What does Good Friday, definitively a religious holiday, have to do with the stock market? With Good Friday not being an official federal holiday in the United States, it's a reasonable question to ask why the stock market is closed for the day in observation of a non-federal holiday.

The U.S. stock market is closed on Good Friday largely due to historical tradition rather than any direct religious mandate. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, along with most U.S. financial markets, observe this holiday despite it not being a federal holiday. This practice has been in place since at least the late 19th century.

One practical reason for the closure is reduced trading activity; many traders take the day off for religious or personal observance. Closing the markets helps ensure liquidity and orderly trading by avoiding a situation where fewer participants could lead to volatility. Additionally, since bond markets and other financial sectors often follow suit, Good Friday has become a de facto market holiday, even though it is not universally observed in other industries.

What is the History Behind the Good Friday Holiday?

Is the Stock Market Open or Closed on the Good Friday Holiday?

All U.S. stock markets are closed in observance of Good Friday. This includes The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 (SPX), and more.

This year Good Friday holiday will be recognized on Friday, April 18, 2025. As a result, the U.S. stock markets, including the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange, will be closed for the full day, marking a holiday-shortened trading week. The stock market will reopen as normal at 9:30 a.m. ET on Monday, April 21, 2025.

The day off from trading on Good Friday gives traders, investors, and others tied to stock market hours to take the day off and use it however they choose, religious or not.

What about Bonds? Are Bond Markets Open or Closed on the Good Friday Holiday?

Both the bond market and stock market are closed in observation of the Juneteenth holiday. The holiday is observed by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), which recommends closing U.S. fixed-income markets.

If You Get The Day Off, But You Do Not Religiously Observe Good Friday, What Might You Do?

If you’re not religious, you can still observe Good Friday in meaningful ways that focus on its themes of reflection, compassion, and self-improvement. Here are some suggestions:

1. Self-Reflection and Mindfulness: Take time to reflect on your personal values, recent experiences, or long-term goals. This could include journaling, meditating, or engaging in quiet contemplation to foster personal growth and gratitude.

2. Acts of Kindness: Use the day to give back to your community or help others. Volunteer at a local charity, donate to a cause you care about, or simply perform random acts of kindness for those around you.

3. Cultural Appreciation: Explore the history and cultural significance of Good Friday in various traditions. This could involve watching documentaries, reading books, or attending community events to gain a broader understanding of its impact.

4. Rest and Reconnection: Treat the day as an opportunity to step back from daily routines. Spend quality time with loved ones, engage in activities that bring you peace, or simply enjoy the restorative power of a quiet day off.

These practices allow you to honor the spirit of the day while aligning with your personal beliefs and values.

Semiconductor stocks are bouncing back, after President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff update notably exempted the sector. The move gave chipmakers some breathing room in an otherwise tense trade environment, with giants Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD) and Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ:SMCI) leading the charge. 

Advanced Micro Devices stock is up 4.4% at $97.51 ahead of the open, but still has plenty of ground to recover. Tariff pressure has taken a toll on AMD in 2025, culminating in a 22.7% year-to-date loss and a 48.6% deficit over the last nine months. While AMD attempted a bounce earlier this month, the rally stalled just above the $110.50 area -- home to its 80-day moving average, which continues to act as a ceiling.

Adding to the technical pressure, Citigroup just lowered its price target on AMD to $100 from $110. The stock’s average 12-month price target sits at $144.77 -- representing a 55% premium to Friday’s close -- leaving ample room for more bear notes to come through.

Super Micro Computer stock, meanwhile, is up 5.8% premarket at $35.08. The stock has managed to shake off recent tariff-related jitters, boasting an 8.8% gain in 2025 after snapping a three-week losing streak. Technical headwinds remain, though, with shares still grappling with resistance from several key short- and long-term moving averages. The equity is also nursing a steep 12-month loss of 64.6%.

It's worth noting short sellers have been piling on SMCI, with short interest up 12.9% in the last two reporting periods. The 116.19 million shares sold short now make up 22.8% of the stock's available float. Should some of this pessimism begin to unwind, the stock could surge even higher.

