving.
Key central bank rates and bond yields remain high globally and are likely to remain elevated well into 2024 before retreating. Further, the chance of higher policy rates from here is slim; the potential for rates to decline is much higher.
Short-term bond yields are high currently, but with the Federal Reserve poised to cut interest rates investors may want to consider longer-term bonds or bond funds. High-quality bond investments remain attractive.
Bond markets usually trade between 8 am and 5 pm. The stock markets close at 1 pm on early closure days.
Do banks charge to buy Treasuries?
When you buy T-bills through your bank, it may charge you additional fees and expenses such as sales commissions or transaction charges. These extra costs can add up over time and eat into your returns on your investment.
Traders that follow the 10 a.m. rule think a stock's price trajectory is relatively set for the day by the end of that half-hour. For example, if a stock closed at $40 the previous day, opened at $42 the next, and reached $43 by 10 a.m., this would indicate that the stock is likely to remain above $42 by market close.
Interest from Treasuries is generally taxable at the federal level, but not at the state level. Interest from munis is generally exempt from federal taxes, and if you live in the state where the bond was issued, the interest may also be exempt from state taxes.
The regular trading hours for the U.S. stock market, which includes the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), are 9:30 am to 4 pm, except on stock market holidays.
Regular hours for the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq go from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET from Monday to Friday. The markets are closed over the weekends.
| Market | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 New York Stock Exchange NYSE | M-F, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm (EDT) | Go |
| 🇺🇸 NASDAQ Stock Exchange NASDAQ | M-F, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm (EDT) | Go |
| 🇨🇳 Shanghai Stock Exchange SSE | M-F, 9:30 am - 11:30 am, 1:00 pm - 2:57 pm (CST) | Go |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo Stock Exchange JPX | M-F, 9:00 am - 11:30 am, 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm (JST) | Go |
You can buy electronic savings bonds online. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund. Learn how to buy U.S. savings bonds.
You can get your cash for an EE or I savings bond any time after you have owned it for 1 year. However, the longer you hold the bond, the more it earns for you (for up to 30 years for an EE or I bond). Also, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest.
Bond prices and interest rates are inversely correlated, so the best time for investors to buy T-bonds is usually when interest rates are peaking.
| Maturity | Yield | Today's change |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Year10Y | 4.24% | -0.02 |
| 15 Year15Y | 4.52% | -0.02 |
| 20 Year20Y | 4.66% | -0.01 |
| 30 Year30Y | 4.69% | >-0.01 |
Is the bond market open Black Friday?
Bond markets, on the other hand, close early on the day before major holidays like Good Friday and Labor Day. They also close early on Black Friday and Christmas Eve.
U.S. Treasury securities are traded “over-the-counter” between counter-parties. There is no formal exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange) as exists for the equity markets. Instead, Treasuries are traded over the phone or across Electronic Commerce Networks (ECNs).
The bond market in 2024 continues to exhibit topsy-turvy dynamics, with yields on short-term bonds exceeding those of longer-term bonds. For example, as of April 10, 2024, 3-month Treasury bills yielded 5.45% and 2-year Treasury yields were 4.97%, compared to the 4.55% yield on the 10-year Treasury.
Most bonds pay a fixed interest rate that becomes more attractive if interest rates fall, driving up demand and the price of the bond. Conversely, if interest rates rise, investors will no longer prefer the lower fixed interest rate paid by a bond, resulting in a decline in its price.
Moving 401(k) assets into bonds could make sense if you're closer to retirement age or you're generally a more conservative investor overall. However, doing so could potentially cost you growth in your portfolio over time.
