When does the US bond market close early, and did it close early today?
The short answer
The US bond market closes early on SIFMA's recommended dates, usually 2:00 p.m. Eastern (7:00 p.m. UTC), and 12:00 p.m. Eastern (4:00 p.m. UTC) on Good Friday. Whether it closed early today depends on today's date; this page lists the scheduled early closes.
The rule in one line
Early closes for US dollar-denominated bonds are recommendations from SIFMA, the industry trade association. SIFMA says its early and full close recommendations are recommendations only, and each member firm decides for itself whether its fixed income departments stay open.
SIFMA also states that an early close does not change the closing time for settlements.
2026 early closes
According to SIFMA's holiday schedule, the 2026 early closes are 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, July 2 (before Independence Day), Friday, November 27 (day after Thanksgiving), Thursday, December 24 (day before Christmas) and Thursday, December 31 (before New Year's Day 2027).
Good Friday, April 3, 2026, is the exception: SIFMA recommends a 12:00 p.m. Eastern close. SIFMA also lists a 2:00 p.m. Eastern early close on Friday, May 22, 2026, ahead of Memorial Day.
Did it close early today?
This page does not track the current date, so it cannot say whether today is an early close. The dates above are the scheduled ones from SIFMA's published schedule; any date not on the list is not a scheduled early close.
SIFMA notes that all its recommendations are subject to change due to market conditions.
What about the stock market?
The New York Stock Exchange keeps its own calendar, which differs from SIFMA's bond schedule. The NYSE calendar lists early closes on Friday, November 27, 2026 and Thursday, December 24, 2026, but the NYSE list gives dates only and does not state a closing time.
The NYSE calendar does not list July 2, 2026 as an early close, while SIFMA does for bonds.
| Date | Close (ET) | Close (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Apr 3, 2026 (Good Friday) | 12:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| Fri, May 22, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Thu, Jul 2, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Fri, Nov 27, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Thu, Dec 24, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
Questions
Did the bond market close early today?
Only if today is one of the SIFMA early close dates listed on this page. This page does not check the current date, so compare today's date with the table.
What time does the bond market close early on July 2?
SIFMA recommends a 2:00 p.m. Eastern close on Thursday, July 2, 2026, which is 7:00 p.m. UTC.
Does the bond market close early on Christmas Eve?
Yes. SIFMA recommends a 2:00 p.m. Eastern close on Thursday, December 24, 2026, which is 7:00 p.m. UTC.
Does the bond market close early on New Year's Eve?
Yes. SIFMA recommends a 2:00 p.m. Eastern close on Thursday, December 31, 2026, which is 7:00 p.m. UTC.
Does the bond market close early on Labor Day?
SIFMA's 2026 schedule lists a full market close on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026, not an early close.
Is Good Friday an early close for bonds?
Yes. SIFMA recommends a 12:00 p.m. Eastern close on Friday, April 3, 2026, which is 4:00 p.m. UTC.
Does the bond market close early in Canada?
The sources here cover US dollar-denominated fixed income trading in the US, UK and Japan. They do not give Canadian bond market hours.
Sources
- SIFMA Holiday Schedule
- SIFMA press release on Good Friday 2026
- SIFMA press release on Christmas Day 2025
- NYSE hours and calendars
Checked against these official sources on October 19, 2026 by the Kairotick team. Rules and schedules change; check the source before you rely on a detail.
On a prop firm account? Check your firm's rule on trading around news before you hold a trade through a big release. Prop firm rules explained.
How did your own trades do around big releases? Drop your MT5 report into the free trading journal; it shows the trades you held through the news.