Subscribers to Schaeffer's Weekend Trader options recommendation service received this AMZN commentary on Sunday night, along with a detailed options trade recommendation -- including complete entry and exit parameters. Learn more about why Weekend Trader is one of our most popular options trading services.

Friday’s broad-market selloff brought tech giant Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) down to its 24-month, or two-year moving average. Since 2005, pullbacks to this trendline have proved to be solid buying opportunities (except for 2008, 2020, and 2022).

The equity landed near the $175 region, which was the site of multiple highs in 2020-2021. Its Friday low at $166 also coincides with the April 2024 low, and is near the site of the last major put open interest (OI) strikes in the options expiring though standard April expiry.

Stocks are lower Friday as Wall Street looks to close out a volatile week dominated by trade policy headlines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is down 228 points, and the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are also sharply lower. Traders are unpacking the latest U.S. inflation report, China’s retaliatory tariffs, and a potential tariff deal with the European Union (EU). Despite this pullback, the IXIC and SPX are eyeing their best weekly gains since November thanks to Wednesday’s rally.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• Gold stock shines after analyst upgrade.
• Bank stocks in focus as earnings season kicks off.
• Plus, options traders target FAST; FCX eyes best week since September; and why this chip stocks is sliding.

Fastenal Co (NASDAQ:FAST) stock is drawing unusual options volume following its earnings report. The typically quiet options pits have already seen 1,538 calls and 1,923 puts traded -- 5 times the average intraday volume. The most active contract is the April 72.50 put. FAST was last seen 5.9% higher to trade at $80.26, after first-quarter revenue and earnings matched Wall Street's estimates. The stock is up 21.6% over the last nine months, though it’s once again facing familiar resistance at the $80 level.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc (NYSE:FCX) is among the top gainers on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), last seen up 3.7% at $32.52. While a clear catalyst for today's price  hasn't emerged, the copper miner is outperforming despite recent volatility, pacing for its best weekly performance since September. Still, FCX remains down 15.2% in 2025.

Texas Instruments Inc (NASDAQ:TXN) stock is among the worst performers on the IXIC today, down 8.3% to trade at $143.66 at last check. Chipmakers with U.S.-based manufacturing are under pressure amid global trade tensions between the U.S. and China. TXN is pacing for its sixth weekly loss in seven, deepening its year-to-date deficit to 23.4%.

A slew of big financial names announced their quarterly reports before the bell this morning, including Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC). The bank giant announced first-quarter earnings of $1.27 per share, beating analyst estimates of $1.23 per share, though revenue of $20.15 billion missed estimates. In a conference call, CEO Charlie Scharf said consumers "have remained resilient." 

At last glance, WFC was down 4.4% at $60.32 after reversing its premarket gains. A recent floor of support at the $60 level is keeping losses in check. Year to date, the equity is down roughly 14%. 

Over in the options pits, 35,000 calls and 37,000 puts have been traded so far -- double the overall options volume typically seen at this point. The weekly 4/11 60-strike put is the most popular, with positions being bought to open there. These contracts will expire after today's close.

Options look like a good way to go when weighing in on WFC. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 88 out of 100 means its outperformed options traders volatility expectations over the past 12 months. 

Amid President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plans, gold stocks have become a hot commodity. One standout is Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), which is surging today -- last seen up 7.6% at $54.80 -- after UBS upgraded the gold producer to “buy” from “neutral.” The brokerage also boosted its price target to $60 from $50, citing an “incrementally more supportive” macro environment for gold and noting Newmont’s strong cash returns.

Today’s pop extends an already impressive run. NEM is up 36.9% year to date and is on pace for its fifth-straight daily gain, as well as its fifth weekly win in the last six weeks. The stock is now trading at its highest level since October 2024, though the $54 level appears to be acting as short-term resistance.

Despite the strong technical setup, sentiment still has room to improve. Eight of the 18 analysts covering Newmont stock maintain a “hold” or worse rating. Continued strength could pressure these skeptics to upgrade their outlook, potentially adding fuel to the stock’s rally as Wall Street catches up to the price action.